Finals berth within CK Bears’ reach

A Chalan Kanoa Bears runner, right, is at first base and gets ready for his next move during an earlier game against Falcons in the 2018 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. SBL action returned last Wednesday with the Bears beating the Aces, 6-4, in Game 1 of their best-of-three semis series. (Jon Perez)

The Chalan Kanoa Bears knocked on the finals door after downing the Aces, 6-4, in Game 1 of their best-of-three semis series in the 2018 Saipan Baseball League last Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Shortstop Kiku Lizama towed the Bears to victory after blasting a grand slam at the bottom of the seventh inning, which started with the opposing teams in a deadlock, 2-all. Kiku brought with him leadoff batter Jose Lizama, Virgil Secharmidal, and Ben Flores and he made the dagger with the Aces just one out away from wrapping up the pivotal bottom of the seventh. Angel Palacios was called for the first out, as third baseman Nokki Saralu caught the former’s fly ball, while starting pitcher Jose Deleon Guerrero struck out Shakobe Rangamar.

Next up to the plate was Kiku and he found his target for an over-the-fence shot, allowing him and his three teammates to reach home for the 6-2 advantage. After Kiku’s grand slam, the Bears went on to make two more hits with Henry Lizama delivering a single and making it all the way to the third, while A.J. Lizama also singled. However, A.J. and Henry were left stranded when Aces leftfielder John Tudela caught a line drive from Ricardo Dela Cruz to finally end the agonizing bottom of the seventh inning for the defending champions.

At the top of the eighth, the Bears remained on the driver’s seat after shutting down the Aces, no thanks to Secharmidal, who took over the pitching chores from A.J. earlier in the seventh. After giving up a single to leadoff batter Barry Sunumai, who then advanced to second, Secharmidal fanned Mike Iguel. The Bears closer yielded another single—this time to Tyrone Omar—before striking out Ben Jones and Tudela to end the top of the eighth.

A quick 1-2-3 inning at the bottom of the eighth kept the Aces in the game despite failing to score at the top. However, the reigning champs were pressed to make at least four runs at the top of the last inning to extend Game 1 or get five for the win. Lamarc Iguel led off for the Aces and flied out at second base, while Saralu doubled, Angel Falig walked, and Benwachi Taitano was beaten to first on a 4-3 play. Saralu and Falig later reached off Sunumai’s single with two outs. The third out came in the ensuing play with Palacios catching a fly ball from Iguel to hand the Bears the Game 1 win in the short series.

The semis opener was the first game in the league in nearly a month, as matches were rescheduled due to frequent bad weather and repair work at the “Tan Ko” pitch. With the long break, players from both teams struggled a bit offensively with the exemption of Kiku, who led off for the Bears at the bottom of the first, doubled, and reached off a fielder’s choice to put the pennant champs on the board.

The Bears remained on top after five complete innings before an RBI single from Sunumai and designated hitter Mike Iguel at the top of the sixth swung the lead to the Aces, 2-1. The Aces had a chance to gain more cushion, as they loaded the bases with only one out. However, starting pitch A.J. Lizama, who walked two and gave up three hits in the same inning, fanned out Saralu and Falig to frustrate the No. 4 seed team.

After his back-to-back strikeouts, A.J. had a sacrifice fly at the bottom of the sixth, bringing Kiku home for the game-tying run. The Bears then had another impressive defensive stand at the top of the seventh to keep the match in a standoff before Kiku’s slam broke the tie and the heart of the Aces, who are on the brink of losing their title.

The Aces will need to win Game 2 tomorrow to keep their title defense hopes alive. The second match of the semis series was originally set for last Friday, but was canceled due to rain. In the other Final Four pairing, No. 2 seed Go See Mark and No. 3 Mariners will have their opener tonight after Game 1 of their own series set for last Thursday was also called off due to rain.