Fielders clip Masters in SML, 5-3

 The IT&E Fielders held on to surpass the Masters, 5-3, during their game in the Saipan Major League Baseball Association last Monday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Fielders evened out their record to 2-2, while the Masters fell to a 1-2 card.

The visiting Masters Mark Toves led off the game with a double and was driven in by Reno Celis in the top of the first inning, but the Fielders obliged with two runs in the bottom frame from Anthony Tenorio and Wenser Namelo. Tenorio drew a leadoff walk and later stole home, while Namelo double in clean up man Ryan Ada.

The Masters stranded a man at second base in the next inning and the Fielders moved ahead, 3-1, in the bottom frame off an RBI single by Eldred Sanchez, who brought in hit-batsman John Reyes.

Fielders’ starting pitcher Ben Santos settled down after giving up the early run and held the Masters scoreless for the next four innings.

Masters pitcher Paul Camacho also caught his stride through the middle innings and kept his team in contention heading into the seventh inning stretch.

Fielders’ Brandon Santos came to the mound for his father at the start of the sixth inning and made it unscathed for two frames. After undergoing some control issues early on, Brandon Santos finished his shift with three strikeouts to close the top of the seventh.

The younger Santos’ strong showing inspired his teammates to work around two runs in the bottom frame off two hits.

Cadiz Tenorio led off with a walk and moved to third base off a double by Ada. He was then driven to the plate with a sacrifice fly by Namelo and an out later, Reyes singled in home Ada.

The Fielders’ brought their closer Elton Santos to start the eighth inning and finish them off, but he endure a few uncharacteristic errors from the start, allowing a couple Masters runners to score.

Elton Santos sat down his first man, but then plunked Cimaco Laniyo and then threw away the ball trying to pick him off at first base, helping Laniyo scamper all the way to third.

Elton Santos then plunked next batter Jess Mesa and threw it away again for the same result. Audie Maratita drove in Mesa before the Fielders could get out of the inning and Elton Santos pulled it together in the final stand.

Winning pitcher Ben Santos gave up one earned run off four hits, two walks, and a hit batsman with two strikeouts through five innings.

Namelo swung 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base; Ada went 2-for-3 with two runs; and John Reyes batted 2-for-3 with a RBI a run and two stolen bases.

The season continues on Monday night at the Tan Ko Field with the Ol’Aces (2-0) squaring off against the defending champion St. Michael’s Medical Response-Angels (2-1) at 6:30pm.