Bears get win in rained-out finals opener

The BSI Aces’ Eric Palacios gets ready to bat, while the Bears’ Peyton Lizama positions for a catch, and umpire Tony Satur looks on during the top of the sixth inning of Game 1 of the title series in the 2016 Saipan Baseball League last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Chalan Kanoa Bears played enough innings to take the win in the rained-out Game 1 of their title series against the BSI Aces in the 2016 Saipan Baseball League last Friday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Bears were head, 4-2, at the top of the sixth inning with the BSI Aces’ Angel Falig at bat and has been called for two balls and a strike when rain halted the play. League organizers then waited for 30 minutes for the rain to stop, but it did not, leaving SBL tournament director Tony Rogolifoi without a choice, but to declare the Bears the winner as per league rules. Rogolifoi explained that a rained-out game is considered a regular one if the home team is ahead and the match has been played for at least four and a half innings.

With the victory, the Bears now hold a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-five championship series and will try to move closer to the title when they play Game 2 tonight, weather permitting.

The Bears built enough cushion to gain the win in the series opener, thanks to A.J. Lizama’s two RBIs and Kiku Lizama’s two runs. A.J. RBI single drove Kiku home at the bottom of the first inning, while the former’s sacrifice out also brought the latter home at the bottom of the third for the Bears’ 2-0 advantage. Angel Palacios made it a 4-0 lead when he singled in J.J. Chong in the same inning and later reached home off a single from designated hitter Marvin Kaipat.

The BSI Aces gave up the early lead to the Bears as the former were held to a one-hitter—a double from Juan Iguel—by pitcher Jose Lizama in the first inning. Jose’s solid pitching in the first three innings was complemented by the quick and steady hands of his teammates, who caught five flies and a linedrive and beat three runners at first.

Jose continued to work the mound for the Bears and walked leadoff batter Jeremy Atalig at the top of the fourth before yielding back-to-back singles to Eric Palacios and Falig. Mike Salas was next at bat and went back to the dugout after getting fanned by Jose for the first out. The Bears then got the second out when Falig was tagged out at home by catcher Peyton Lizama, who caught a perfect pass from A.J. from second base.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Luis Iguel stepped on home plate and waited for Jose’s pitch. Luis let go of two low balls before hitting the third one and his single eventually brought Atalig and Palacios home and put the BSI Ace on the board. Luis’s brother, Juan flied out at second base to end the inning.

With their lead trimmed down to 2, the Bears had the chance to gain more distance at the bottom of the fourth, but the BSI Aces’ defense hung tough. The Aces got two quick outs before allowing a single to Kiku and walking Chong. Kiku then stole second and third, while Chong advanced to second off a wild pitch, but the two runners were eventually stranded after shortstop Lamarc Iguel caught a fly from A.J. for the third out.

Despite the missed opportunities, the Bears kept the two-run lead as neither team scored in the fifth inning. The Aces were one step away from getting their third run when Lamarc, the leadoff batter at the top of the fifth, made it to third off the Bears’ successive errors, however, the next three batters went down. At the bottom of the fifth, the Bears made it to as far as second with Angel Palacios hitting a standup double before getting tagged out at third. Two more Bears batters flied out in the ensuing plays, leaving Jeffrey Lizama stranded at first and his team holding on to the 4-2 cushion, entering the top of the sixth.

Eric Palacios led off for the BSI Aces in the sixth inning and went down on a 6-3 putout play, while Falig was next, but failed to complete his stint at the plate when heavy rains started to fall and did not stop.