SSHS rallies past MHS in girls softball

Saipan Southern High School eked out an 8-7 comeback victory the Marianas High School in last Wednesday’s Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization girls fast-pitch softball match held at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The win evened out the Lady Manta Rays’ win-loss record at 2-1, while the Lady Dolphins hold a 1-3 card.

It was a tough break for the Lady Dolphins, who had just grinded out a 9-8 rally win of their own against the Mount Carmel School Lady Knights (0-3) last Monday.

The season continues at the Tan Ge Field today at 4pm with the Lady Rays squaring off against the Lady Knights. Kagman High School’s undefeated Lady Ayuyus sit atop the standings with a handful of wins.

Lady Manta Rays 8, Lady Dolphins 7

Four walks that started the third inning put SSHS ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of the third inning after both teams brought around two runs in the second frame, but MHS regrouped and pulled in front, 4-3, in the top of the fourth off three hits.

Lady Dolphins’ Ana Caracao led off with a double and was driven home.

The Lady Manta Rays, however, fired back with three runs in the fifth inning off two hits and two walks. SSHS’ Tara Ramon, Jaylinne Joseph, and Keanah Deleon Guerrero all came around to score.

The Lady Dolphins then countered again in the top of the sixth to tie it up at 6-all.

Jayna Lizama drove in Ann Carico a second time and was moved around and in by Ursula Lizama, but Lady Manta Rays pitcher Cathy Amandus bit down and clawed out of the inning.

Amandus later led off the bottom half with a base hit, but was stranded at third base and the match went into bonus frames.

Both teams stood their ground through the seventh inning and MHS’ Florita Billy powered home Jayna Lizama for the go-ahead run before being denied access to the plate by SSHS catcher Deleon Guerrero.

Billy sprinted home from third base as teammate Nicole Beltau dribbled a grounder down the left side to SSHS’ Joseph who fired home to prevent the run.

SSHS’ Amandus bobbled the ball as she moved in to cover the plate, but Deleon Guerrero was there all along and picked up the ball just in time to absorb a hard collision at the plate.

She held strong and raised the ball in the air for all to see what was actually her second snub of the game.

SSHS’ Amandus caught a pop up to finish the portion and later delivered the final blow in the bottom frame.

MHS pitcher Jayna Lizama was battling hard in the late half of the match, but she issued two walks in the bottom of the eighth to give their rivals a considerable advantage.

She proved to be a fighter though and retired the next two batters, but it was a good time for the Lady Manta Rays’ top of the order to show up as leadoff batter Amandus stepped in and crushed a walk-off smash for the win.

Amandus ripped a two hopper off the fence in left centerfield and trotted all the way home although once she touched first base the game was over as soon as Dayna Pena and Stephanie Espayo crossed the dish.

After breaking the ice with two runs in the second inning the visiting Lady Knights built a commanding 7-0 lead in the third off five hits.

MCS’ Michelle Kautz, Amy Taylor, Rikky Camacho, Ryann Yamagata, and Jasmine Che all came around to score.

MHS’ defense made a stand in the top of the fourth and pulled within two runs in the bottom frame off six hits.

Lady Manta Rays’ Nicole Beltau, Ann Carico, Sabrina Pangelinan, and Jayna Lizama all struck with consecutive hits and made it home. Shanna Flores started the surge after reaching with a fielder’s choice.

Then MHS’ Yamagata and Che hooked up with a couple of hits in the top of the fifth inning, but SSHS got it back in the bottom of the sixth from a pair of base rips by Judy Ngirbabul and Florita Billy that scored Maryann Waing.

MHS pitcher Jayna Lizama dealt her second 1-2-3 inning in a row to close the seventh inning and her team rallied back to tie the game at 8-all in the bottom frame.

Pangelinan and Waing delivered a trio of hits that scored Carico and Pangelinan before MCS pitcher Kaylani Lebria got away from the inning with the bases loaded.

SSHS’ thick of the order came up empty in the clutch and the Lady Manta Rays pulled off the comeback with a walk-off double by Pangelinan. Carico skipped home for the win.

Pangelinan batted 4-for-5 with two runs; Carico scored three times.