Pirates, Hustlers keep pace with each other

A tie remains in effect on top of the 2005 SML Fall League standings after powerhouse Pirates and defending champion Hustlers both improved their records Sunday at the Kan Pacific Baseball Field in Marpi.

In the opener, the Pirates exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and went on to double up on the D9ers, 10-5, to win their fourth game in five chances.

The Pirates had to fight off a small deficit after the D9ers took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues to score a run on the top of the third inning. Jesse Agulto reached base on an error and later raced home on another error.

The bad start was quickly erased in the fourth when Ray Dela Cruz led off with a single, Luis Iguel followed with a double, Tom Dela Cruz smashed a triple, Tyrone Attao and Jonathan Villagomez hit singles, and Jesse Iguel connected for an inside-the-park home run. By the time the Pirates were done, they had a comfortable 6-1 lead.

The Pirates continued to have their way as they padded their lead when Villagomez and Jesse Iguel reached on singles and scored in the sixth inning.

The team scored another two runs in the eighth inning with Dwight Quitano and Jesse Iguel crossing home plate.

The D9ers refused to throw in the towel and made a game of it in the final inning. Tom Joab led off the ninth with a single and scored on an error, Ricky Jones struck out but reached base on a pass ball before crossing home plate, Donty Jones singled and scored, and Randy Rabago reached on an error and scored as the D9ers put up four runs before bowing out.

Jesse Iguel led the Pirates after going 4-for-5 with three runs, a home run, and three runs batted in while Villagomez was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base. Ray Dela Cruz also went 3-for-4 with a run.

James Kintol Jr. was on fire and tossed a complete game for the Pirates, striking out 15 batters while allowing nine hits and four runs.

Timo Mafnas went 2-for-5 to lead the D9ers while Jones, Rabago, and Joab each had a hit and a run.

In the second game, the defending champions kept pace with the Pirates with a 12-7 victory over Tanapag.

The Hustlers went to work early, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning with Eric Lizama hitting a lead off single and Jerome Delos Santos connecting for a run-scoring triple to get things started. Delos Santos was quickly brought home courtesy of a single by Jester Garcia, and J.R. Suel followed with a double. Dane lizama then reached on an error and Pat Alepuyo was hit by a pitch before scoring.

Tanapag trim the deficit with two runs in the top of the third after Jordan Suel drove in Jay Camacho with a towering triple to left-center. Suel was then brought home on a single by Clint Quitugua, 2-6.

Unfortunately for Tanapag, the Hustlers retaliated with another four runs in the bottom half of the inning for a 10-2 lead. Jonathan Camacho and James Villacrusis each singled and scored, Eric Lizama was hit by a pitch and later crossed home plate, and Delos Santos reached on an error before trotting home.

Tanapag scored a run in the fifth and eighth inning, 4-10, but found themselves in a hole again after the Hustlers added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Tanapag continued to fight, but only scored three runs in the top of the ninth.

Eric Lizama, Garcia, Camacho, and Villacrusis each had two hits to lead the Hustlers while A.J. Allen and Dane Lizama took care of business on the mound.

Suel led Tanapag with a triple, a double, and three runs.