CNMI loses 13-inning thriller vs Canada

Kenji Yamagata, seen here pitching for the Jets in the Saipan Little League Baseball, plays for the CNMI Senior All-Stars, who absorbed a sorry loss to Canada, 5-6, yesterday in the World Series in Bangor, Maine. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Canada scored the winning run at the bottom of the 13th inning with the CNMI Senior League All-Stars just one out away from closing out the frame and keeping the standoff. The Commonwealth bets got the two quick outs after Franco Nakamura caught a foul ball from Canada’s leadoff batter Brandon Metz and second baseman A.J. Evangelista picked up a ground ball from Ermel and threw it to first baseman Nathan Camacho.

Canada then avoided a 1-2-3 play when Jordan Bieber was hit by a pitch from closer Virolanson Secharmidal. A wobbled Bieber walked back to the dugout in favor of pinch runner Parker Filazek, who advanced to second in the next play off Jake Hesselink’s line drive single to left field. Next up to bat for Canada was Caleb Bymak, who hit a ground ball to center field and the CNMI’s K.J. Deleon Guerrero took some time picking up the ball, allowing Filazek to run to home plate for the dagger.

With the loss, the CNMI bowed out of contention for the playoff berth in Pool A, as it fell to a 0-3 record. Canada gained its first win after a 0-3 start.

The battle of the winless squads was a nip-and-tuck one with the CNMI drawing first blood off Nakamura’s line drive single to left field that brought Camacho home at the top of the first. Canada quickly tied the match at the bottom off Troy Treslan’s RBI single. Neither team then scored in the second inning before the CNMI took a 3-1 cushion after Kenji Yamagata reached off a wild pitch in the third and M.J. Sakisat stole home at the top of the fourth.

Canada countered with four runs at the bottom of the fourth inning to grab the lead. Canada recorded the four runs off a sacrifice fly, ground out, and Metz and Hesselink’s RBI singles for a 5-3 advantage that it kept until the fifth inning.

The CNMI forced the third deadlock in the match at the top of the sixth, 5-5, off Sakisat and Deleon Guerrero’s runs. Sakisat led off with a single to center field, stole second, and made it all the way home off Canada’s miscues at center field and third base. Deleon Guerrero also scored off another fielding error from Canada.

The game remained even and was extended all the way to 13 innings, as neither squad failed to make it home with Canada going without a run in eight straight innings and the CNMI in the last six. The Commonwealth sluggers had a chance to win the seesaw battle in regulation when leadoff batter Darion Jones singled to right field, advanced to second off Nakamura’s sacrifice, and made it to third courtesy of Jerald Cabrera’s single. However, he was tagged out at home when he ran after Sakisat was called for the third strike out.

In the extra innings, the CNMI bets had reached third base twice, but also failed to reach home safely. Deleon Guerrero advanced to third at the top of the 10th off a fielder’s choice, stolen base, and Evangelista’s single, however, the former was beaten at home after Yamagata hit a ground ball. Then at the top of the 11th, it was Jesse Brel’s turn to get into scoring position when he pinched run for Jones, who earlier singled to second base, stole second, and advanced to third after a Nakamura ground out with two outs. However, Brel was stuck at third, as Cabrera flied out at first base.

Meanwhile, the CNMI will try to enter the win column today when it duels a team from Virginia in its final pool play game.