CNMI loses to Guam, ousted in ASPAC

[B]GUAM[/B]—The CNMI All-Stars were three outs away from advancing to the semifinals of the 2011 Asia-Pacific Major Division Regional Championship, but collapsed in the end and lost to Guam, 4-8, yesterday at the Northern Region Sports Complex in Dededo.

The CNMI was ahead, 4-0, going into the top of the sixth inning when rain halted play with Guam waiting to bat.

By rule, tournament organizers are required to decide over a rained-out game within 30 minutes of the initial stoppage. After staying at their dugout, Guam players came back at the field to shake hands with the CNMI sluggers in concession, but were called back by their manager in the last second. At that time, organizers declared the game will be moved to the other field and will continue once Australia and New Zealand of Pool A completed their match.

“At first we thought we won by decision, but then they moved the game to the other field. I thought the extra rest might help us, but it may have just killed our momentum,” CNMI manager Chel Castro said.

“I’m in disbelief,” CNMI coach Randall Aguon added.

It was questionable whether the 30-minute time rule was honored or not, but regardless, the CNMI coaching staff agreed to wait and continue the game. In retrospect, the CNMI may never have had to agree to a second postponement, since the match was already rained out last Wednesday. Guam and the CNMI played only in the top of the first inning last Wednesday with the latter shutting out the host. Organizers ordered a restart of the do-or-die match yesterday and the CNMI got off to a good start before rain prevented the visitors from completing the crucial win.

When the game resumed at the top of the sixth inning, Guam scored four runs, while the CNMI went cold, allowing the host to extend the game and eventually steal the win.

Guam played back-to-back games yesterday and lost to Pool A top finisher Chinese-Taipei in the semifinals, 2-12. Pool B top place Korea played Thailand in the other semis pairing and was ahead in the third inning, 4-0, before the game was suspended due to rain. The match will resume this morning at 8:30am with the winner facing Chinese-Taipei in the finals later in the afternoon.

Thailand earned a free ride to the semifinals after New Zealand defeated Australia, 7-5, in the other make-or-break match yesterday.

The CNMI entered yesterday’s game against Guam with a 1-2 record and must win the match to make it to the next round.

Guam left runners at first and second to start the important match, but forced the CNMI to 1-2-3- in the bottom half. Then after another scoreless inning, the CNMI took a 3-0 lead in the third.

With one out, Cedric Camacho reached of a fielder’s choice and moved to third base off a double by Jonathan Camacho. Rokie Tenorio came up next and ripped a base clearing triple down the third baseline. He scored off an errant throw.

After the damage, Guam’s Carl Jamarila replaced Magahali Salas on the mound.

CNMI pitcher Nathan Camacho struck out the side in the top half of the fourth, but the visitors also came up empty in the bottom frame.

Guam remained silent in the fifth and the CNMI added a run in the bottom half of the inning. Franco Nakamura busted a base hit and came all the way around off errors, but the CNMI left two runners on base.

At this point, rain stalled the action, but Guam’s top of the order came alive in its long awaited last stand and tied the game at 4-all, off four hits.

Jacob Concepcion drew a leadoff walk and moved to third off a double by Aaron Pangelinan. Then cleanup man Xavier Reyes stepped in and blasted a clutch three-run homer over the right centerfield fence.

Guam’s Jamanila kept it rolling with a single, and an out later, Nonea Blas tied the game with a double.

With two outs, the CNMI’s Cedric Camacho came to the mound for the maxed-out Nathan Camacho, hoping to stop the bleeding. However, the CNMI drew a blank in the bottom frame, but kept Guam at bay at the top of the eighth.

Jonathan Camacho came to the mound early in the inning after the first two batters reached base. He served up a nice double play dribbler to his first man.

CNMI’s bats remained cold in the bottom frame and the momentum started to visibly shift over to the host team.

Guam surged ahead, 8-4, in the top of the ninth off four more hits from the thick of its order.

Jared Samoca led off with a base hit and moved into scoring position off another single by Pangelinan. Reyes then drove in Samoca with a base-poke that setup a three-run jack by Jamanila deep over the left centerfield fence.

The CNMI managed a runner at third base in its last stand, but could not muster up a rally.

Guam’s Reyes batted 2-for-4 with a home run for three RBIs and a run with a hit-by-pitch. Jamanila hit 2-for-4 with a home run for threes RBIs and a run with a base on balls and Pangelinan went 3-for-5 with two runs.

Jamanila went on to finish the game after CNMI broke the ice in the third frame, allowing just one unearned run off four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six and one-third innings.