SHSS walks off in extras of boys softball

Saipan Southern High School Manta Ray’s Tristan Sablan walked it off in extra innings to win against Marianas High School Dolphins, 5-4, in the continuation of the Inaugural SBL-PSS Interscholastic Boys High School Slow Pitch Softball League 2023-2024 at the Dan Dan Softball Field last Saturday morning.

A “ghost runner”—SSHS’ Jon Reyes—was set up in second base as per Major League Baseball extra innings rule and Derenz Castro was able to move him up to third with a single.

The next batter, Damian Pangelinan, made the first out, but drove in Reyes for the tying run. Then, Sablan came up and drew a strike, but on the next pitch, fired a hit far enough to drive Castro home for the walk-off, 5-4 win.

The Dolphins had initially been down, 1-2 at the end of the third inning, but tied the game up, 2-2, in the fourth with a run by Franky Hocog. The Manta Rays were not out of it yet as Keahie Omapas scored the third run to take back the lead, 3-2.

But then, MHS’ Jake Aguon found a clear opening through SSHS’ defense and rounded the bases for an inside-the-park homerun in the seventh inning to make it 3-3 and force extras.

However, only one more run came in for the Dolphins by way of Hocog, to make it 4-3, which gave the Manta Rays a chance as the home team to walk it off in their at-bat.

In other results on Saturday, Kagman High School JV outscored SSHS JV, 14-1; and KHS varsity overpowered Mount Carmel School, 15-1.

On Monday, SSHS lost to Kagman High School, 1-5, and KHS JV won over MHS JV, 15-1.

In the standings as of Oct. 30, KHS varsity and JV teams lead with four wins each; SSHS and MHS varsity are both 1-2; MCS have yet to win with three losses; SSHS JV is at 0-1; MHS JV is at 0-2.

The next games are on Saturday, Nov. 4, and Monday, Nov. 6, at Dan Dan Softball Field; then it will move to the Capital Hill Softball Field on Saturday, Nov. 17, Nov. 18, and the championship rounds on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.