D-9ers and Proa stay atop SSA fast pitch

In games that were similarly decided in just five innings via the 10-run mercy rule, the D-9ers and Proa walloped their competition to maintain a first place tie between the two in continuation of the Saipan Softball Association’s 2004 Men’s Island Wide Fast Pitch Softball League.

The defending champion D-9ers rolled to another victory courtesy of big plays from their big players. Kagman 1-2-3 should have known that they would be in for trouble when Jerome Delos Santos came to the plate for the 9ers and took the first pitch of the game downtown.

The homesteaders held a 3-1 lead after the first inning, but Mel Sakisat removed any doubts when he smacked a grand slam for the 9ers in the top of the second to put them up for good. The 9ers scored five in the second, six in the third, and another five in the fourth to finish the job.

Sakisat went on to go 2-for-4 with a double and six RBI’s while teammate Roy Celis went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and four ribbies.

Demonstrating perfection at the plate was one of the youngest D-9ers, as Jonathan “Loverboy” Tenorio went 3-for-3. Tenorio has gone 5-for-7 in the last two games for the defending champs.

In the second game, the penetrating powers of Proa pummeled the slipping Seabees Four by a 15-5 score.

Tony Satur pitched five strong innings, allowing just four hits, and fanning six en route to the convincing victory for Proa.

“Six starters didn’t show up for the Seabees Four, but when they are complete they are a force to be reckoned with,” said the know it all of softball Ray Palacios.

Down so many players forced Tony Rogolifoi to pitch the entire game for the Four, and needless to say, he didn’t have the same success experienced by Satur. It was a tale of two Tony’s, and it was the Proa Tony that prevailed.

At 2-0, both the D-9ers and Proa are ahead of the competition this season, followed by Verizon (2-1), the Islanders (1-1), Seabees Four (1-2), and Kagman 1-2-3 (0-4).

The D-9ers earned their first victory over the Islanders and have now scored a combined 34 runs, while Proa has tallied 30 runs in their first two contests. These two powerhouses were all set to go head-to-head last week in Oleai, but the match up was cancelled due to the weather. They are next scheduled to play on Tuesday night, August 31.

The idle Verizon remained in third place, and is not scheduled to play until Tuesday, August 17 against Proa.

Seabees Four stumbled to 1-2 while the Islanders moved ahead of them despite not playing Tuesday. Tonight they take on Proa and have a chance to even their record with the league’s co-leader. Kagman 1-2-3 remains in the cellar at 0-4, but Kagman is a new team that still hasn’t had the chance to gel.

There’s plenty of more softball action on the way, as Slow Pitch plays every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the first game starting at 6:30pm. The Fast Pitch hits the diamond at the same time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you are interested in getting involved in the fast pitch or slow pitch leagues for this season, contact Robert A. Guerrero by calling 888-0215 or 235-1580.