Braves, Brewers snatch first win in SBL

In this file photo, Brewers’ Franko Nakamura hits a foul ball during their game against the Cardinals in the 2023 Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League season at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. (LEIGH GASES)

The Braves and Brewers finally snatched their first win in the Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League 2023 season last Thursday and Friday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

The Braves overpowered the Survivors, 10-0, while the Brewers bested the Blue Jays, 15-5.

Braves’ Aaron Camacho pitched a near perfect game as he held off the Survivors to just three hits. He first struck out the side in the first for a quick 1-2-3 inning. In the second, the Survivors got their first hit off the bat of J-Boy Mendiola who managed to reach second base off an error by the first baseman.

But after walking Luis Diaz, Camacho managed to get his three outs without giving up a run via a pop up then a double play. The second hit was made by Greg Tebit but they were quickly silenced and failed to score again.

By this time, the Braves have already scored seven runs—one in the first and six in the second. Josenio Alvarez started the offense when he hit a triple in the first and came running home after a sacrifice fly to the outfield by Heath Camacho.

The second inning showdown was brought about by singles up and down the Braves’ lineup through the holes of the Survivors’ defenses. Alvarez and Camacho were on fire as they hit a triple and double respectively and scored a total of three RBIs for the team.

The Braves took a breather in the third and fourth as their hitting simmered down and they didn’t score any runs. But by the last inning, the Survivors still had not rounded the bases as only one more hit was made by Mendiola in the fourth but nothing came of it.

The Braves added three more runs in the last inning for good measure and the game ended with the Survivors perishing in a 10-0 game. 

In a battle of the first two women in SBL history, Kiana “Kianu” Aldan and the Brewers took down Kiana “Baby K” Camacho and the Blue Jays, 15-5.

Aldan got on base three times via being walked by the Blue Jays pitcher and an error by their defense. The Brewers were silent in the first couple of innings then found traction in the third as they scored three from free passes by the Blue Jays’ shoddy defense.  

Three batters in a row were walked by the Blue Jays pitcher as he failed to locate the strike zone which allowed the Brewers to capitalize and score five runs as Verlance Secharmidal hit a single and followed up by a double by Jerome Delos Santos.

Five runs also scored in the next inning with two more batters put into scoring position based off walks. At this time, the Blue Jays have only scored three more runs in the third inning for a 13-5 game with the Brewers in a wide lead.

The Blue Jays failed to score in the last three innings, while the Brewers added two more runs in the last and the game ended as the final out was made.