Sai Sei recovers, regains masters lead

Two Sai Sei players discuss their strategy while waiting for Rubak’s relief pitcher to complete his warm-up throws during their game in the 2016 Masters Baseball League last Monday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Sai Sei quickly regrouped to beat Rubak, 28-16, in their game in the 2016 Masters Baseball League last Monday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Sai Sei, which absorbed is first loss last Friday (against the Old Stars) after a 2-0 start, took early control of its match over Rubak and then finished strong to improve its record to 3-1 and reclaim the lead in the six-team field.

A 10-run top of the first inning allowed Sai Sei to dictate the tempo of the match. Sai sei’s first eight batters reached home plate in the opening inning, including Steve Igisair and Taylor Germance. Igisair had a two-run single, while Germance made it home off a Rubak error and then hit a two-round double in his second at bat. Leo Bobai and Nizer Masayos scored twice for Sai Sei at the top of the first.

At the bottom of the first, Rubak countered with five runs, including Roland Aizon’s two-run single, however the team remained behind after three innings despite getting seven more in the second and third. Sai Sei matched Rubak’s output in the next two innings to keep the driver’s seat and went on to win the match an inning earlier after limiting the latter to four runs in fourth and fifth, while scoring nine in the last inning.

For the second time, the first eight in Sai Sei’s top of the order made it home at the top of the fifth to set up the easy victory via 10-run mercy rule. Kuich Damian capped Sai Sei’s third win with a strikeout that stranded John Manibusan at third.

Igisair went only 2-for-5 for Sai Sei, but he got four RBIs and scored three runs. Lito Skiliang and Germance added three RBIs each with the former contributing three runs and the latter going 2-for-4 at the plate and chipping in four runs.

Rubak, which is winless in three games, was led by the four runs of Mark Toves, who was perfect at the plate at 3-for-3 and had one RBI.

Meanwhile, in last Friday’s game, the Old Stars handed Sai Sei its first loss, 21-11.

The Old Stars, who slid back to second place after Sei Sei’s win last Monday, were consistent with their offense to snap their foes’ run.

Jess Mesa was flawless at bat for the Old Stars, hitting 3-for-3 and tallying five RBIs. Manny Cabrera was 3-for-4 and scored two runs and three RBIs. James Fleming and Randall Aguon added two RBIs each.

The Old Stars registered four runs each in the first three innings and had their best showing in the fourth where Manny Cabrera blasted a two-run double. Mesa then closed out for the Old Stars with his two-run single in the fifth inning.

Sai Sei had six runs in the first two innings, but was shut down in the third and fifth after adding five more runs in the fourth. Bill Camacho struck out Sai Sei’s first two batters at the bottom of the fifth, while Damian went down on a 4-3 putout play, leaving two runners stranded at first and third and giving the Old Stars the victory.