Verizon dials up win over Brotherhood, 34-11

The Saipan Softball Association returned from a two-and-a-half month hiatus with a bang on Tuesday night, as all four games on opening night were ended early via the 10-run mercy rule, but none were more one-sided than the 34-11 whooping that the Verizon squad gave the Brotherhood at Tan Ge field.

The legends of long distance slugged 34 runs off of 33 hits through just five innings before the umpires put an end to the slaughter in which Verizon smacked 14 homeruns in their 23-point victory.

Centerfielder Roy Celis went 4-for-5 for Verizon at the plate with three, homeruns, a double, five runs batted in and four runs scored, while teammate Tony Camacho also went yard three times, smacked a single, drove in five runs, and scored four times to finish with a stellar 4-for-5.

Pitcher Nick Castro gave up 11 runs for Verizon in the hitter-friendly format, but he went 4-for-5 when he picked up the bat and hit a pair of dingers, a double, and a triple, drove in three runs, and crossed home four times in the win.

Verizon fell behind 1-0 after the Brotherhood had their first at bat, and was down 4-0 before they erupted for 11 runs in the bottom of the second and 15 in the bottom of the third to blow the game wide open.

Exclusive 22, Salty Boys 9

The talented Exclusive squad used the longball to impose its will upon the Salty Boys in the league opener at the Oleai Sports Complex by hitting seven homeruns to end the game early via the mercy rule, 22-9.

After trailing 4-0, Exclusive cranked a pair of homers to take a 5-4 lead. The Boys rebounded with another quatro in the top of the second, but the heavy hitting Ex-men pounded out nine runs off of nine hits in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

Left fielder Jonathan Delos Santos went a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of homeruns, a single, four runs batted in, and three scores, while teammate Ben Guerrero went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a single, and three runs scored. Shortstop Tony Celis went 2-for-3 as well for Exclusive with a two-run shot, a triple, and two plate crossings.

Flyers 11, CBC Survivors 21

The Survivors outwit, outplayed, and outlasted the Flyers en route to racking up 21 runs off of 21 hits through five innings of work in their abbreviated contest before the American Red Cross called in a mission of mercy to end the game.

Left fielder Payton Sakuma went 3-for-3 with three homeruns for the Survivors, and finished the game with four runs batted in, four runs scored, and a walk to lead his team. Third baseman Poland Yamada went a perfect 3-for-3 as well, hitting a homer and a pair of singles to finish with two scores and two ribbies, while second baseman Hector Efraim accomplished the same feat with three scores for the Survivors.

First baseman Gloyd Martin also had a solid night, with two singles, a homerun, three runs scored, and an RBI to finish 3-for-4.

Fadang 4, Chura 24

The fielders from Fadang had their work cut out for them, as the Chura railed off 24 runs off of 28 hits through five innings before statistician’s pen ran out of ink and the umpires invoked the 10-run mercy rule.

Left fielder J.J. Laniyo was a double away from hitting for the cycle, as the Chura clubber cracked a single, a triple, and a pair of homeruns for the ribbies to finish the game 4-for-4, while second baseman Jerry Ayuyu found perfection as well.

Ayuyu hit a double and three base-knocks for the Chura and scored three times in four attempts—including the final run of the game.

Last season’s uncontested MVP Mel Sakisat returned to the diamond in fine form, as the shortstop went 3-for4 with a triple and two homeruns en route to a six RBI night.