Aces three-peat

The UMDA Aces narrowly won the Saipan Major League Wednesday night, defeating Miller Brewers 11-10 to win the title for three consecutive championships in three games to one.

The Aces joins the Toyota Wheels to be the only teams in the Saipan Major League to bag the title for three consecutive years.

The Aces jumped to a 1-0 in the bottom of the first on a double by championship MVP James Soback that plated Glen Palacios.

The Brewers retaliated with three runs in the third to take the lead, highlighted by Greg F. Camacho’s double.

However, the lead was shortlived as the Aces bounced back with six runs of their own in the bottom of the third capped by Ben Hocog’s booming triple.

Two Brewer errors in the fifth helped the Aces to a four-run fifth which put them on top 11-4. The Aces would not score after that as Elmer Sablan came in relief to shut the door.

The Brewers staged a late rally, scoring a couple of runs in the seventh. Down 11-6, they scored four runs off Chris Nelson in the eighth inning. Frank Pangelinan started the rally with a base hit and Ton Manibusan delivered a key two-run single.

Top of the ninth, Aces up 11-10. Again Pangelinan singled off Nelson to lead off the frame. With Pangelinan at third, two outs and a 2-2 pitch to Manibusan, Pangelinan took off for home. He appeared to successfully steal home and tie the game, however the pitch was called strike three, ending the game and giving the Aces a three-peat.

The winning pitcher was John Paul Flores, while Roy Celis was saddled with the loss.

Glen Palacios and Steve Coleman each contributed three hits to the winning cause. James Soback added two RBI’s giving him 11 in the four championship games.

For the Brewers, Manny Sablan went 4-5, Ben Mesa 3-4, and Frank Pangelinan 3-6, as the pennant winners outhit the champs 16-14.

1999 Championship Final
Team: Aces/Brewers

Aces POS AB R H RBI Brewers POS AB R H RBI
Inoske Yamada CF 5 0 1 1 Bob Lizama LF 4 0 1 0
Glen Palacios 2B 5 3 3 0 Frank Pangelinan CF 6 2 3 0
James Soback SS 4 1 2 2 Ben Mesa SS 4 4 3 0
Steve Coleman D/H 4 1 3 1 Greg F. Camacho D/H 3 3 1 1
Peter Kwak 3B 4 1 1 0 Frances George RF 1 0 0 0
Ed Kapileo 1B 4 2 1 2 Greg C. Camacho 1B 3 0 0 0
Ben Hocog LF 4 2 2 1 Peter Tomokane 3B 4 0 2 2
Tony Celis C 3 1 1 0 Manny Sablan C 5 0 4 2
Mel Teregeyo RF 2 0 0 1 Chris Camacho 2B 5 0 1 0
John Paul Flores P 0 0 0 0 John Acosta LF 1 0 0 0
Chris Ada P 0 0 0 0 Tony Manibusan RF 2 1 1 2
Chris Nelson P 0 0 0 0 Tony Cmacho 1B 2 0 0 0
Roy Celis P 0 0 0 0
Ed Santos P 0 0 0 0
Elmer Sablan P

Base on ball: (3) G.F. Camacho (1) B. Mesa, F. George, J. Soback, P. Kwack, E. Kapileo, T. Celis
Strikeouts: (2) G. Palacios (1) P. Kwack, B. Hocog, M. Teregeyo, J. Acosta, T. Manibusan, P. Tomokane, Chris Camacho
Hit by pitch: (1) B. Mesa, F. George, S. Coleman
Sacrifice: (2) Melvin Teregeyo (1) Tony Manibusan, Peter Tomokane
Stolen base: (1) Frank Pangelinan, Tony Manibusan
Error: (1) Bob Lizzama, Peter Tomokane, Glen Palacios, James Soback, Inoske Yamada
Double: (1) Ben Mesa, G.F. Camacho, Glen Palacios, James Soback
Triple: (1) Ben Hocog

INNINGS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H ERROR LOB
Brewers 0 0 3 0 1 0 2 4 0 10 16 2 12
Aces 1 0 6 0 4 0 0 0 11 14 3 7

Pitcher Team Inn R ER H 2B 3B HR BB SO HB WP DEC ERA
J.P. Flores Aces 6 6 2 8 2 0 0 3 1 2 w
Roy Celis Brewers 2.1 6 6 7 2 0 0 1 0 1 L
Ed Santos Brewers 2.0 4 2 4 0 1 0 2 2 0
Elmer Sablan Brewers 3.2 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 3 0
Cris Ada Aces 1.0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0