Previous Story
King of the Diamond tourney cast complete
|
Posted on Oct 22 2006
All is set for the upcoming 2006 King of the Diamond Softball Tournament after the Survivors earned the right to join No Ka Oi in representing Saipan against the best from Palau and Guam.
This after the Survivors defeated the Salty Boyz, 9-2, in the championship game of the third leg of the King of the Diamond qualifiers.
The Survivors wasted no time in grabbing the lead as the team exploded for four runs in the opening inning. The team’s first three hitters, Lefty Shiro, Poland Yamada, and Payton Sakuma, each reached base and scored, and the team added another run for the 4-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Salty Boyz, the Survivors were just getting started. Theo Minor and Hynes Asanuma led off the second inning by reaching base, and the two were able to complete their journey around the diamond and score for a 6-0 lead.
With only one out, the Survivors were still thirsting for more, and with timely hitting, added two more runs as Shiro and Sakuma were able to cross home plate again, 8-0.
The team added an insurance run in the fifth inning, with Masaharu scoring again to put up the Survivors’ ninth run of the game.
The Salty Boyz were struggling at the plate and were held scoreless until the fifth inning, when Tui Ngiraidong was able to score the team’s first run.
Clifton Silil also added a run in the sixth inning, but that was all the team managed to put up.
With the win, the Survivors join defending champion No Ka Oi in representing Saipan. No Ka Oi got a free ride to the regional tournament after winning last year’s contest at the Airai Softball Field in Palau.
As the host, Saipan was allowed to have two teams compete. Palau and Guam each have one team.
According to tournament official Brian Adelbai, the three-day tournament will kick off on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Dandan field and will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 12.
No Ka Oi and Guam will battle in the opening game at noon, while the Survivors will take on Palau in the second game.
The first round will feature a round-robin format. The team that finishes with the best record will face the No. 4 team, while No. 2 and No. 3 will battle in the playoffs. The two winners will then face off for the title and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
