Tigers enter win column in SBL

The Tigers’ Manny Tenorio reaches in for the ball during the top of the eighth inning of their game against the D-9ers in the SBL last Wednesday night at the Francisco ‘Tan Ko’ Palacios Ballfield. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

The Tigers bagged their first win of the season after prevailing against the D-9ers, 17-11, in last Wednesday’s game in the 2014 Saipan Baseball League last Wednesday night at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

The Tigers finally roared after being tamed by the Brewers and the North Starz, as the Tony Rogolifoi-managed squad threatened a breakaway in the first three innings and then hung tough against the D-9ers rally.

The Tigers erected a 10-2 lead in the first three innings with shortstop Reno Celis and first baseman Ian Rogolifoi leading the team’s offense. Celis hit back-to-back doubles in the second and third inning and had three RBIS, while Ian Rogolifoi blasted two straight RBI singles.

Designated hitter Paul Camacho and Phil Celis also made RBI singles, while the three other runs were scored off a passed ball and errors from the D-9ers second baseman and catcher.

Shortstop Austin Lizama gave the D-9ers’ their first two runs, as his single at the bottom of the first drove Darren Pua and Wens Namelo home. That was the only time the D-9ers tasted the lead, 2-1, as they were held to one run in the next four innings before mounting a comeback with a seven-run bottom of the sixth.

Namelo and Myron San Nicolas had RBI singles in the sixth inning, while K.J. Villagomez stole home. The four other runs were recorded off two wild pitches, a sacrifice out, and an error from Celis. With the D-9ers launching a rally, they brought the Tigers’ lead to 12, 10-12 and remained in contention in the seventh inning with both teams scoring only one run apiece.

However, the Tigers foiled the D-9ers’ comeback bid after shutting out the latter in the last two innings and scoring a few more runs in the eighth inning. Holding a shaky 13-11 lead, the Tigers tucked on four more runs at the top of the eighth to gain more cushion. Tom Guerrero connected on an RBI double, while Mark Toves and Jake Santos hit RBI singles for the Tigers, who got their fourth run off a miscue from D-9ers catcher Wally Emul.

North Starz 15, Tigers 2
In last Friday’s game, the North Starz booked its second straight win after dominating the Tigers.
The North Starz, which dropped its opener to the Yankees before earning a win against the D-9ers early this month, scored in the first four innings en route to an easy victory after only six and a half innings.

The Tigers went to the showers early, as they made it to the board only in the third inning, struggling against the North Starz’s three pitchers. Javon Borja and McGarry Scaliem tallied the two runs for the Tigers, reaching home off Ian Rogolifoi’s single at the top of the third.

The Tigers countered with three runs in the third to keep their double-digit lead, 12-2. They maintained their safe distance after relief pitcher Mabel Ngirngemelas stranded a runner in the fourth inning and Monkeya closed out the last three innings with five strikeouts, while denying three runners a ride home.