By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE defending champion Bud Kings pulled off a close 5-3 win over the Tanapag Falcons to keep their undefeated record in the 2007 Budweiser Saipan Major League baseball tournament last Friday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
Rightfielder Eric Lizama had a sacrifice bunt driving T. Celis home, while an AJ Allen RBI helped Dane Lizama reach homeplate for the Bud Kings 2-point win.
The victory was the defending champions seventh in as many games, while the Falcons dropped to a 3-3 record and are in a tie for third place with the Ford Rangers.
The low-scoring match ended in a deadlock, 3-3, after eight innings.
The Bud Kings were at bat at the top of the ninth with leadoff batter Dane Lizama advancing to first base on a Falcons’ passing error.
Dane then moved to second, as the Falcons’ third pitcher Clint Quitugua walked Celis.
Third batter Jonathan Delos Santos hit a single, but was later thrown out, as he was beaten to second base.
Allen advanced to first base on a fielder’s choice driving Dane Lizama home for the Bud Kings 4-3 lead. Allen was later thrown out on a 6-2 putout play when he tried to run from third to home.
A sacrifice bunt from Eric Lizama drove Celis home and gave the Bud Kings a 5-3 lead.
Roy Celis flied out for the Bud Kings’ third out.
The Bud Kings sealed the win when they shut out the Falcons at the bottom of the ninth with the former’s outfielders playing tough defense.
J.D. Dikito was the Falcons’ leadoff batter at the bottom of the ninth and was beaten to first base by Bud Kings third baseman Jerome Delos Santos’ perfect throw to first baseman and brother Jonathan.
The Falcons’ next two batters, JR Suel and Ned Norita, hit a single each, but the former was left stranded on second and the latter on first, as Bill Camacho and Mike Pangelinan flied out.
Jonathan went 2-for-5 for the Falcons with two singles, while Oliver Secharmidol was 2-for-4 with two singles and one run.
Despite the loss, the Falcons performed better at the plate going 11-for-37. The Bud Kings were 7-for-34.
Meanwhile, the Bud Kings aim for win No. 8 when they face the Young Guns tomorrow. The Young Guns hold a 3-4 slate.
The Ford Rangers and the Masters (4-3) were playing last night, but the results of the match were unavailable at press time.