No Zone grounds Jets in men’s softball league

No Zone zoomed past the Joeten Jets, 15-9, in the men’s division game in the 2008 Inter Government/Business Softball League Thursday at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

Pitcher Carl Hocog and No Zone’s defense limited the Jets to four hits and three runs in the last three innings en route to the former’s eighth win in 10 games.

The Jets absorbed their third loss in 10 matches.

A five-run top of the second kept the Jets afloat, as they were behind by only three, 6-9, after four complete innings.

The Jets added one more run at the top of the fifth cutting No Zone’s lead to two.

But No Zone answered with a five-run bottom of the fifth making three earned runs and scoring two more off the Jets errors to widen the gap, 14-7.

The Jets never recovered from thereon, as they nailed only two runs in the sixth and failed to score in the last inning.

Second baseman Jerry Ayuyu and third baseman Manny Sablan blasted one homer apiece for No Zone, which moved up from fourth to solo third place after winning its fourth straight game.

Ayuyu and Sablan made their round-trippers all in the first inning, which ended with No Zone in front, 3-0. Ayuyu and Sablan had two RBIs each, matching catcher Jess Wabol’s feat. Wabol was 3-for-4 at-bat and scored two runs. Sablan was 2-for-3, while Ayuyu hit 2-for-4

Both teams recorded a batting average of below .500 with No Zone going only 18-for-37 for a .462 clip. The Jets were 13-for-32 for a batting average of .406.

Second baseman Hector Efraim was the lone slugger to have a perfect stint at the plate going 3-for-3. He scored two runs and had one RBI.
[B] CPA 18, Hopwood 7[/B]

Commonwealth Ports Authority gained a share of second place in the team standings after an 18-7 triumph over Hopwood.

CPA now has an 8-1 record tying Freedom Air at the No. 2 spot and behind by only a win against the league-leading Department of Community and Cultural Affairs (9-0). Hopwood remained winless in nine games.

A five-run top of the first was enough to give CPA momentum and put the finishing touches on its easy win with a seven-run fifth inning.

Centerfielder Mark Toves went 4-for-4, scored three runs, one double and two RBIs. Leftfielder Byron Kaipat was only 2-for-3 at-bat, but had two doubles and three RBIs, besides making two runs.

Shortstop Mel Manahane, third baseman Jack Deleon Guerrero, and first baseman Jordan Kosam had two RBIs each.

CPA went 23-for-35 at the plate for an impressive .657 batting average. Hopwood was only 10-for-22 for a batting average of .455.

The first game in the men’s division had Procurement & Supply winning via forfeit over Customs.

P&S notched its fourth win in eight games, while Customs dropped to a 2-7 mark.