Team CNMI defeated both the hosting team and Palau in a doubleheader yesterday to advance to the championship.
New Caledonia fell first, losing 11-5. The CNMI scored two in the first inning and squeezed their way into a six-run eighth inning to win. New Caledonia posted their first run in the second and scored four in a strong third inning. They however, failed to eke out late-game runs.
The CNMI garnered 11 hits, with three from Jesus Iguel and two each from Juan Maratita and Manny Sablan. Both Jesus and Maratita led the team at three runs apiece. Sablan and Keoni Lizama earned three and two RBI, respectively. The team allowed only three errors while New Caledonia had nine.
The CNMI proceeded with Palau in a 1 p.m. game and dominated, 8-0.
The CNMI drew blanks in the first three innings but broke the ice in top of the fourth. Maratita, who reach first on a wild pitch, advanced to second on Jerome Delos Santos’ sacrifice bunt.
Byron Kaipat later drove Maratita and Sablan in on an RBI double to centerfield.
The CNMI showed no signs of slowing down in the top of the fifth after scoring three runs on two hits and two errors.
After hitting a double to centerfield, Maratita sealed the top of the eighth with one last run on Delos Santos’ single. Pitcher Josh Jones struck out 11 in nine innings.
The CNMI will play Guam in today’s finals round. Prior to the playoffs, Guam and Palau took the lead at four wins and one loss each. The CNMI and New Caledonia both had three wins and two losses. Fiji trailed at one win and four losses while American Samoa had five losses.
Palau had earlier won the men’s baseball finals in 2007 during the 13th Pacific Games in Samoa.
