Kaipat leads CPA to victory over POI

Right fielder Byron Kaipat had seven RBIs and three homeruns, including the game winning round-tripper that lifted Commonwealth Ports Authority to a 10-8 victory over POI on Thursday night in the Budweiser Inter-Government/Business League at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

CPA slowly erased a 1-6 deficit after three-and-a-half innings with a run by Mark Toves and Kaipat’s first HR of the night in the bottom third, then another runs by Bill Camacho and Adrian Mendiola in the fourth.

Then, Toves scored anew and Kaipat hit his second homer in the fifth as CPA took the lead for the first time at 7-6.

Although, POI regained the lead, 8-7, with runs by Chris Sablan and Bruce Laniyo at the top of sixth, CPA’s reliever Ed Mendiola made sure no batter reached the first base at the top of seventh.

Then, Ryan Sablan singled and Mel Manahane doubled before Kaipat hit his third HR of the night that finished off POI.

In the first game, Department of Lands and Natural Resources pulled off a 12-11 win over Division of Environmental Quality/Coastal Resources Management.

DLNR overcame a slow start as DEQ/CRM Regulators took a 6-2 lead after two-and-a-half innings but collapsed in defense, as DLNR rallied with four runs at the bottom third to tie the game at 6-all.

Philip Babauta posted his second RBI of the night, while Ray Sablan and Alvin Iglesias scored their first runs, and Esang Olkeriil his second to give DLNR a 9-6 lead in the fourth.

Then the Regulators went in front anew, 11-6, after a five-run explosion behind runners Ed Manibusan, Shawn Masga, JP Flores, Loy Atalig, and Jacob Lizama at the top of seventh and final inning.

But DLNR rallied back with three runs by Gregg Reyes, Peter Teigita, and Paul Lisua at the bottom seventh to join the early leaders in the 20-team field men’s division.

SaipanCell also debuted with an impressive win against its rival by issuing a 14-1 abbreviated victory against Mayor’s Office.

Five of SaipanCell’s first six batters reached home plate right at the top of the first inning and eight of its 10 batters in the second also scored runs for a 13-0 lead that was capped by a three-run homerun by Marino Hiroichi.

Payton Sakuma finished with three runs, Leo Bobai and J.P. Sablan had two each and Gloyd Martin had three RBIs and two runs.

Roman Torres gave Mayor’s Office its lone run in the third, while Sakuma scored his third run of the night on a base hit by Martin in the fourth. SaipanCell pitcher Leo Bobai grounded out the first three batters of SaipanCell at the bottom fourth for the outright victory due to 10-run rule.