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Rangers and Kings to play another day
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Posted on May 17 2005
The Ford Rangers and the Budweiser Kings met upon the hallowed grounds of Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field on Monday night to open up another week of the regular season in the Saipan Major League, but the game was called due to the formation of storm clouds in the infield.
Fans of the game and players alike would have appreciated the contest that was unfolding at the Oleai facility as Roy Celis of the Rangers and Ray Dela Cruz of the Kings were engaged in a pitcher’s duel until a things began to get ugly in the fifth.
A close throw to first base resulted in a collision that sparked more than a little heated infield conversation between the runner and the runee, and the umpires were prompted to issue warnings all around.
Both teams settled down, but the lingering tension in the air was obvious to the most casual of fans as the players put a little extra umph in to every pitch, runners put a little more leg into their baseline dashes, and fielders sacrificed a little more for their squad.
As the teams entered the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at four runs apiece, some of the players took it upon themselves to act as tour agents for the opposing teams by advising them where to go and how to get there before the umpires stepped in to call the game.
The game will be resumed at a date to be announced later at the same point where it left off—with three outs remaining in the game.
The first place Rangers held on to their spot atop the standings at 6-1, and will have to force a quick three outs to earn an extra inning from the Kings to get the win. Currently the Kings reside in the middle of the pack in fourth place at 4-3, but will have a golden opportunity to take a game with one run when they teams return to Tan Ko field. They young squad still needs to get hot with a win streak if they plan to make a run for the pennant.
