PIC finally barges into win column

Pacific Island Club finally broke into the win column in the Budweiser 2008 Inter Government/Business Softball League after four tries, whipping Hopwood, 16-6, Wednesday night at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

A 11-run bottom of the fourth allowed PIC to finish off Hopwood after four and a half innings and handed the latter its sixth loss in as many games.

PIC’s bottom of the fourth breakway was highlighted by second baseman Thunderson Sokau’s solo homer and pitcher Rueben Olkeriil’s two-run round-tripper.

Third baseman Cole Pritchard, outfielder Masatoshi Otsuka, and third baseman Jhun Kellar also helped PIC record an easy win. All three went perfect at the plate going 2-for-2.

Pritchard scored two runs, one triple, one single and three RBIs. Otsuka and Kellar also nailed two runs apiece with the latter making two RBIs.

PIC went 19-for-33 at the plate for a batting average of .575.

Hopwood was very much in the game after three complete innings, as second baseman Tim Williams connected on a two-run homer and later reached home plate on an Epi Cabrera single.

Shortstop Frank Angel and outfielder Ronald Gabionza scored one run apiece at the top of the fourth to help Hopwood tie the game, 5-all.

But PIC went on a rampage at the bottom with Kellar leading off and making a single. Olkeriil batted next and sparked PIC’s run with his two-run homer.

Hopwood lost its chances of extending the game when PIC made a double play at the top of the fifth with Gabionza flying out and PIC leftfielder Tommy Kennington throwing the ball to Olkeriil, who tagged Williams out at home plate. Earlier at the top of the fifth, third batter Fred Salavaria was tagged out to second for the first out.

In the first game of the night, Procurement & Supply was on target in the fifth and last inning to down the Commonwealth Health Center, 18-8.

P&S improved to a 2-3 record, while CHC dropped to a 1-4 slate.

P&S was leading by only one, 4-3 after four complete innings, when it started finding its mark at the top of the fifth to take an 11-3 lead.

CHC answered with a four-run bottom of the fifth capitalizing on P&S’ errors to remain in contention trailing by only four, 7-11.

But CHC scored only one run in the last two innings with John Duenas’ single bringing leftfielder Lefty Shiro home at the bottom of the sixth.

P&S did not score at the top of the sixth, but widened the lead at the top of the seventh. Centerfielder Roy Norita blasted a two-run single at the top of the seventh helping P&S pull away.

P&S preserved the win after throwing out CHC’s first three batters at the bottom of the seventh.

Third baseman Mark Flores made the lone run in the game, drilling a three-run round-tripper at the top of the third. He went 3-for-4 at-bat and had four RBIs.
[B] Beach Boys 10, PSS 6[/B]

In the second game, the Beach Boys regained their form after losing to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs by beating the Public School System, 10-6.

PSS shut out the Beach Boys in the first two innings But the Beach Boys found their rhythm in the third with Stanley Aldan’s two-run single sparking his team’s six-run top of the third to take the lead, 7-3.

PSS played catch-up since then and after the Beach Boys’ close out with a three-run top of the seventh for a 10-4 lead, the former was forced to score at least six runs to extend the match.

But PSS fell short making only four to absorb its fourth defeat in four games. The Beach Boys notched their third victory in five games.