Two-way tie in Juniors batting crown

 Saipan Shipping Company-Jets’ K.J. Deleon Guerrero and Hawaiya Technologies, Inc.-Ol’Aces’ Mike Muna are currently neck-and-neck in the race for the Junior Division batting crown, while Natibu Sports Association-Tanapag Falcons’ Francisco Lieto and Docomo Pacific-Ol’Aces’ Harry Nakamura are the current leaders in their respective Senior and Big divisions.

Deleon Guerrero has accrued 12 hits in 22 at bats for a 0.600 batting average, while Muna is on an equal pace, batting 9-for-15.

The pair leads IT&E Fielders’ Kainoa Wanket (11-for-19/0.579), Ol’Aces’ Jessie Brel (11-for-22/0.500), Jets’ Franco Nakamura (11-for-23/0.478), DPS Dare Program Leep Enforcers’ Caleb Takao (10-for-21/0.476), Jets’ Peterson Rengiil (7-for-15/0.467), Bank of Saipan Red Sox’s Roke Tenorio (9-for-20/0.450), Jets’ Ben Maratita (9-for-20/0.450), and Red Sox’s Jerald Cabrera (10-for-23/0.435). Two others are swinging at 0.400 or better.

Muna and Wanket lead the league with eight RBIs apiece with Brel (7), Ol’Aces’ Verlance Secharmidal (6), T.J. Dela Cruz, (6) and Maratita (6) close behind.

Nakamura’s two home runs leads the category ahead of Fielders’ Jonathan Camacho, and Fielders’ Anthony Agulto and Takao.

Nakamura, Tenorio, Secharmidal, and Enforcers’ Darrion Jones all have three triples under their belts.

Muna’s four doubles tops the field, while Brel has crossed the plate a league-best 17 times. He leads Muna (14), Deleon Guerrero (12), and Wanket (12) with three others tied at 11.

Deleon Guerrero, meanwhile, is standing out in a talented group of Senior hitters. He is pacing Rep. Antonio Sablan-Eliceo D. Cabrera-Hunters’ Steven Cabrera (17-for-30/0.567), Docomo Pacific Ol’Aces’ A.J. Lizama (18-for-32/0.563), IT&E Fielders’ Jared Lizama (7-for-13/0.538), Marianas Cable Vision Kagman Lions’ Paul Celis (11-for-21/0.524), Juan Santiago-Jets II’s Jeffrey Lizama (16-for-33/0.485), Ol’Aces’ T.J. Sablan (14-for-29/0.483), Fielders’ Khobby Kaipat (13-for-27/0.481), and Hunters’ Jesus Mafnas (11-for-23/0.478) and Joseph Borja (8-for-17/0.471). Over a dozen other players are swing better than 0.400.

Ol’Aces’ Jun Rabauliman leads the group in RBIs with 12 with Steven Cabrera (11), Fielders’ Davin Ada (10), and T.J. Sablan (10) in hot pursuit.

Jets II’s Shane Deleon Guerrero and Borja’s three homers fronts the category ahead of two-timers Jared Lizama and Fielders’ Ian Rogolifoi.

A.J. Lizama leads the league in triples with six, while Steven Cabrera, Jonathan Villagomez, and Saipan Shipping Company-Jets I’s Tristan Javier top the field in doubles with four apiece and Jerome Reyes’ 17 runs is one-upping A.J. Lizama and Steven Cabrera with four players tied at 15.

Nakamura, for his part, has so far cranked out 13 hits in 23 at bats for a 0.565 hitting rate and is the only player in the Big Division with at least 16 at bats swinging better than 0.500.

He leads Paradise Island Animal Hospital-Hustlers’ Jeremy Lizama (12-for-25/0.480) and Kelvin Villagomez (12-for-25/0.480), IT&E Fielders’ Patrick Tenorio (13-for-28/0.464), Hustlers’ MacGarette Duenas (10-for-22/0.455) and Manny Flores (14-31/0.452), Ol’Aces’ Keoni Lizama (11-for-25/0.440), Fielders’ Carl Camacho (10-for-23/0.435), and Lions’ Leroy Regis (9-for-21/0.429) with three others swinging 0.400 or better.

Nakamura is tied with Villagomez with 11 RBIs, but leads the league in doubles with five. Ol’Aces’ Jacob Flores (9), Keoni Lizama (8), and Rocco Reyes (7) trail in the RBI race.

Nakumura’s teammates, Keoni Lizama and Leonard Sablan, lead the division in home runs with three and two, respectively. Duenas and Carl Camacho share the triples honors with three apiece. Six other players each have one home run, while a dozen others each have a pair of triples on the year.

Ol’Aces’ speedster Diego Camacho still leads the league in runs scored with 13, but teammate Lamarc Iguel (12), Duenas (12), and Manny Flores (10) are still in the rear view.

In pitching, Junior Ol’Aces’ Terson Eina (3-0) remains in front of the herd. He has issued just two earned runs through 14.1 innings off six hits for a 0.98 earned run average.

Red Sox’s Jerald Cabrera (4.00 ERA) and Jets’ Jason Villagomez (4.13 ERA) are the only other pitchers to turn in at least 14 innings of work.

Villagomez has tallied 30 strikeouts so far on the year, compared to Eina’s 22 and Wanket’s 19.

Senior League’s A.J. Lizama (4-0) has allowed seven earned runs through 19 innings off 17 hits for a field-low 2.58 ERA.

He leads Jeffrey Lizama (2.74 ERA), Jonathan Villagomez (3.44 ERA), Enforcers’ Austin Piteg (3.58 ERA), Steven Cabrera (4.11 ERA) and Keoni Kaipat (4.14 ERA) with four other pitchers holding 4.50 ERAs or higher through a minimum of 14 innings.

A.J. Lizama’s 31 strikeouts also tops Kaipat (27), Lions’ Davie Matagolai (21), Jonathan Cabrera (17), Villagomez (17), and Enforcers’ Lofton Edward (16).

Hustlers’ Brian Camacho (2-0) has allowed 10 earned runs through 29 innings off 24 hits for an ERA of 2.41. He leads Nakamura (3.15 ERA), Fielders’ Nathan Guerrero (4.42 ERA), and Regis (5.31 ERA).

Camacho’s 46 strikeouts also leads Regis (33) and Guerrero (32).