On Thursday, June 14th the top-rank Oldiais team inched closer to its second championship appearance in two season by defeating Ngerchelong Blue Sharks in the first of their three-game playoff series. The visitors Blue Sharks took an early 2-run lead in the top of the opening inning and kept the lead until the 3rd inning when the ever potent Oldiais offense roared back with seven runs to take a 7-2 lead. In the top of the 3rd Blue Sharks mounted a comeback and cut the lead to 7-4 only to see Oldiais fashion another offensive attack manufacturing 5 more runs to increase the lead to 12-4, sending Blue Sharks starter Ngiraibakes to the dugout and brining out reliever Tuchoi Franz. Oldiais starting pitcher Avery Mesubed, who appeared to struggle early composed himself and dodge another Blue sharks attack while Oldiais bats kept producing runs for the final score of 14 to 8. Avery pitched a complete game and earned a win while Ngiraibakes was charge with a loss.
On Friday, June 16th third rank Meyuns and 2nd rank Peleliu battled each other into the wee hours with Peleliu winning buy a single run midnight in the season record 12 innings. Peleliu ace pitcher Chiuki Ongerung tamed the bats of the young Meyuns players by limiting them to four runs through 7 innings. However, in the top of the seventh and final at-bat for Meyuns, their offense came alive for 4 runs to even the 8 – 8. In the bottom of the seventh, Meyuns kept Peleliu scoreless behind superb pitching of reliever Idesiar to send the game into extra innings. The two teams, behind strong pitching from their relievers Ngirarois Rechemang of Peleliu and Idesiar of Meyuns, kept each other from scoring until the 12th inner when Peleliu catcher Sal Masang’s walk-off single brought home Moi Ito from second base for the final score of 9 to 8. Chiuki earned a win while Besul Aitaro was tagged with a loss.
Game 2 of Ngerchelong Blue Sharks/Oldiais series is Tuesday night and Peleliu takes on Meyuns on Wednesday night.