Mariners vs Bears in finals

The Mariners’ Nate Smith waits for the pitch from Go See Mark’s Chu Sebaklim during Game 2 of their semis series in the 2019 Saipan Baseball League late last month at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. The Mariners lost, 2-5, but won the deciding Game 3, 12-7, to advance to the finals against the Chalan Kanoa Bears. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Mariners defeated Go See Mark, 12-7, in the battle for the last finals berth in the 2019 Saipan Baseball League last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Mariners saved the best for last, scoring six runs at the bottom of the sixth inning to prevail in the deciding Game 3 of their short semis series against Go See Mark, which nearly won the rubber match as it led in the majority of the game and was still ahead, 7-6, after five and a half innings.

Behind by only 1, the Mariners quickly knotted the count at the bottom of the sixth with leadoff batter K.J. Deleon Guerrero’s run off GSM’s error. The Mariners then grabbed the lead with Ton Tenorio’s single bringing Mark Flores home, while Eli Augenbaugh’s two-run triple gave the team more cushion.

Aughenbaugh also reached in the pivotal bottom of the sixth inning. Nate Camacho delivered the last run for the Mariners in that frame, as after surrendering six runs, GSM finally stopped the bleeding by striking out Nate Smith for the third out.

With the tables turned on them as they faced a five-run deficit, GSM players must make at least five runs, too to extend the game. However, GSM failed to deliver under pressure and against the defense of the Mariners.

Closer Nate Camacho fanned GSM leadoff batter L.J. Sebaklim for the first out, while Franko Nakamura flied out at left field. Lorenzo Sebaklim was next at bat for GSM and kept the team’s hopes alive, as he walked and stole second. However, he was stuck there and so were GSM’s chances to move into the finals, as Camacho struck out Dennis Cabrera.

With the Mariners stealing one from GSM, the former averted a finals rematch between the latter and the Chalan Kanoa Bears and instead forced a best-of-five title showdown versus the defending champions. Game 1 of the championship series will start this Saturday.

GSM, which won Game 2 (5-2), missed marching into the finals despite a good start in Game 3. GSM scored four runs in the first inning of the rubber and added two in the second for a 6-3 lead. The Mariners, who prevailed in Game 1 (6-4), countered with only three runs at the bottom of the first inning and were shut down in the second before getting two in the third and one in the fourth for the tie, 6-all.

A run from Nakamura at the top of the fifth inning gave the lead back to GSM, but the team eventually lost the driver’s seat, as the Mariners made the offensive move in the sixth inning and then leaned on their defense in the seventh and last to advance to the finale.