Lady Manta Rays post strong wins in fast-pitch softball

 The Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays stepped up their game over the past two weeks and have their second and third consecutive quality victories to show for it. This was pretty evident as the 2012 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization girls fast-pitch softball league continued at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The level of play has really improved after the teams got in a few warm-up games to get things going, especially for second-ranked SSHS who are riding high off an 8-3 win over the Lady Knights of Mount Carmel School (0-4) on Monday and a sound 10-5 victory over the Marianas High School Lady Dolphins (1-4).

SSHS, last year’s champs, bumped its record up to 4-2 and into a lock for second place in the standings.

The regular season wraps up at the Tan Ge Field after MCS’ 4:30pm appointment with the undefeated Lady Ayuyus of Kagman High School (5-0).

Then the MISO single-elimination postseason tournament is set from May 18 to 19. More details will be released early next week.

Lady Manta Rays 10, Lady Dolphins 5 

SSHS’ Tara Ramon and Dayna Pena cracked a couple of hits mixed in between four walks as their teammates stole seven bases as they built a commanding 6-0 lead in the first inning.

Lady Manta Rays’ Daylinne Joseph then drove in Ramon for another run in the second inning before MHS finally hit the board.

The Lady Dolphins’ thick of the order peppered four hits for four runs in the third inning. Florita Billy, Shanna Flores, Nicole Beltau, and Jayna Lizama all hit their way on and touched all four.

MHS left SSHS with a runner at third base in the bottom frame, but then went three up and three down at the plate in the fourth and fifth innings, while the Lady Manta Rays mustered a run from Jinky Kintaro to close the fifth inning to double up its rivals, 8-4.

MHS only mustered one run in the top of the sixth and were stood up by the Lady Manta Rays’ defense in the final stand.

Aside, from the third inning, SSHS did a great job backing up pitcher Cathy Amandus in the other six frames. The group caught eight put outs and stranded seven runners and let only one to the plate in the rest of the contest.

Ramon batted 2-for-3 with three runs, a walk, and three stolen bases.

Lady Manta Rays 8, Lady Knights 3

SSHS spurted in front, 4-0, in the opening frame off four hits. Cathy Amandus led off with a hit and made it around, while Ramon drew a walk and was driven to the plate by Daylinne Joseph who was escorted home by Keanah Deleon Guerrero. Stephanie Espayo finished the spell with an RBI single that scored Deleon Guerrero.

Lady Manta Rays pitcher Amandus started the match with ice in her veins and held the Lady Knights scoreless for the first three innings. She only walked two batters and her teammates did a good job making MCS earn its way on base in her strong start.

SSHS’ Jovanna Okaruru scored off a fielder’s choice in the third inning and the count shifted to 5-1 soon after as both teams posted up a run in the fourth frame.

Rayann Yamagata drove home Carey Demapan in the top portion, while SSHS’ Nipi Laniyo answered with an RBI smash that scored Dayna Pena in the bottom half.

MCS’ Kaylani Lebria belted an RBI triple that brought in Amy Taylor early in the fifth, but the Lady Manta Rays always seemed to have an answer as Okaruru singled on to start the bottom frame and worked her way to the dish again.

MCS then came up empty in the sixth and the Lady Manta Rays tacked on another run that brought the score to 8-2 with three outs to go in regulation. MCS only mustered one run in the final stand.

Winning pitcher Amandus went all seven innings and gave up three earned runs off eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

SSHS’ Espayo and Okaruru both batted 2-for-3. The latter and Pena each scored twice.