BDE, Lady Blue Jays route foes in BASA

Lady Blue Jays Kiana “Baby K” Camacho connects with the ball during their game against Hotshots in their 14-2 win in the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association League at the DanDan Softball Field last Sunday. (LEIGH GASES)(

Team BDE and the Lady Blue Jays routed their foes in the continuation of the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association League at the DanDan Softball Field last Sunday.

BDE had a tougher time against the Lady Legals, slipping past, 8-7, while the Lady Blue Jays outgunned the Hotshots, 14-2.

The earlier game between BDE and the Lady Legals found themselves evenly matched as both pitchers reduced the offense to as few hits as possible.

BDE was ahead by two in the third inning as the Lady Legals struggled to connect with the ball early on—only getting on base four times. The tides turned, however, as the Lady Legals’ top of the lineup batter, Tiah Camacho, hit a home run, followed by a double by Lizann Deleon Guerrero, and was brought in by Pauline Camacho for a tied 3-3 game.

BDE pitcher Sonia Isaac managed to shut down the Lady Legals for two innings and with backup from her offense, pulled ahead to the lead by the sixth inning, 6-5.

Hotshots pitcher Janice Celis throws the ball to a Lady Blue Jays batter in the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association League at the DanDan Softball Field last Sunday. (LEIGH GASES)

The Lady Legals, however, brought in two runs for a 7-6 game, but BDE in a last hurrah, scooped the W away in the last inning as fielding errors by the Lady Legals allowed BDE to score two—for a final score of 8-7.

In the afternoon game, the Lady Blue Jays scorched the Hotshots into oblivion as they ended the game early via the mercy-run rule.

Not only was the Lady Blue Jays’ offense on fire, but their defense was as hot as the day was too. 

The Hotshots came with bats at the ready—swinging at pitches and letting it fly, but the Lady Blue Jays’ outfielders had their pitcher’s back, leaping and hustling to catch each ball. Only Hotshots’ Rosie Saralu and Bon Sablan found their way home in the first and second inning, respectively.

Offensively, Kiana “Baby K” Camacho rounded the bases twice—both on inside-the-park home runs for two RBIs.

The bulk of the Lady Blue Jays’ runs were made in the fifth inning, (seven),—with the Hotshots’ nerves shot as they made multiple errors, allowing the Lady Blue Jays to capitalize and storm home base multiple times. 

The Lady Blue Jays’ Rachel Salalila, Rayna Deleon Guerrero, and pitcher Bert Camacho herself had an RBI each.

Camacho pitched four scoreless innings as the Hotshots scrambled and struggled to get on base—thanks to the Lady Blue Jays’ immaculate defense—and on the Hotshots’ last chance to stay alive and extend the game, she pitched a 1-2-3 no-no for the early W.

Results of the men’s games will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.