Top seeds set dream finale

Brotherhood’s John D. Diaz, left, pitches to a Peleliu player during their knockout match for the pennant in the 2017 Belau Men’s Masters Softball League at the Dandan Softball Field. Brotherhood and Peleliu will collide in best-of-three title series this Sunday. (Jon Perez)

Top seeds Peleliu and Brotherhood disposed of their respective rivals in the knockout semifinals last week to arrange their much-awaited title showdown in the 2017 Belau Men’s Masters Softball League.

The best-of-three championship series will start at 11am this Sunday and the duel will be a test of endurance as Peleliu and Brotherhood will play all the matches on the same day.

Pennant champ Peleliu took the first finals berth despite failing to capitalize early on a tired S.A. Masters’ side, grinding out a 23-17 win. The Masters played twice last Sunday, facing Karui first for the continuation of their rained-out quarterfinals match on Oct. 22.

The Masters used a nine-run seventh inning in completing a 14-4 decision against Karui. Homeruns by Jack Guerrero in the first, Mais Aguon in the sixth, and Jude Dickinson in the seventh brought the Masters to the semifinals. Mike Sablan also did his share on the mound as he held the usually explosive Taylor Germance of Karui to a 2-of-3 batting with a single and a double.

Then in the semis, Peleliu managed to eliminate the Masters, banking on a pair of seven-run innings in the fourth and fifth to advance to the finals.

Ross Kintaro led Peleliu’s 25-hit parade as he was a single short of making the cycle and went 3-for-4. He led off the third with a solo homer to go with his double, triple, three runs, and three RBIs.

Mark Flores finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, four runs, and two RBIs, while Dominic Hideo went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, including a two-RBI single in the fourth. Dominic Remeliik, 3-for-5, added three runs and three RBIs, while Brel Kodep also homered in the fifth.

Brotherhood 20, Momma Charu 3
Pennant runners-up Brotherhood had an easier outing and only needed four innings to earn the right of facing Peleliu in the finals.

John D. Diaz pitched a complete game and held Momma Charu scoreless in the second and third. He limited their opponents to six hits while striking out two and giving up two walks.

Julian Camacho struck with a pair of doubles to go 3-for-3 at the plate and three runs in leading Brotherhood’s 10-run explosion in the second inning. Joe Lizama also went 3-for-3, all singles, to go with his two runs and two RBIs.

Ken Kalen, who struck out in his first at bat, blasted two home runs and had five RBIs. Bill Aguon, Jerry Ayuyu, and Bill Camacho each homered with the former adding a double, two runs, and two RBIs.

Nizer Masayos led off with a triple for Momma Charu at the top of the first and later scored on a Lee Sibetang RBI single.

Momma Charu failed to score after that and only had a runner reaching home plate in the fourth. Leo Bobai walked, advanced to second on a Dominic Kuich single, and reached on another single by Ed Kapileo. Kuich scored Momma Charu’s last run on a Ron Olopai single in the same inning.