Final Four in BASA slow pitch league set

After a whole season of the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association Slow Pitch Open League, only four teams remain out of 14.

No. 1 seed Aimeliik Bat Boys clinched the first semifinals spot after bashing the Blue Jays, 17-5.

The Bat Boys made light work of the Blue Jays as the game ended early in the fifth inning. The Blue Jays, however, struck first with Kier Agda’s two-run homer in the first inning plus a run after by Paul Salalila, but the Bat Boys had more power.

But in their at-bat, the Bat Boys blew the game wide open after a six-run first inning, for a 6-3 lead. Tyrone Omar started it off with a solo home run, followed by a run by Harry Nakamura, then a grand slam by Irvin Saralu.

The Blue Jays were retired in order in the second inning, then the Bat Boys’ Sus Iguel made it 7-3 with a home run. In the next inning, the Blue Jays tried to make a comeback as they scored two runs, but Bat Boys pitcher Iguel shut them down quickly.

The Bat Boys then went on to score six more runs in the third inning to lead, 14-5. The Blue Jays had no more fight in them as they went scoreless in the last couple of innings. Meanwhile, the Bat Boys added three more runs from a home run by Lamarc Iguel and a two-run homer by Nokki Saralu.

Kebruka 21, Mamaaw 20

It was a slugfest between Kebruka and Mamaaw as it was a fight to the finish, with Kebruka coming out on top by just one run, 21-20.

Both teams took turns bringing in runs, with a 6-5 Kebruka lead heading into the second inning.

Pitchers Mario Salasof Kebruka and Mamaaw’s Rosek Norita were giving up runs left and right, but it was all a matter of who could score the winning run in the last inning.

Mamaaw added three runs from home runs by I.J. Teigita, Kodik Lifoifoi, and Zack Blas, but Kebruka secured their lead from home runs by Cam Towai, Larson Sibetang, and Gus Hocog, for a 10-8 game.

Kebruka went on to score eight more runs in the game, with Mamaaw trailing behind with three more runs. Mamaaw had an explosion of nine runs in the last inning, but fell short as Kebruka had the last at-bat and scored the tying and winning run from a clutch, two-run jack by Hocog.

Just 4 Fun 22, Saipal 21

In another close game, Just 4 Fun slipped past Saipal, 22-21.

Just 4 Fun had the last laugh as they put up just one more run against Saipal who was leading in the game.

In Just 4 Fun’s last at-bat, down by one, 16-17, six runs came in by way of home runs by Tony Salas, Jordan Suel, Rich Salas, P.J. Masaharu, and Jay Kintol, for a 22-17 lead.

Saipal went on to score just four runs and came up short as the third out was made by Jerald Cabrera.

No Excuse 25, PayDayHao 10

Dues were paid as No Excuse defeated PayDayHao, 25-10.

PayDayHao pitcher Juan Iguel was pummeled from the get-go as six runs came in the first inning for No Excuse. Four more runs came in the second inning and PayDayHao was down, 6-10 by the third inning.

The game ended early as No Excuse blew the game wide open with a 14-run third inning by way of multiple home runs and RBI base-hits. Dennis Cabrera Jr., Byron Kaipat, Kimo Angailen, Vince Torres, and Jun Kaipat all hit home runs in that inning.

The game ended when PayDayHao scored just four runs in the last two innings.

The semis are set for this Sunday, Oct. 22, with Just 4 Fun facing off against No Excuse at 10am, and Bat Boys going up against Kebruka at 11am.