By Patrick Lujan
It will be a rematch of the 2023 ISA Baseball League championship game after the top-ranked FD Friars and 3rd-ranked Notre Dame Royals won their respective semifinal games Tuesday afternoon.
Saez Alvarez pitched a complete game to guide the unbeaten Friars 8-1 over the #4 GW Geckos, while the Royals pulled off a mild upset over the 2nd-ranked Tiyan Titans behind the pitching of Trace Taijeron.
The championship game is scheduled for 1 pm this Saturday at the Okkodo Field.
ALVAREZ, FRIARS ROLL ALONG
The junior pitcher was in total control on the mound, going all seven innings and scattering four hits and one run, while striking out four.
“I was pretty confident and feeling really good that I was going to go the distance,” Alvarez said. “They had some runners on base that were really fast, but I felt that I was ok.”
Meanwhile, his offense was as steady as they’ve been all year with great plate patience. Ayden Aguon plated two runs in the opening inning with a big hit to quickly make it 2-0. FD poured on five runs in the third inning as the middle of the lineup came through with timely hits to put the game away.
Alvarez was cruising along before JJ Cabrera drove in the lone Geckos run with a solid double down the 3rd base line in the top of the 6th inning.
“I wanted this game and I’m sure that the whole team really wanted this game,” Alvarez said after. “The coaches put their time into us, instilling fundamentals, making sure that we are having fun and playing together.”
“We just had outstanding pitching, outstanding defense and outstanding hitting,” FD manager John Tuquero said. “We kept them at one (run).”
ROYALS PULL OFF UPSET
Simultaneously going on at the Okkodo Field, the Royals fought to a 6-2 upset over #2 Tiyan, thanks to some early runs that had ND jump ahead 4-1 in the third.
This included a wild triple play by the Royals in the 6th inning off a bunt attempt.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
It will be FD and ND once again in the championship game with the Royals currently the reigning champion.
FD manager Tuquero said about the title matchup, “We’re going to treat this like they are just as good or even better than us.”
Look for the Friars to place Ayden Aguon to start things off on the mound.
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