Dela Cruz is Dela Crankin’ in Govt League

Saipan’s Inter-Government Men’s Softball Slowpitch League is winding down the season, and the leaders of the league are posting some impressive statistics on their way to the playoffs.

With an amazingly high .943, Joey Dela Cruz of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs is leading the league going 33-for-35. He has hit the second most homeruns (15) and only five players have crossed the plate more than his 33 times. Dela Cruz is hitting so well that he could probably get a hit off of an intentional walk.

Others lighting up the scoreboard for the DCCA are John Reyes (.811), Ben Tagabuel (.737), and birthday boy Mel Sakisat (.730).

Reyes has crossed the plate 30 times, hit 12 dingers, and knocked in 42 runs. Sakisat is doing pretty well for himself, doubling 11 times and making it home on 28 occasions.

It is no wonder that DCCA is tied for first place with a record of 12-0 when you add pitcher Francis George to the equation. With his miniscule 0.99 earned run average, George has opposing batters in the palm of his hand. George is boasting a perfect 3-0 record, and he’s not the only one who has an untarnished record. Eli Rangamar is 4-0 in four games this season, giving credence to the old adage that good pitching beats good hitting any day.

Team “No Zone” is tied for first with the DCCA with an identical 12-0 record. Big hitter Manny Sablan and unbeatable pitcher John Diaz are two of the reasons for their success.

Thus far, Sablan has a batting average of .750, hit 33-for-44, crossed the plate 32 times, hit five triples, homered 15 times, and hit 43 runners home.

For his part, Diaz has gone 6-0 with a 3.06 ERA, and struck out 12 batters. Nobody has a better record than him, and his ERA is the second lowest in the league.

At 12-1, the Commonwealth Ports Authority is doing pretty well for themselves. Just a half game back of the leaders, CPA sees consistent output from all of its players. Their standouts are the guys standing out on the mound. Pitchers Joe Rabauliman and Ed Mendiola are a combined 10-1 on the year, and their ERA’s of 5.43 and 6.51 put them at fourth and eighth in the league, respectively.

The Marianas Public Lands Authority is sitting in fourth place at 10-4, and it’s the bat of Jack Diaz that helps them stay there. Hitting .725, Diaz leads his team and all but eight others in the league. He is 29-for-40, and has stretched six of those hits into triples.

There’s a pair of Attao’s in the Governor’s Office that are causing trouble for opposing pitchers in the league. Jo Jo is making his way through opposing pitchers hitting .811 and going 30-for-37 and B.J. is swinging away with .733 going 22-for-30 for the Gov. Nobody goes yard more than Jo Jo (16), and he is brining home runners like it’s his job with a league leading 44 RBI’s. It just doesn’t end for the slugger, as he is on the top pitchers list as well. Jo Jo Attao is 4-2 as a hurler for the Gov, and his 6.28 ERA is good enough for second in the league. Teammate Pete Towai is 4-1 on the mound and fifth on the list with his 5.80 ERA. All of that power would suggest a second or third place team, but the Governor’s Office is in fifth at 9-3.

Only the top eight teams will make it into the single elimination playoffs, and there are four teams with seven wins battling out for the final three slots. CHC (7-4), Enforcers (7-5), CUC (7-6) and DOA (7-6) are all competing for the last three invitations to the dance, but one will be left without a date.

CHC might have a shot with big-time pitcher Diego Kaipat and his 4.14 ERA. DOA has Tony Pangelinan hitting .776 and Donald Flores Pitching 6.09, giving them a shot at the playoffs. Elie Saralu even gives the Enforcers a reason to believe, hitting .714.

With the rainout games scheduled to start this week, it’s still anybody’s game. Well anybody but the bottom seven teams. There is an outside chance that the Legislature (4-8) could make it in, but everyone else has to lose, and the Earth has to continue on its axis until the third day in the vernal equinox, or something like that.

The season continues with the rescheduled make-up games Thursday night, May 20, when DCCA takes on the Gov’s Office at 8pm and DOA faces CHC at 9pm. All games are set to take place at the Oleai Sports Complex.