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Pirates, D-9ers win in Marpi
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Posted on Oct 31 2005
The Pirates handed the defending champion Hustlers their first loss of the season, while the D-9ers picked up their first win over Tanapag as the fiercesome foursome of the Saipan Major League’s Fall edition brought the American pastime to the pastures in Marpi at the Kan Pacific Baseball Field on Sunday morning.
The Pirates didn’t waste the opportunity to knock off the kings of the hill as Ray and Josh Dela Cruz teamed up to allow just one run off of six hits from atop the mound, while their teammates piled on 10 runs off of 13 hits to hammer the Hustlers, 10-1.
Ray Dela Cruz went seven innings for the Pirates and gave up the only run against five hits, six strikeouts, and a pair of walks before Josh Dela Cruz closed out the final two innings with a hit and a pair of punch-outs.
All-Star catcher Robert Bansil was behind the plate to receive all of their pitches, but he provided plenty of power for the Pirates by hitting 3-for-4 with a single, two doubles, and driving in a run to help lead his team to a 2-0 start on the season.
Bansil wasn’t the only slugger with the hot stick as the multi-talented third baseman went 3-for-5 with a pair of base knocks, a triple, and two RBIs on the day.
The Pirates led from the start as they opened up the scoring with three runs in the top of the second, and while the Hustlers answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, they failed to tally another score the rest of the game.
While the defending champs sat idle, the Pirates scored a run in the top of the third, four in the fifth, and one in each of the sixth and seventh innings to complete the one-sided affair.
The D-9ers found their first win of the season in the afternoon game as they toppled Tanapag, 17-11, in a contest devoid of defense. The teams combined to score 28 runs off of 33 hits, while the pitchers doled out a combined 16 base-on-balls and plunked four batters.
Catcher Sam Babauta had the most success of any of the sluggers as he led the D-9ers with four singles and four scores to finish 4-for-5 on the day. Jesse Agulto also had a solid day at the plate with a pair of singles in a 2-for-3 outing, but he reached base successfully in each of his six at bats with an error and three walks.
