Sakudi, Man Amigos triumph

Sakudi and Man Amigos were crowned champions in Chamolinian Softball Association’s 2nd Annual Budweiser Slow-Pitch Softball League after downing separates foes Friday night at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

Sakudi routed Check It Out in Game 1 of the finals, 28-3, to win the women’s championship early. Sakudi held a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals.

In the men’s division finals, top ranked Man Amigos recovered from a Game 1 loss (25-29) with a thrilling 22-21 Game 2 victory against Natibu to clinch its first championship in five years.

“We have been a group for nine years now and have came in second place in a number of local leagues for the past five years,” Man Amigos coach Joey Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz added he, Vinny Sablan and Jeff Cabrera have been Man Amigos members since day one. The trio then experimented with a number of different players year after year and finally found the right mix to clinch its first title.

“Hats off to Natibu for playing lights out all season long, but we wanted it really bad and worked so hard…it just feels really good to finally get our first championship,” Dela Cruz said.

Man Amigos finished second to Natibu in CSA’s maiden season last year.

Other Man Amigos members include eventual Finals MVP Roy Celis, Julian Camacho, John Terlaje, Jerry Ayuyu, Manny Sablan, Jess Guerrero, Mel Tenorio, Joe Torres, Mike Sablan, James Fleming, Eric Palacios, Carl Hocog, Peter Sablan, Ben Tagabuel, and Saipan Mayor Donald Flores.

As for Sakudi, it dominated the women’s field all year long and was also fortunate enough to meet Check It Out instead of heavy-second favorite Enamo Meta in the finals.

Sakudi is composed of Finals MVP Bert Camacho, Liz Lebria, Rachel Salalila, Erlinda Naputi, Pauline Camacho, Popo Tudela, Lillian Aguon, Thelma Mizer, Tani Masga, Jenny Palacios, Lenise Kapileo, Tiana Muna, Liz Palacios-Olouachel, Eileen Babauta, Juanette Atalig, Bego Camacho, Shirley Taitano, and Geraldine Songao.

Sakudi jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first inning off four hits, two walks, and an error. Check It Out left a runner at first base in the bottom frame. Then Sakudi added a run off an RBI single by Lebria in the top of the second inning.

Check It Out managed a pair of runs off an error and a fielder’s choice in the bottom half, but Sakudi shot ahead, 15-2, in the top of the third off five hits, two fielders’ choices, and a two-run inside the park home run by Bert Camacho. Salalila also bagged an RBI single in the mix. Sakudi never looked back from thereon.

In the deciding Game 2 of the men’s finals, Man Amigos took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off a two-run shot by Ayuyu. Man Amigos stuffed Natibu again in the second inning and Celis, Peter Sablan, and Julian Camacho led off the bottom frame with a trio of solo shots before the team set up a three-run bomb by Palacios for an 8-0 advantage.

Then Ken Kalen finally put Natibu on the board with a solo homer to start the third. Man-Amigos drew a blank in the bottom half. Natibu briefly halved the deficit, 4-8, in the fourth off a two-run homer by Jerry Guerrero and a sacrifice fly by Jun Saralu, but Man Amigos answered with five runs in the bottom frame.

Man Amigos’ runs came off four hits and three errors. Natibu managed three runs in the fifth, as Kalen hit a double and later stole home before J.R. Suel busted a two-run shot. Man-Amigos went 1-2-3 in the bottom frame.

Then Natibu ignited a late rally and pulled ahead, 15-13, in the sixth off a leadoff homer by BJ Sablan, an RBI smash by Pete Teigita, a two-run blast by Kalen, and a clutch three-run homer by Jerome Delos Santos.

However, Man-Amigos shrugged it off and reclaimed the lead, 22-15, in the bottom frame. Palacios and Ayuyu each hammered two-run shots, Celis drilled an RBI double, Hocog looped a sac-fly, and the other runs came off three hits and an error. Natibu postured again in its final stand, but came up a run short of forcing an extra inning.