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Pirates, D-9ers look to advance to finals
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Posted on Jan 19 2006
The D-9ers and the Pirates are just a game away from advancing to the finals of the Saipan Major League’s Fall playoff season as the unlikely last place team and the pennant runner-ups scored decisive victories over the competition last week at the Kan Pacific Baseball Field in Marpi.
The D-9ers pulled off what many thought impossible as they beat the pennant champion Hustlers, 8-5, and they did so with authority by jumping out to a commanding 7-0 lead through the first six and a half innings.
Rather than hope they could hang in with the regular season champs, the regular season’s last place finishers took the offensive from the start by taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the second off of three hits and added another four runs four innings later when the D-9ers experienced their second burst of the game.
The unlikely win put the D-9ers in control of the best-of-three series, and could realize their dreams of a berth in the finals by repeating the success they experienced on their home turf at Saipan’s northernmost ballpark.
After losing the pennant on the final game of the regular season when they fell to the Hustlers, the Pirates exorcised their demons by doubling up on the Tanapag No Zone, 8-4, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
The Pirates pitchers were well taken cared off by the offense, as the batters piled up eight runs on 13 hits in the opener, and they look to close out the first round by slamming the door on a team they should beat.
The action will continue at 10am tomorrow morning as all four teams surge ahead into Game 2 of their respective series, and all deciding Game 3s will he held on Jan. 22, if necessary. (Brad E. Ruszala)
