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Natives, Falcons win close games in SBL
Natives pitcher M.J. Sakisat delivers a pitch to a D-9ers batter during their game in the Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League 2023 season on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. (LEIGH GASES )
The Natives and Falcons held on to win their games by just one run each in the Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League 2023 season on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.
The Natives notched their third win and are undefeated after they won, 10-9, over the D-9ers on Tuesday, while the Falcons slipped past the Braves, 3-2, on Wednesday.
Both the Natives and D-9er’s were evenly matched as they both left runners in scoring position, but their pitching held and the Natives allowed only seven hits, while the D-9ers allowed eight.
By the fifth inning, the D-9ers were down by one, 8-7, as the Natives had a three- run inning that was ignited by Perry Celis getting hit by a pitch. Austin Benavente reached base off a single, followed by Keoni Lizama, who then both scored.
In the last inning, the Natives added two more runs after a double by Darion Jones for a 10-7 game. With the D-9ers last at-bat, they brought in only two runs and fell as they were short by one run to tie and two to win.
The Falcons on Wednesday also had a tight game against the Braves as pitching on both sides were on point.
Contact with the ball was minimal for both teams as the Braves had five scoreless innings, while the Falcons had four.
The Braves’ Andrew Camacho had an RBI single in the first inning and their next and last run was made in the fifth inning by Josenio Alvarez.
A.J. Evangelista led things off for the Falcons with a single, then proceeded to successfully steal second and third base. He ended up reaching home on a balk by the pitcher.
J.J. Teigita, the Braves pitcher, then recomposed himself and struck out the side for a one-two-three second inning.
However, Giovanni Mira ended up rounding the bases in the fourth inning and the tie-breaking third run was made in the last inning, as the Braves could not assemble their troops for a rally.
