CNMI walks off on PH error in 8th

Peyten Lizama beat a wayward throw to third base to score the winning run as Team CNMI squeezed out an eighth inning 7-6 win over a hard-fighting Philippines side in the Big League division of the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, and Big League Regional Baseball Tournament yesterday at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Frankie Lieto prepares to throw a pitch in the CNMI’s Big League division game against the Philippines yesterday in the 2015 Asia Pacific Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball Regional Tournament at the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. (Jon Perez)

The win evened the host team’s record to 2-2 and tied them with their victims, but more importantly it eased the pain of their back-to-back losses to the Philippines and Chinese-Taipei in the first round. The CNMI came off a 0-8 loss to the reigning Asia Pacific champion Chinese-Taipei ,while the Philippines was fresh form a 4-2 win over Guam.

The victory also served as a morale booster for the home team when it faces the still winless Guam, which was playing undefeated Chinese-Taipei at press time, at 5pm today.

The Big League and Seniors division follow a double round-robin format where the top squad will face No. 4 and the second-ranked team will take on No. 3.

Before Lizama’s game-winning run, Bradley Lieto led off for the CNMI with a single as he took Juan Diego Lozano’s seventh pitch to a gap between second base and center field. CNMI manager Tony Rogolifoi then brought in Lizama to pinch run for Lieto. Lizama moved to second on a balk charged to Lozano.

In the next play, CNMI catcher Verlance Secharmidal bunted and Lizama ran towards third base, while Philippines catcher Joni Macasaet picked up the ball and quickly tossed it to third baseman Alphonso Balagtas.

Macasaet’s throw, however, was wide and got past Balagtas’ glove, allowing Lizama to safely reach home for the winning run to the delight of the hometown crowd.

The CNMI trailed after three innings, 0-2, but scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to grab the upper hand. The hosts seemed headed to victory as they managed to protect that lead going into the top of the sixth.

However, the visiting squad came charging back.

Balagtas, with one out after Macasaet grounded out on a 6-3 play, singled, while Lozano followed it up with a double. Josh Salinas had a two-RBI double to bring in Balagtas and Lozano.

Salinas later scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-6 while Ignacio Lozano was out on a 1-3 play. Marco Luis Mallari also singled and tied the game on a CNMI error. The Philippines could have added one more run, but Dan Laurel grounded out on an inning-ending 6-3 play.

Frankie Lieto closed out for the CNMI and despite putting runners on first and second—hitting Miguel Beltran by a pitch and walking Balagtas—with one out in the top of the seventh, he held his own against the Philippines batters.

Lieto forced Macasaet to ground out to first and Lozano to an infield fly. He had a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, striking out Mallari, Salinas, and Gio Esguerra to set up the thrilling finale.

Darrion Jones pitched six innings in start, giving up three earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Lieto allowed no hits, had one walk, and fanned four.

JUNIOR LEAGUE
Australia 8, CNMI 2
Michael Tovey had an inside-the-park home run on a 2-for-4 batting in Australia’s second win after three games.

Luke Austin tossed three shutout innings, allowing two hits, while Tovey pitched one inning in relief before Caydyn Hancock closed out.

Hancock was tagged with one earned run on four hits with one walk and a strikeout.

Australia faces Guam at 1pm today, while the CNMI takes on Chinese-Taipei at 9am.

Chinese-Taipei 22, Philippines 0

Reigning Junior League World Series champion Chinese-Taipei was merciless against the Philippines representatives from Tanauan City, Batangas.

Lee Chan Yi, Liu Ji Hong, and Gu Lin Ruei Yang alternated on the mound to complete the shutout win. They combined for two hits, five strikeouts, and no walks.

Chinese-Taipei, after being shutdown by Philippines starting pitcher Jonas Palad for two innings, scored seven runs against Kenneth Delos Santos in the top of the third.

Lee Cheng Ling went 3-for-5 with three runs, Lo Wen Long doubled and had two RBIs in a 2-for-2 plate appearance ,while Chiu Chih Heng had a two-run inside-the-park homer in the top of the fourth.

Hong Kong 10, Guam 0
Hong Kong used a five-run fourth inning in pulling off the shutout win over Guam and erasing the bitter memory of a walk-off loss to the CNMI last Sunday.

The Hong Kong pitching duo of Jonathan Drapeau and Jay Fong combined for a one-hit game with six strikeouts, and one walk.