Sebaklim walk-off hit lifts Pirates over Cubs

Pirates manager Derron Flores, right, talks to one of his players as the GSM Cubs make a pitching change in their game in the U25 division of the Saipan Baseball League last Tuesday night at the Francisco M. Palacios Ballfield. (Jon Perez)

Lorenzo Sebaklim delivered the walk-off hit to lift the Pirates to a 4-3 win over the GSM Cubs as action in the Saipan Baseball League’s Under-25 division returned last Tuesday night at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

It was only the second U25 game completed this month as the unpredictable weather caused the cancellation of several matches in the division the last few weeks. The Cubs defeated the Falcons last Thursday, 7-5, in the other completed game.

The Pirates-Cubs match pushed through after a 10-minute rain delay and went into extra innings, dragging on for almost four hours as the opposing teams battled to a 2-2 draw before the latter scored at the top of the 10th, putting pressure to the Pirates.

Henry Lizama had a leadoff single for the Cubs and scored the go-ahead run on a Franco Nakamura wild pitch. Peyton Lizama walked to put another runner on base but was left stranded once Nakamura settled in. Fred Songao then grounded to Cedric Camacho for the first out, while Devyn Flores caught a Shak Rangamar linedrive and the inning ended when Nakamura struck out A.J. Lizama.

It was the Pirates’ turn at the bottom half with the Cubs needing three outs to secure the win. John Reyes grounded out, but K.J. Deleon Guerrero singled to represent the tying run. Nakamura was then hit by an A.J. Lizama pitch and advanced together with K.J. Deleon Guerrero on a Kiku Lizama error. The Pirates had some anxious moments after Nathan Camacho struck out swinging as the Cubs moved one out away from taking the win.

However, Sebaklim was there to spoil the Cubs’ bid, as he played the hero for the Pirates managed by Derron Flores and coached by Jack Guerrero. The Pirates’ designated hitter brought A.J. Lizama’s first pitch to a gap at right field to bring in Deleon Guerrero, while Nakamura followed suit as it took the Cubs some time to make the relay throw to home plate.

The Pirates-Cubs duel was a pitching and defensive battle as the opposing teams bullpens worked their way on the mound, while their fielders were busy catching linedrives and pop flies to keep the game close.

Ethan Babauta and A.J. Lizama gave up six hits to the Pirates and had six walks and 12 strikeouts.

L.J. Sebaklim and Nakamura, on the other hand, yielded a combined seven hits to the Cubs and totaled for nine walks while fanning nine.