GSM Brewers down BSI Aces

The GSM Brewers’ Nokki Saralu warms up as he waits for his turn at bat during their game against the BSI Aces last Monday in the 2016 Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Defending champions GSM Brewers got off to a strong start en route to a 10-5 victory over the BSI Aces in the 2016 Saipan Baseball League last Monday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Brewers collected eight runs at bottom of the first inning to take the early lead which they protected after allowing the Aces to no more than two runs in each of the three innings the latter scored.

Letfielder Ricardo Dela Cruz blasted a two-RBI single in the Brewers’ first inning rush and also reached off an Aces error, while Ton Tenorio and Nokki Saralu each had an RBI single, and designated hitter Manny Sablan and Byron Kaipat had RBI walk apiece. The Brewers got one run of a fielder’s choice.

The first seven players on the Brewers’ batting order reached home before the Aces’ halted the rally with John Tudela replacing starting pitcher Chris Myers and striking out Pat Alepuyo for the first out. Tudela later fanned two more Brewers batters, leaving three runners stranded and ending the Aces’ early misery.

With the Brewers in control, the Aces were forced to mount a comeback and managed to outscore the defending champions in the next six innings, 5-2, to stay in contention. Lamarc Iguel hit an RBI single in the third inning, while Darion Jones had a sacrifice fly. Iguel also recorded a sacrifice fly in the fifth before drilling an RBI single in the seventh for their fourth run, while Ben Jones Jr. had the same shot in that inning, too to cut the Brewers’ lead into five.

The Brewers earned their two other runs at the bottom of fifth from Tenorio’s two-RBI single and kept the lead and the win after shutting down the Aces in the last two innings with Lancaster Secharmidal taking over the mound from Lenny Sablan.

Secharmidal, who relieved Sablan in the latter part of the seventh inning and got a strikeout after beginning his shift with a walk on Darion Jones, kicked off the eighth with a strikeout. He then walked the second batter and gave up a single to the third before fanning out Juan Iguel for the last out. Verlance Sechardmidal earlier flied out to second for the Aces’ second out. Lancaster added another strikeout in the ninth and last inning to end the match. The Aces’ were called for the first two outs off a fly and a ball trick violation.

With the victory, the Brewers improved to a 2-1 record for a tie for second place with the Falcons and Yankees. There is also a tie for the top spot between Titanium and the Chalan Kanoa Bears, which are unbeaten in three games.

The Bears recorded their third triumph against the winless North Starz (0-3) last Friday, 14-8. The co-leaders scored in seven of the nine-inning match, gaining enough cushion in the first five as they totaled eight runs against the five of the North Starz.

Jeremy Lizama went 3-for-4 at bat for the Bears and made two RBIs, while Jeffrey Lizama also had two RBIs off his 2-for-5 performance at the plate. Henry Lizama and J.J. Chong contributed three runs each for the undefeated Bears.