Cardinals, Falcons lead SBL standings

In this file photo, Falcons’ Giovanni Mira gets a big lead off first base tries to get a read from Blue Jays pitcher during their game in the 2023 Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.(LEIGH GASES)

The Cardinals are still undefeated and on top of the standings, while the Falcons are in second place after their games last Tuesday and Friday in the 2023 Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League season at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

The Cardinals gave the SPC Survivors a beating that they could not recover from, 15-9, last Tuesday and the Falcons soared above the CK Bears, 9-4, last Friday.

The Survivors did have a head start against the Cardinals after seven runs by the second inning, but they couldn’t hold it long enough when the Cardinals’ offense caught fire in the fourth inning.

It was a run-fest for the Survivors in the second inning with a lead-off walk by JJ. Takano, followed by a base hit by Trevon Lieto. Two more batters walked and was capped by a single from J-Boy Mendiola.

The rest of the innings though, the Survivors were shut down by Cardinals pitching as they only put up two more runs in the third and sixth inning.

The Cardinals—although they had a slow start and were down by three runs in the third inning—crushed the fourth inning with back-to-back base hits and as they capitalized on the Survivors’ fielding errors. The Cardinals’ Brian Camacho had a base-clearing double and by the time the third out registered, seven runs were on the board as the Cardinals took the lead, 12-8.

In this file photo, Cardinals’ Eli Aughenbaugh reaches home plate safely during their game against the D-9er’s in the 2023 Tan Holdings-Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.(LEIGH GASES)

The Cardinals scored two more runs in the fifth as K.J. Villagomez and Ton Tenorio rounded the bases, and one more run in the last inning from a single by Nate Camacho.

In the Falcons’ game against the Bears, the Falcons struck first for a five-run third inning. 

First, J.D. Magofna was hit by a pitch and moved to scoring position after a single by J.J. Lifoifoi, who were then brought in by M.J. Aldan. 

Ian Norita walked in the next at-bat and was brought home by Brian Iguel. Peter Lieto took it upon himself to reach home as he took advantage of passed balls by the Bears’ catcher.

The Bears were only able to put something on the board in the sixth inning, but were still way behind the Falcons, 4-6. The Falcons’ lead only lengthened after a three run last inning which was enough to snatch the W away from the Bears as they could not get past a dominant Falcons pitching performance.

In last Wednesday’s game, the Brewer’s slipped past the Braves, 5-3.