CNMI Team routs Pohnpei

Lorenzo Sebaklim, seen here pitching in a local league last year, hit a three-RBI double and scored three runs in the CNMI’s 14-3 victory over Pohnpei in the 3rd Micronesian Baseball Classic yesterday at the Paseo Stadium in Guam. (Saipan Tribune)

The CNMI picked up where it left off, winning its second game in the 3rd Micronesian Baseball Classic in convincing fashion after hammering Pohnpei, 14-3 yesterday at the Paseo Stadium in Guam.

After shutting down Kosrae, 7-0, in its opener last Monday, the CNMI was still on target and got another easy victory after only six innings. The Commonwealth bets set up the win an inning early via 10-run mercy rule after collecting nine runs at the top of the sixth inning.

All but one of the CNMI’s top of the order reached in the deciding inning, which was highlighted by Darion Jones’ two-RBI single. Franco Nakamura, Dennis Cabrera, Poland Masaharu, A.J. Lizama, Nate Camacho, M.J. Sakisat, and Lorenzo Sebaklim were the other players who made it home for the CNMI at the bottom of the sixth inning.

Lorenzo earlier scored two runs and blasted a three-run double at the top of the fourth inning, turning a 2-0 lead to a 4-0 advantage. Fred Songao handed the CNMI its first run at the top of the second inning, while Lorenzo gave the team its second when he scored off Jeffery Lizama’s single and delivered their fourth run in the fourth innings off Josenio Alvarez’s single.

Alvarez, Songao, and Sakisat each went 2-for-3 at bat and combined for five runs, while Masaharu and Nakamura were 3-for-5 and 2-for-5, respectively, and had one RBIs each.

L.J. Sebaklim pitched in no relief for the CNMI, struck out three, and gave up only two hits. With L.J. playing steady on the mound and the rest of the team’s defense sharp, the Commonwealth crew allowed Pohnpei to score only in the third inning. The CNMI’s solid defense forced Pohnpei to a 1-2-3 inning in the first to third, fifth, and sixth.

Meanwhile, the CNMI will close out its pool assignment today when it challenges host Guam in the 3pm match. The defending champion also holds a 2-0 record following a 15-1 rout over Kosrae.

Guam, which is reinforced by pro players Peter Perez and Sean Cruz, finished off Kosrae after only five innings, setting up the lopsided win after scoring nine runs in the first inning and six in the second. Kosrae’s lone run in the match was recorded in the fourth inning.

After today’s last pool play, Guam and CNMI will meet anew tomorrow at 10am for the first finals berth. The loser will play on the same day at 2pm against the winner in the Kosrae-Pohnpei duel for the second finals ticket.

L.J .Sebaklim pitches to a Pohnpei batter during the second inning of their game in the 3rd Micronesian Baseball Classic yesterday at the Paseo Stadium in Guam. (Guam Major League Baseball Photo)