The longstanding rivalry raged on as Saipan and Guam traded home runs and run-scoring base hits early in the opening game. Both teams launched four home runs.
However, Guam’s rally in the fifth inning assured them of 15-6 victory. Joseph Sablan fired a two-run home run—his third in the game, Mike Cruz drove in a run with his sacrifice fly.
Earlier in the fourth, Clancy Iyekar also connected a two-run homer.
For the Saipan sluggers, it was a loss that made them look forward to redeem themselves. They took on Tinian first with an 11-6 win and amidst the continuous down pour, stormed Rota with 30 runs.
Guam on the other hand, endured its first loss to Rota whose runners rounded the base as they inched their way up on singles.
Guam was in a winning start in the final game against Saipan when the heavy rains blurred everybody’s sight of the entire ball field leading the battle for this year’s Marianas Cup title through a point system.
Tallying 20 runs scored from the first and second meets, Saipan won by two runs against Guam that garnered a total 18 runs.
In the second meet, Jason Hayes led off a triple before Toi Celis singled him home in the bottom of the first inning.
First baseman Hector Efrain, second baseman, Toi Celis and right fielder, Tony Luzama fielded Guam batsmen for three straight scoreless innings.
Julian Camacho rocketed a run-scoring homer in the third inning. He also had a double and hit two singles.
Leo Bobai allowed only one run in the fourth inning and one base hit in the fifth and sixth innings.
Celis and Joey launched home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Leo Bobai fired a run-scoring double to complete a three-run seventh inning for Saipan’s 14-3 victory.
In women’s division, Team Guam defeated Saipan, 8-5.
Christina “Inch” Rapolla lined the base on Saipan short stopper’s error and made her way home and Valerie Borja knocked in a run-scoring single to take the lead in the first inning.
The Saipan lady sluggers had 14 base hits. Beck Palacios drove in three runs in two innings. She singled Pauline Tudela in the second inning and fired a two-run single in the fourth.
Team Guam however stretched the lead as Kala Taitague fired a two-run single in the top of the fifth inning and Rapolla finished Saipan off with her two-run double in the sixth inning.
