Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The Enforcers, who also topped the double-round robin regular season with their 9-1 record, got the methodical win, as they registered six earned runs and utilized their pitchers to hold off the Comets batters.

Kier Agda, Virgil Secharmidal, and Ethan Babauta pitched for the Enforcers and combined for only three hitters and gave up no earned run in seven innings to help their team clinch the championship and foil the Comets bid for another upset. The third-seeded Comets, who incidentally handed the Enforcers their lone loss in the season after pulling off a 7-6 win in a classic 19-inning game, marched into the finals after stunning the second-ranked Falcons in the semis, 9-5.

In the finals, the Comets got into the board early, as their first two batters Vincent Keremius and Lorenzo Sebaklim reached home at the top of the first off Agdas pitching error and an Enforcers booboo at third base, respectively. Agda then settled down at the mound and got his first strike against third batter Austin Indalecio and the Enforcers starting pitcher later stranded runners at third and second after earning his second strikeout for the third out. The Comets were earlier called for the second out on a 5-3 putout play.

The Enforcers also lit up the scoreboard in the first inning, which ended in a deadlock, 2-all, after Secharmidal led off for the team and made it home off a Comets error at left field and a passed ball drove Agda home The game remained in a deadlock after two complete innings with Secharmidal stranding two Comets runners and getting two more strikeouts after relieving Agda early in the second inning. Secharmidal was then called for a hit by pitch at the start of the top of the third and leadoff batter Aurel Mendiola went to reach home after another mistake from the former to put the Comets back into the drivers seat, 3-2.

However, the Comets quickly lost the upper hand at the bottom third, as the Enforcers racked up four runs. Babauta hit an RBI double, Shakobe Rangamar drilled an RBI single, and Garnet Martin lasted a two-run single to help the Enforcers turn the tables on the Comets, 6-3.

The Enforcers never looked back from thereon, as Secharmidal found his rhythm in the next two innings after an early struggle in the third. He picked up two ground balls in the fourth inning and threw to first base for two outs and the Comets were done after only three batters, as Sebaklim returned to the dugout after a 5-3 putout play.

In the fifth inning, Secharmidal started a big defensive stop for Enforcers, as he got hold off a short shot from Kobe Santos and threw to second base to tag out Mendiola. The Comets were then charged with a double play, as second baseman Travis Camacho threw to first baseman Ton Muna, who beat Santos for the third out and stranded a runner at third. Muna earlier caught a fly ball for the first out.

After failing to score in the fourth and fifth, the Comets got their fourth and final run at the top of the sixth inning off an Enforcers error at shortstop, however the Enforcers countered with two runs at the bottom sixth to keep their distance. Babauta got another double, which brought Nathan Nogis home at the bottom of the sixth. Nogis earlier had a bunt that helped Secharmidal reach home.

Holding a four-run lead, going into the top of the last inning, the Enforcers turned to Babauta to close the game. He started his pitching chores by walking Indalecio, who was eventually beaten to second, while second batter Austin Hocog was tagged out at third. Mendiola batted third, walked to first, stole second, while fourth batter Santos also had a walk. With runners on first and second and two outs, Babauta faced fifth batter Franco Masga, who hit a grounder. Babauta then stepped into the play, picked up the ball, and threw to Muna for the third out and the Enforcers title-clinching victory.

Excerpt from:

Enforcers get Junior League title