Docomo cruises past Beach Boys

Docomo played its first game of the year and caught a big fish in the Beach Boys notching an 8-3 win in the men’s division of the 2008 Inter Government/Business Softball League Wednesday night at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Docomo allowed the Beach Boys, who are among the Top 3 teams in the 20-squad field and absorbed only their second loss of the season, to score only in two innings.

Leftfielder Jun Salalila put the Beach Boys in the scoreboard at the bottom of the third scoring on Dave Kapileo’s fielding error. Third basemen Ota Nobuyuku gave the Beach Boys their second run reaching home plate in the third on a Jeremy Koshiro’s single.

The Beach Boys’ third and last run came from first baseman B.J. Sablan, who had a solo homer at the bottom of the fifth inning. But Sablan’s round-tripper failed to inspire his teammates for a comeback, as Docomo’s defense tightened up, anew in the last two innings shutting out the latter to preserve the win.

Docomo started the game with a three-run top of the first and scored two runs each in the second and fourth inning. Docomo’s eighth and final run was courtesy of a solo homer from leftfielder Payton Sakuma at the top of the sixth. Sakuma finished 2-for-3 at-bat, scored two runs, and had two RBIs.

The victory improved Docomo’ record to 5-4.

The Beach Boys (6-2) dropped from third to a tie for fourth place with No Zone and Joeten Motors Jets.

CRM/DEQ made on stop at the bottom of the seventh inning to eke out a 10-9 win over Hopwood.

Shortstop Elmer Sablan made a perfect pass to second baseman John Iguel, who tagged Mario Palacios out for the third out at the bottom of the seventh inning ending Hopwood’s chances to steal the game.

Hopwood threatened CRM/DEQ when Palacios’ single drove Tim Williams home moving the former within one, 9-10.

Hopwood’s next two batters were beaten to second and first base, while fourth batter John Pialur walked and later advanced to second. Palacios batted fourth, singled, but was beaten to second for the final out.

CRM/DEQ earned their fourth win in nine games, while Hopwood remained winless after nine assignments.
[B] POI 8, CUC 7[/B]

In another close game, Pacific Oriental, Inc. gave up only two runs in the first six innings and halted Commonwealth Utilities, Corp.’s rally at the top of the seventh to escape with an 8-7 victory.

CUC made one final push to recover and grab the win at the top of the seventh when it scored three earned runs and two unearned. But a 4-3 putout play prevented CUC from stealing the game.

With two outs and a runner in first, Ed Kapileo stepped up to the plate, hit the ball, which landed near second base. POI second baseman Victor Ada picked up the grounder and threw the ball to first baseman Ken Kaipat to wrap up the match.

POI improved to a 4-3 record, while CUC dropped to a 2-7 slate.