Sablan powers CUC past Customs

Leftfielder Oscar Sablan was on target in the his last two at-bats leading the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to a 12-11 win over Customs in the men’s division of the 2008-2009 Inter-Government/Business Softball League Monday night at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

Sablan’s two-run homer at the top of the fifth allowed CUC to grab the lead, and his two-run double at the top of the last preserved the victory.

CUC was behind by three runs, 6-9, after four complete innings when its first two batter reached home to cut the lead to one, 8-9.

Sablan batted fourth and hit a homer driving centerfield Pat Blanco home to put CUC in the lead, 10-9.

Customs regained the upper hand, 11-10, after six complete innings with third baseman Ray Renguul and leftfielder John Reyes scoring a run apiece.

Vinny Sablan led off for CUC at the top of the seventh inning and singled, while Blanco advanced on a Customs fielding error. Next at the plate was Joe Fejeran who was thrown out on a 6-3 putout play.

Sablan stepped up to the plate and with runners on second and third base, blasted a double, bringing Vinny Sablan and Blanco home and giving the lead back to CUC, 12-11.

Two fly outs ended CUC’s chances to increase the lead. But it kept the win when Customs first two batters were beaten to first and pitcher Melvin Tenorio struck out fourth batter Jason Sablan.

The victory improved CUC’s record to 1-1, and allowed the team to recover from a disappointing 0-9 loss to Freedom Air.

Custom absorbed its second defeat in as many games after losing its debut over Procurement & Supply, 6-12.

In the other game in the men’s division, No Zone topped DEQ/CRM, 19-7, after only four and a half innings.

No Zone started strong, scoring eight runs at the top of the first and followed it up with a nine-run top of the second to break the game wide open after two complete innings, 17-1.

DEQ/CRM had a chance to extend the game at the top of the fifth, but scored only seven runs, allowing No Zone to walk away with an easy victory.

First baseman Bruce Norita was 3-for-3 at the plate and had a homer at the bottom of the second inning. He scored two runs and three RBIs.

Second baseman Ned Norita also had a homer at the bottom of the first and went perfect at-bat, going 3-for-3. He recorded four RBIs.

In the lone women’s game, defending champion Department of Community and Cultural Affairs recovered from its debut loss to Northern Marianas College after whipping Commonwealth Health Center, 15-3.

DCCA used a nine-run bottom of the second as cushion to gain its first win this season.

Centerfielder Berta Camacho and third baseman Antonette Laniyo were both 3-for-3 at the plate and had three runs apiece.

CHC scored only at the top of the third inning with Meng Yamada, Bobbie Lee, and Tanisha Masga having one run each. CHC lost its first game joining CUC at the bottom of the team standings in the women’s division.