Easy victories for BSI Aces, GSM Masters

Ben Duenas pitches for the BSI Aces during the bottom of the fifth inning of their game against the Papa Bears in the 2016 Masters Baseball League last Thursday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Playoff-bound BSI Aces and GSM Masters are not resting on their laurels as proven in their convincing wins against separate foes in the 2016 Masters Baseball League.

The BSI Aces topped Papa Bears, 18-7, in last Thursday’s match at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield, while the GSM Masters eased past Rubak last Monday, 31-4. The BSI Aces improved their record to 7-2 and have one more game left in the double-round robin regular season, while the GSM Masters are done with their elimination assignments and earned a 7-3 mark. The GSM Masters and the BSI Aces are in the playoffs with the Old Stars (7-2), while Papa Bears (3-5) and Saisei (3-6) will battle for the last ticket to the next round. Rubak (1-9) is out of contention.

The BSI Aces set up the easy win over Papa Bears after taking control of the match at the top of the third inning, making up for their silence in the first two innings. They scored seven runs in that frame, behind the two-RBI double of Ben Mesa and Reno Celis’ two-RBI single for a 7-2 advantage. The three other runs came from a sacrifice out, a passed ball, and a Papa Bears’ error. The Papa Bears’ two runs, on the other hand, were courtesy of RBI singles from Ben Cabrera and Ric David.

The Papa Bears continued their struggle at the plate in the next two innings, logging only one run, while the BSI Aces added five more to extend their lead after five and a half innings, 14-3. A four-run bottom of the sixth gave some life to Papa Bears’ dying chances of getting back into the game.

However, the BSI Aces countered with four runs, too at the top of the seventh and finished off the Papa Bears with a 1-2-3 inning at the bottom. Closer Mel Sakisat, who came in for Ben Duenas at the start of the bottom of the last inning struck out Emory Fitial, making up for the single he earlier gave up to leadoff batter Eric David. Fitial was then tagged out at third for the second out and the BSI Aces ended up with a double play with third batter Nick Reyes also beaten to second.

Meanwhile, in last Monday’s game, Ben Hocog made two homers, and Ken Kalen had one to tow the GSM Masters to the early win.

Hocog also scored four RBIs, while Kalen had three, the same number that Jerry Ayuyu had in the lopsided win.