Sufa edges No. 3 Redmen

Francisco Sablan of Sufa swings at a pitch from a Ngaraard Redmen pitcher in the 2022 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association League last Sunday at the Dandan Softball Field. (LEIGH GASES)

ufa bested third-ranked Ngaraard Redmen, 24-11, in the men’s division of the 2022 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association League as the weather held up on a cloudy and rainy Sunday at the Dandan Softball field.

With this win, Sufa went up 6-4 and tied the Redmen in the standings.

Sufa showed the opposition that they deserve to remain in the winner’s bracket from the get-go, as their first three hard-hitting batters scored a run each and put up eight more runs in the second inning.

Batting leader Audie Maratita showed everyone why he was at the top as he went 3-for-5 at the plate, with one big home run, and three RBIs.

A total of three home runs were shot by Sufa, with no hope of redemption by the Redmen.

The Redmen’s first innings were silent, followed only by two runs in the next couple of innings. 

Their last-ditch effort to put runs up on the scoreboard came long overdue in the fifth inning as they managed to scrape up eight runs, but it was to no avail as Sufa was way ahead of them at this point, 18-10.

Juan Reyes and John Taitano of the Redmen managed to hit two home runs against Sufa pitcher Tom Camacho.

In the last couple of innings, Sufa kept the runs coming in, putting up six more runs to the Redmen’s lone one, to win the game 24-11.

Tokahao 20, Asahi 14
In the second game of the day, Tokahao beat Asahi, 20-14, to raise Tokahao’s record to 7-3, while Asahi dropped to 5-5.

Asahi blew an early lead after putting up six runs in the first inning and not coming up with anything in the second inning. This gave a chance to Tokahao to catch up and score seven runs to make it 7-6. 

Asahi managed to put up five more runs in the fourth inning, but nothing in the next couple of innings. That’s when Tokahao rallied in the last inning of the game, putting up eight runs—with two home runs courtesy of Alvin Takai and Mark Villagomez.

George David was credited with six RBIs, Manny Villagomez with four, Dave Attao and Alvin Takai with two, and Jeff Cruz, Robert Bansil, Eric David, and Mark Villagomez with one each.

Momma Charo 20, Aimeliik 9
Momma Charo defeated Aimeliik, 20-9, to raise its record to 4-6, while dropping its victims to 2-8.

Despite a quiet first couple of innings, Momma Charo managed to blow Aimeliik out of the field, spreading out their runs over the course of the next four innings.

Charo’s J.J Laniyo and Oscar Sablan hit a home run each in the third inning to put them up 7-3. 

Aimeliik’s Taylor Germance and Chuezon Martin had a home run each as well, but the rest of the offense could not deliver against Momma Charo pitcher Leo Bobai.

Man Amigos 19,
Hagu La’mun 3
The top team of the league showed why they’re the team to beat as Man Amigos shut down Hagu La’mun, 19-3, in a run-ruled contest.

From the starting pitch, Man Amigos’ James Fleming, Jess Tenorio, and Eric Palacios scored a run each, followed by two home runs from Joey Dela Cruz and Mario Aguon to put them up 5-0.

Hagu La’mun was shut down in the next innings, only rummaging up three runs, while Man Amigos put up 12 in the third and final inning.

This put Man Amigos higher up in the leaderboard, 9-1 and Hagu La’mun at 6-4.

Peleliu 25,
Salty Boys 24
Cellardweller Salty Boys put up a valiant fight against Peleliu, coming just a run short to lose, 25-24.

Salty Boys almost grasped their first win of the season but fell short as they were silenced in four innings and their rally in the last inning came too late.

Despite it being a high-scoring game, Mike Techur of the Salty Boys put up the only two home runs for the team. Peleliu had none.