Blue Jays split two games in Master’s League

The Blue Jays split their last two games in the 2023 SBL Master’s League last Dec. 6 and Nov. 30 at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

They flew high against the Spartans on Nov. 30, 16-3, but came crashing back down to earth after they lost to the Pirates, 7-19, last Dec. 6.

In their win against the Spartans, Ed Manibusan led the team by going three out of four at-bats, with one run, one double, and two RBIs.

In the first inning alone, the Blue Jays brought in nine runs mostly off defensive errors by the Spartans.

Alvin Takai scored twice, while Jun Salalila, Cris George, Jess Mesa, Paul Salalila, Manny Cabrera, Pepi Takano, and Mike Tomokane scored the seven other runs that inning.

Spartans pitcher Larry Norita couldn’t stop the bleeding as the Blue Jays scored two more in the next inning for a 11-2 lead.

Only one more run would score for the Spartans from Ton Pangelinan, as Blue Jays pitcher George proceeded to shut them down in the last inning. The Blue Jays scored four in the third and one more in the fourth for an overwhelming 13-run deficit.

When they faced off against the Pirates, however, the Blue Jays could not get past their pitchers Bill Camacho and Pete Sablan.

Three runs came in the first inning for the Blue Jays, but the Pirates scored four. The Pirates continued to stack on their lead as they scored five more by the fourth inning for a 9-4 lead.

The Blue Jays could only score three in the last inning from runs by Julian Salalila, Takai, and Jun Salalila. The Pirates’ offense on the other hand, went full force and scored eight runs thanks to Ben Tagabuel, D. Flores, Sablan, Audie Maratita, Jerome Delos Santos, Eric Palacios, Jess Tenorio, and Mario Aguon.

In other results last Dec. 5, the Reds defeated the Marlins, 14-13; and the Dodgers pummeled the Spartans, 28-9, last Dec. 7.

The Masters league started last Nov. 20, with six teams—the Blue Jays, Spartans, Pirates, Reds, Marlins, and Dodgers vying for the championship title. The league is scheduled through February 2024, with the championship series slated for Feb. 19, Feb. 21, and Feb. 23.