Falcons shoot down Cardinals, 10-8

The 2024 Saipan Baseball League season started off with a bang and an upset as the high-flying Falcons shot down defending champions Cardinals, 10-8, in extra innings during a thrilling opening day last Monday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

The fighting Falcons and the relentless Cardinals set an explosive tone for the season as serious firepower boomed off just two innings into the game.

The Falcons struck first in the first innings with two runs scored by A.J. Evangelista and Ian Norita, but the Cardinals retaliated quickly in the second.

After being shutout in the first by Falcons’ pitcher I.J. Teigita, the Cardinals’ Jerald Cabrera got on base after a single and was in perfect position for Eli Aghenbaugh who sent one to the moon to tie it up, 2-2.

Poland Masaharu and Pat Tenorio put some traffic on the bases again and the timing was just perfect once more as leadoff batter Tony Tenorio followed Aughenbaugh’s footstep to take the lead, 5-2.

The Falcons’ pitching staff was reeling but that didn’t stop them from getting back into fighting form on the mound. They went on to shutout the Cardinals from the third to the sixth inning, which gave their offense time to do some catch up work.

In the fifth, the Falcons scored three to tie it up, 5-5, after the Norita family made up of Tonchu, Ian, and Jonathan rounded the bases.

Both teams were tied once again, 6-6 in the seventh, and the game was bound for extras.

The Falcons’ determination and hustle on the bases proved pivotal as they scored four runs at the top of the eight for a little breathing room with the Cardinals as the home team.

The Cardinals planned for a rally as they scored two runs in, but they came up shy of tying it up and forcing another inning as Falcons pitcher R.J. Renguul finished them off to clinch the first win of the season.

The ceremonial first pitch of the season was made by Sports Hall of Famer and many time SBL (and precursor Saipan Major League) champion manager Tony Rogolifoi and before the teams took the diamond, an awards ceremony was held to award the winners of the 2023 season.

Catch the action at 6:30pm from Monday through Thursday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.