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GSM wins, but Mariners place Game 1 under protest
Go See Mark players exchange high-fives after Game 1 of their semis series against the Mariners in the 2018 Saipan Baseball League last Tuesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Contributed Photo)
Protest marred Game 1 of the best-of-three semis series between Go See Mark and the Mariners in the 2018 Saipan Baseball League last Tuesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
GSM was on top at the conclusion of their semis opener, 14-10, but the Mariners placed the results of Game 1 under protest, as the former put the wrong player on the leftfield at the top of the seventh inning. GSM was ahead, 12-7, and the Mariners’ John Villagomez was about to bat when the trailing squad noticed that Ton Camacho was at leftfield instead of Vince Cepeda, who was then left to sit at the bench. Officials halted the match and later continued it after recognizing the Mariners’ protest. SBL officials are expected to meet before Game 3 of the series to decide on the issue, while Game 2 will be played tonight.
GSM was off to a strong start in the short series after scoring in each of the first five innings of Game 1 for a 11-5 advantage. GSM made three runs each at the bottom of the fourth and fifth inning and two apiece in the second and third, making up for a one-run performance in the opening. GSM had seven runs off the Mariners’ errors, two from passed balls, and one each off wild pitch and fielder’s choice.
The Mariners, on the other hand, were held to two runs in the first four innings before making a move in the next three after combining for eight runs to stay in the game. The Mariners tallied three runs after they caught GSM fielding a wrong player on the defensive end at the top of the seventh.
However, that was also the last time the Mariners reached, as closer L.J. Sebaklim struck out Ton Tenorio to end the top of the eighth and left runners on second and third stranded. GSM then added two more runs at the bottom of the eighth for more cushion and wrapped the match with a 1-2-3 inning at the top of the ninth.
Meanwhile, the Chalan Kanoa Bears were gunning for a sweep in their own series against the Aces last night and results of Game 2 were unavailable as off press time. The Bears took Game 1 last Wednesday, 6-4, to move a win away from making it to the finals and dethroning the Aces.
