Rocket still the lone Ranger

The Ford Rangers made a huge splash on the Saipan Major League last year when the previously named Pirates added a few key names from top teams to its roster and eventually took the championship.

Roy “The Rocket” Celis was one of those big pick ups and his contribution to the team had continued to fuel the Rangers hunt for a repeat as he boasts the lowest earned run average in the league with a remarkable 0.75.

Celis checked in for a dozen innings through two games thus far and has only one earned run against his record. While he is the top performer on the mound, Celis is not the only Rangers hurler enjoying success as J.P Sablan and last season’s playoff co-MVP Craig Sanchez have solid 2.30 and 2.35 ERA’s, respectively. Sablan earned his mark though 15 2/3 innings amidst a four-game span while Sanchez logged 23 innings through three games.

The trio is a major reason that the Rangers pitching staff has the league low 3.18 earned run average, but their competition is gunning to make a few changes in the record books as Luis Iguel and the Brewers pack plenty of punch from the pen.

Iguel has the second lowest ERA with a 2.19 through 12 1/3 innings as a rookie, and teammates Jonathan Camacho (2.93) and Clint “Muhammad” Quitugua (6.15) have long labored on the hill as well.

Camacho has fanned the most batters in the league with 28 punch-outs—nine more than his closest competition—and has logged the most duty on the stripe with 43 innings of one-armed wonder.

The Kings are no strangers to young pitching prowess as rookie James Kintol has handled the switch from the Big League to the big time with ease. The “Dan Dan Devastator” has the second highest strikeout total (17) and the league’s third lowest earned run average (2.25) and shows no sign of slowing down.

He has a chance to do the CNMI proud next month in the 2006 Micronesian Games as well as in the Asia-Pacific Big League Regional Tournament this summer, but for now he has helped guide the Kings to first place in the pennant race.

Ray Dela Cruz hasn’t been too shabby either, as he recorded a 6.65 ERA through 23 innings in key portions of four games this season.

After losing aces in the off-season, the Yankees have also enjoyed success on the mound when heavy hitter Mel Sakisat traded his swat stick for a rosin bag for two games that landed him among the top crop with a 2.50 earned run average.

The mountain man from San Roque has a 1-1 record and twice went the distance for the pinstripers in their time of need, but McGregory Camacho has stepped up for the Yanks with a 3.06 ERA through parts of four games.