Pirates sweep, Hustlers survive

The Pirates worked quickly and easily earned a slot in the championship series of the SML Fall League, while pennant champs Hustlers rebounded and earned a shot at the Pirates as baseball action at the Kan Pacific Baseball Field heated up over the weekend.

The Pirates, whose pennant hopes were shattered by a loss to Tanapag in the regular season, got sweet revenge as they completed a two-game sweep of Tanapag in their best-of-three semifinals with a 13-3 victory Saturday.

The Pirates got a huge lift from slugger B.J. Sablan, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, two runs, and five runs batted in while hitting in the clean-up spot.

Sablan and company got to work early as the first baseman drove in the team’s first run courtesy of a triple that sent J.P. Sablan home.

The Pirates added another run in the second inning when B.J. Seman reached on a single and trotted home on a single by Jess Iguel, 2-0.

Tanapag was able to respond well and leveled the game courtesy of two runs in the bottom of the third. Peter Teigita and McGregory Camacho both singled, with Teigita scoring on a pass ball and Camacho crossing home plate when Jay Camacho hit into a fielder’s choice, 2-2.

The Pirates weren’t too happy about the tied game and blew the bout wide open with an eight-run fourth inning to take a commanding 10-2 lead. Tom Dela Cruz reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on a single by Ben Jones and Jon Villagomez reached on an error before crossing home plate when J.P Sablan walked with the bases loaded.

B.J. Sablan then came through again as he brought out his whooping stick and tattooed the ball for a three-run double. He scored on an error, Luis Iguel singled and was brought in by Ray Dela Cruz, and Seman walked and scored.

The Pirates were far from done and made it even harder for Tanapag to pull off a comeback as they scored two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth. Tanapag managed to score a run in the bottom of the sixth, however, they were not able to prevent the 10-run mercy rule from taking effect and the game was called off after seven innings.

Luis Iguel finished with three hits and a run, J.P. Sablan went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, and Seman and Jesse Iguel had two hits for the Pirates.

Josh Dela Cruz took the win with a complete game effort, giving up six hits while fanning five batters.

Meanwhile, the Hustlers staved off elimination and defeated the D9ers, 10-8, to level their series.

A.J. Allen sizzled and went 3-for-5 with two runs, a triple, a stolen base, and two RBIs for the Hustlers. Ed Manibusan also had three hits and a run, while Manny Sablan had a single and a double and three runs scored.

The Hustlers were down by a run after five innings, 7-8, when they turned the tables and grabbed the lead for good. Allen, who already had two singles, stepped up to the plate and connected for a two-run triple, then scored on a pass ball for the 10-8 result.

With the series on the line, the Hustlers returned to the field on Sunday and dominated for a 13-4 clincher.

The Hustlers had to come from behind again as the D9ers got off to a terrific start when Jesse Jones, Sam Babauta, and Randy Rabago led off with three straight doubles to take a 2-0 lead.

The Hustlers responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Eric Lizama led off with a single and scored on an error, then put the game away with a nine-run second inning in which the team had seven hits, with Ben Sablan knocking up a triple and Franco Flores hitting a double.

The D9ers scored two runs in the fourth, but was not able to do much damage after that as the Hustlers capped their offensive spree with three more runs in the fifth for the final score.

J.R. Suel went 4-for-6 with two runs while Allen and Dane Lizama each had three hits and a run. Eric Lizama and Manibusan also supported with two hits.

With that, league coordinator Tony Rogolifoi said the Pirates and the Hustlers would begin their best-of-five championship series this Saturday at 10am. Game 2 will be on Sunday at 10am as well.