SML leaders start early

With only a handful of games in the book, a few of the players in the Saipan Major League have already begun to make names for themselves at the plate and on the field. While a number of them have put up respectable numbers early on, the true test of their talent will be whether or not they will be able to continue posting the power-packed performances throughout the season.

Dane Lizama of the Budweiser Kings could have one heck of a season for the fledgling team as the veteran player opened up the 2006 campaign with an outstanding 5-for-6 outing at Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field.

Lizama currently leads all swingers with a .833 batting average, but his numbers can change quickly this soon into league play, and he will have to remain consistent to stay atop the SML.

His challenge is even more difficult with players like John B. Reyes, Greg F. Camacho, and Tony Celis breathing down his neck. Reyes leads the league with a triple, three runs batted in, and is just a few percentage points behind in second place at .800 after a 4-for-5 performance at the plate for the Ford Rangers, while Camacho remains in third at .750 following a 3-for-4 showing for the Northern Yankees under the sun at the Oleai Sports Complex.

While the duo is closer to Lizama than Celis, last year’s SML most valuable player is looking good to repeat his feat as batting champion. The solid third baseman is currently in fourth place with a .667 batting average, but he would be tied with Lizama had he hit successfully in one more at bat. Celis went 4-for-6 and smacked a triple in the opener for the Kings, and he has to be considered one of the early favorites for the batting crown with his repeatedly demonstrated penchant for power over the long haul.

Camacho and Celis each drove in a pair of runs and are joined by Jester Garcia and Ben Mesa in second place in the RBI race, but Camacho is the only player to smack a homerun thus far.

Like his teammate Reyes, Rangers’ slugger Jeff Diaz also has a triple, and his .600 batting average is good enough for fifth place after hitting 3-for-5 in his first trips to the batters box.

Fireman Jess Mesa usually puts out the blazes around island, but he has been smoking around the bases to lead the SML with four runs scored. His outing through two games for Toyota has him an even 50-50 chance at reaching base successfully as he has gone 5-for-10 for a .500 batting average.

Mesa is also one of the Fab Four that used a combination of hard hitting and heads-up base running to notched a triple so far, but they will soon be joined by others in the three-bagger club in the days and weeks to come.

The big cheese at the Garapan fire station is also the president of the “Flip A Coin Club” as the Yankees’ Chris Camacho, Rangers’ Eddie Kapileo, and the Masters’ Joe “Pepi” Tenorio and Dave Kapileo round out the Top 10 hitters with .500 batting averages.

Mesa has maintained the mark through more outings while Camacho, Tenorio, and the two Kapileos are all 2-for-4 on the season.