P&S upsets CPA to boost playoff bid

P&S is showing toughness in make-up games and scored a big upset over Commonwealth Ports Authority, 12-9, Thursday night in the 2009 Budweiser Inter-Government/Business Slow-pitch Softball League at the Capital Hill Ballpark.

The win boosted P&S’ playoff hopes with the number of teams vying for the last two slots now reduced to three.

After Thursday’s results, P&S (9-8), POI Aviation (9-8), and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (8-10) remain in contention, while nine teams in the lower half of the field were already eliminated.

P&S hit 20-for-40 at bat with 12 RBIs against CPA pitchers Ed Mendiola and Donald Pangelinan. Its 12 runs were aided heavily by seven base on balls.

Pitcher Jack Reyes walked to first base three times and finished with two runs.

John Tomokane went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, while Manases Iguel and Joe Quitugua also had two RBIs each to help P&S with the win, as the team raced to a 10-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning and controlled the game the rest of the way.

Rains forced cancellation of several games this week with 21 more left before the playoffs start.

DCCA had already won the pennant with an immaculate 18-0 record.

Seven other teams also advanced outright to the playoff round. They are, in order of rankings, Beach Boys (15-3), Docomo (15-4), Freedom Air (14-3), Joeten Motors Jets (13-5), No Zone (13-5), CPA (12-5), and Legislature (11-7).

Also on Thursday, Freedom Air ousted CRM/DEQ from the next round in a 22-2 10-run mercy rule.

Centerfielder Shane Yamada, extra hitter Dennis Cruz, right fielder Joe Lizama, and pitcher Roque Camacho led in offense as Freedom Air made 25 hits with 21 RBIs, seven doubles, two homeruns, and a triple.

Yamada’s third hit of the night was a grand slam in the top of the third inning, sending Domingo Hocog, Ton Aguon, and Cruz home. Lizama and Reno Celis also reached home later in the inning and Freedom Air was way ahead, 14-1.

Yamada grounded out in his last two tries at bat. He finished the game with six RBIs and three runs.

Cruz went 5-for-5 with five runs, an RBI, and a triple. Roy Celis had three RBIs, two runs, and a single while Lizama added four RBIs and three runs.

Camacho added four RBIs, three hits, two doubles.

On the mound, Camacho struck out two of the 21 batters he faced, but allowed only seven hits with two runs.

Aguon went 3-for-4 with four runs, a single, and an RBI.

CRM/DEQ is now out of the playoffs with a 7-10 record, good for only 12th place.

In the other game, CHC won via forfeit against a no-show Pacific Islands Club. Both teams are now out of playoff contention with 7-11 and 5-13 records, respectively.

Six other teams were eliminated early, including PSS (6-11), DLNR (6-12), Customs (4-14), Mayor’s (4-14), Law & Order (3-15), and Hopwood (0-17).