Sakudi wins protest-marred Belau finals

With their undefeated season denied in the finals opener, Sakudi was merciless against the GSM Babes in the second game of their championship match in the Belau Women’s Slow-pitch Softball League yesterday at the Dandan ball field.

Team Sakudi members and coaching staff celebrate their win after beating the GSM Babes in Game 2 of their finals match in the Belau Women’s Slow-pitch Softball League yesterday at the Dandan Ballfield. (Jon Perez)

Sakudi enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage against the Babes after sweeping all of their games in the elimination round to also clinch the pennant, while the Babes’ only losses were against the top-ranked team.

Their unbeaten streak, however, ended with a shocking 9-10 loss in Game 1 of the championship match. Ti’ah Camacho scored the winning run on Gerri Dela Cruz’s hit.

Sakudi, after the loss, put the game under protest complaining that Tani Masga did not play the entire regular season and only suited up for the first time in the finals.

Sakudi was contesting that you just can’t allow a player who did not saw action in the regular season to just suit up for a team.

Sakudi coach Ed Mendiola said that league officials had set a deadline for submitting the team rosters and waiver forms, which Babes mentor Bill Camacho countered that Masga was on the roster that they submitted.

It was later found out that Masga only signed the waiver yesterday.

League officials denied Sakudi’s protest saying that they should have complained before the start of the game and ruled that Masga will no longer play in the second game.

In their you-or-me Game 2 title showdown, Sakudi, with their title bid threatened, recovered their bearings and cruised to a 26-0 shutout win over the Babes.

Sakudi showed why they clinched the pennant and quickly scored five runs in the top of the first inning before breezing through the entire game.

Pina Magofna pitched a complete game shutout giving up eight hits, all singles, and had one walk. She also forced the Babes to either hit fly outs, grounders. or line drives, which the Sakudi defense fielded cleanly.

No amount of defensive adjustments by Babes coach Camacho could stop Sakudi, who a number of times loaded up the bases.

The Babes’ 18 errors and their bullpen giving up 17 walks also did not help their title bid as Sakudi pounced on every opportunity to score runs.

Britta Baechler and Juljean Ngeskebei both went 2-for-4 at the plate with the former having three RBIs and scoring twice, while the latter drove in one run and touched home plate five times.

Bert Camacho, Liz Lebria, Thelma Mizer, Rachel Salila, Maria Aldan, Erin Mendiola, Suuad Younis, Carlyn Reyes, and Krissa Deleon Guerrero were the other members of the team with Paul Salila as the other coach.

Erlinda Naputi, Pauline Camacho, Janeeka Atalig, Melissa Benjamin, Jennifer Palacios, Maelyn Naputi, Ta’an Demapan, Edilyn Benjamin, C.J. Litulumar, Tiah Camacho, Sue Cabrera, Almina Deleon Guerrero, Nicia Cabrera, Lizann Deleon Guerrero, and Kuki Naputi were the other members of the Mart Naputi-managed Babes.