AS we reach the midway point in the regular season of the 2024 Tan Holdings Saipan Baseball League, the Royals continue to make a name for themselves by scalping the Braves, 13-8, at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Monday.
It was a seesaw battle as both teams fought for control throughout the ball game.
The Royals were first up to bat and excelled in the early exchanges with two on base. Runners Alden Ngeskebei and Kier Agda were then brought in by Gloyd Martin after connecting a double to earn two RBIs. However, the Braves managed to clean up some of the mess by picking off two runners for two outs.
But before the third out was made, two more runs were added by the Royals — one contributed by Nathan Sablan, who earned an RBI single while the other was scored off an error.
But the Royals also struggled on the defensive end as they committed several errors that allowed the Braves’ Angelo Igitol to slip past home while teammates Vicente Camacho and JV Igitol earned an RBI each to close the distance, 4-3, after one inning.
While the Royals were silenced throughout the next three innings, the Braves capitalized with three more runs scored off errors in the bottom of the third. They also squeezed two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the driver’s seat, 8-4.
However, the Braves failed to score in the remaining three innings while the Royals staged a blistering rally.
After Kier Agda’s RBI double in the top of the fifth, the rest of the Royals followed suit. The first three at bat quickly loaded the bases and the rest of the lineup continued to connect, scoring seven runs led by JBoy Mendiola, Ben Maratita and Sablan with an RBI each. One more run was added in the top of the seventh while the Braves were met with three consecutive outs and had to accept defeat, 8-13.
The Royals’ Kier Agda connects a hit during a game against the Braves in the 2024 Tan Holdings Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball field on Monday.
The Braves’ Josenio Alvarez smiles as he reaches home plate for a scored run during a game against the Royals in the 2024 Tan Holdings Saipan Baseball League at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field on Monday.
