Korean Dreams’ John Reyes leads batting

With more than half of the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League season in the books, John Reyes of the Korean Dreams finds himself leading the league in batting percentage.

In other categories, Tyrone Omar of Rock Steady is tops in runs, Jason Reyes of Korean Dreams leads the triples category, Jon Tenorio of San Roque D-9ers is the league’s Mr. RBI, and Kim Jae Young of Komoro is without peer in strikeouts.

Four players, meanwhile, are currently leading the doubles derby, while seven players have recorded a homerun in the 2008 season.

Reyes is currently the MARPAC-sponsored league’s most dangerous hitter, as he makes contact with the ball more than half the time, as attested by his .523 average (23-for-44).

Byron Kaipat of Rock Steady is the only other player batting in the .500 range after going 16-for-32 in nine games.

D-9ers teammates Tony Camacho (16-for-35) and Greg Camacho (13-for-28) are tied with .464 batting average, while Rock Steady’s Tony Celis complete the Top 5 in batting with a .459 average (17-for-37).

Omar, true to his track and field roots, leads the way in runs with 21 followed by Rangers’ Jess Iguel (17), and Korean Dreams’ Justin Reyes (16).

Jason Reyes has four triples to his name followed by Nick San Nicolas of Rangers, John Reyes, and Benwachi Taisacan of Rangers with three triples apiece.

Tenorio is proving to be an RBI machine for D-9ers as the knuckle-baller has so far recorded 13 runs batted in. Manny Sablan (12), Tony Camacho (11), Omar and John Reyes (10) complete the Top 5 in the category.

Kim, for his part, is the most prolific when it comes to striking out the opposing batters with 105 Ks to his name. Korean Dreams’ Shane Mendiola is next with 75 followed by Kabur’s Kim Hyung Jo (50) and Tigers’ Ben Duenas (35).

Tigers’ Tony Pangelinan, Kabur’s Dave Kapileo, Rock Steady teammates Tony Celis and Manny Sablan are all leading the doubles category with four two-base hits each.

The homerun race, meanwhile, is a dead heat among Tigers’ Dennis Cruz, Kabur’s Poland Masaharu, Rock Steady’s Ton Manibusan, John Reyes, Komoro teammates Jang Ju Hyuk and Kim Jae Young, and Korean Dreams’ Oliver Secharmidal.

All seven have hit a homerun each, but Kim Jae Young is the only one to actually hit a homerun over the fence, as the six other homeruns are of the inside-the-park variety.