CNMI still unbeaten

The CNMI first played host Pohnpei in the morning match and pulled off a 6-5 victory. The Commonwealth sluggers then returned to the field in the afternoon to resume their rained-out game against Kosrae and also eked out a close 5-4 win in extra inning to remain undefeated in the five-team field. The Tony Rogolifoi-managed squad will go for a sweep and the top ranking in the tournament today when it faces fellow unbeaten Guam. The Top 2 teams after the elimination will fight for the first finals berth.

Against Pohnpei, the CNMI rode on the heroics of Rocco Reyes, who according to United Youth Media, helped bring the winning run for the CNMI at the bottom of the seventh inning. Reyes blasted a single to centerfield and the outfielder failed to catch the ball, allowing a CNMI runner to reach home plate for the game-winning run.

The CNMI-Pohnpei match was a close one with the former taking a 3-2 advantage after three complete innings. Rogolifoi’s wards scored one run in the first and two in the third, while Pohnpei also had two runs. The opposing teams traded one run apiece in the next three innings to keep the game tight before a two-run top of the seventh allowed Pohnpei to steal the lead. However, the CNMI countered with two runs at the bottom seventh to foil Pohnpei’s bid.

Joe Palacios, Jr. and Roy Celis pitched for the CNMI with the former getting four strikeouts in four innings pitched and the latter having two in two innings. On offense, the CNMI had three hits, off Reyes’ two base hits, and one walk.

Versus Kosrae, the CNMI needed an one extra inning to keep its flawless record.

The Commonwealth bets had a three-run bottom of the eighth to avoid Kosrae’s upset axe. The CNMI-Kosrae match was called off due to rain last Wednesday with neither team scoring after two innings. They got one run each in the next two innings at the resumption of the match yesterday and remained tied as they failed to score in the last three innings. Kosrae then broke the ice at the top of the extra inning with its two runs, but the CNMI answered with three runs at the bottom to escape with the victory.

Vince Cepeda pitched 7.2 innings for the CNMI and had six strikeouts. Tyrone Omar had two hits, while Jared Sablan got one RBI for the CNMI.

2 more silver medals in athletics
Runner Jesse James gave the CNMI its last medal in the athletics competition after placing second in the men’s half marathon race yesterday.

James finished the 21.0975-run in 1:18:58 win take the silver medal. Pohnpei’s Magdano Marquez got the gold with his 1:17:36, while the CNMI’s Seiya Eda nearly joined James in the medal podium after placing fourth with a time of 1:22:46. Chuuk’s Rexter Muritok denied Eda’s medal bid after posting 1:20:20. Dylan Ackerman was the third CNMI bet to join the longest race of the tournament and timed in at 1:39:08. In the women’s division, Reloliza Saimon won the gold after clocking in at 1:34.48 against the 1:39.08 of Palau’s Christina Wicker.

James’ silver was the last two medals the CNMI got in Days 3 and 4 of the Games with Jaynard White giving Team Marianas the other silver medal last Wednesday night. White recorded 1.50m in the long jump to finish second behind the 1.51m of Palau’s Adolph Speng Demei. Jacques Stills (1.45m) also of Palau got the bronze.

With the two more silver medals in athletics, the CNMI has earned 18 medals after four days of competition, 10 of them are gold, seven are silver, and one is bronze. Guam leads the medal tally with its 33-19-7 haul, while Pohnpei (27-31-20), and Palau (22-15-22) complete the Top 3. The CNMI is in fifth place behind Marshall Islands (10-19-24) and is hoping to gain a few more medals with the canoe racing and weightlifting scheduled to start this weekend and yesterday and basketball and baseball still having their competition.