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Titanium, Bears stun favored foes
C.K. Bears pitcher A.J. Lizama waits for the signal of catcher Virgil Secharmidal during their game against GSM in the 2018 Saipan Baseball League last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Jon Perez)
The defending champions Aces and league-leading Go See Mark were expected to win over their opponents in last week’s action in the 2018 Saipan Baseball League. Their respective foes, however, had other plans.
Titanium used a six-run inning to beat the Aces, 14-11, last Thursday night, while the Chalan Kanoa Bears squeezed out a 5-4 win over GSM last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
Titanium improved to a 4-3 record to join the Mariners in a tie for fifth to sixth place, while the Aces dropped to 4-2 for fourth spot, making the race for the last two playoff spots more interesting. GSM, despite the loss, remain on top with its 7-1 card , followed by the 6-1 mark of the Bears and the 5-2 of the Falcons .
Brian Camacho went 4-for-6 to lead Titanium’s 19-for-39 batting. He also scored four runs with a double and three RBIs—including a two-RBI single in their team’s six runs at the top of the fourth.
K.J. Villagomez scored twice on a 4-for-4 batting, while Jack Sablan, 2-for-3, had two RBIs. Joe Palacios and Austin Benavente each went 2-for-5 with the former whacking a two-RBI triple in the seventh. Palacios also had two runs, while Benavente got a double and two RBIs. Jerald Cabrera only batted 1-for-2, but scored twice and had two RBIs.
Bill Camacho tossed for eight innings, allowing three earned runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
In last Friday’s game, A.J. Lizama pitched five plus innings in relief, giving up five hits, fanning three, and walking two. He got plenty of help from the Bears’ defense at the top of the ninth to preserve the win.
He forced Lorenzo Sebaklim to hit a line drive to first baseman Angel Palacios, while Jerome Delos Santos grounded out, and the inning ended after Byron Kaipat had an infield fly.
Virgil Secharmidal went 3-for-4 with one run for the Bears, while Kiku Lizama batted 2-for-3 with two triples and two runs.
