Sluggers put on a show

The kings of the diamonds topped last week’s list of best performers with Rock Steady and Shell Marianas ruling separate tournaments.

Shell Marianas won the 6th Annual Miller Lite Marianas Cup Co-ed Slow-pitch Softball Qualifier at the Dandan Elementary School Ballfield, while Rock Steady conquered the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League baseball.

It was the sixth straight time that Shell Marianas prevailed in the annual tournament. The team was formerly known as No Ka Oi and defended its title under a new team name after beating seven other teams in the Saipan qualifier of the Marianas Cup.

Shell Marianas secured the championship after shutting out Natibu in the finals, 8-0.

The champion squad was composed of Mel Sakisat, Julian Camacho, Mel Tagabuel, Ben Mesa, J.J Laniyo, Jerry Ayuyu, Toi and Roy Celis, Berta Camacho, Jun Saralu, Dave Camacho, Erica Tenorio, Mario Sablan, Nick Castro, Joey dela Cruz, and Oliver Secharmidal.

Over at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield, the power outage-delayed title series finally ended Saturday with Rock Steady outlasting the Rangers in the deciding Game 5, 5-3.

It took more about three weeks to wrap up the best-of-five title series due to the rolling power outages.

The Rangers had two chances to secure the SML title when they won Games 1 and 3. Rock Steady claimed Game 2 when the Rangers showed up for the continuation of the match with only eight players.

But the Rangers muffed their chances, while Rock Steady swept the last two games in the series to steal the championship. The Mel Tenorio-managed squad dominated Game 4 with an 8-4 victory to tie the series.

Game 5 was played after Game 4 Monday night, but the power went off with the Rangers leading at the top of the third, 2-1.

Organizers scheduled the continuation of Game 5 Saturday morning and both teams played with a depleted lineup.

Rock Steady pitcher Nick San Nicolas gave up only one run at the resumption of the deciding match to lift his team to a title win.

In other events, 10 completed a FIVB-sanctioned Level I Coaching Course Wednesday. The graduates of the weeklong course given by Federation Internationale de Volleyball instructor and former Australian coach Tomas Santamaria were Mili Saki, Russ Quinn, Laurie Peterka, Mark McDonald, Joe Taijeron, Tamiko Winkfield, Christopher Shepherd, Gabriel White, and Kim Peterson.

Youth bowling sensation Raphael Zapanta continued to dominate Saipan Bowling Association’s 2008 season, claiming his sixth monthly title last week. Zapanta won the August Bing Energy Drink Prince of the Lanes crown.

In basketball, make-up games in the PTI caging were played at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, as league organizers are eyeing to start the playoffs this week.

Teams like DCCA had to play back-to-back games just to finish the regular season.

In golf, RGA member Asterio Tawanpiy won the Sufa Golf Tournament held at the Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort.

The tournament was a fundraiser for Sufa Softball Association, which sent a team to Las Vegas, Nevada for the CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament.