Freedom Air zooms to 10th win

Freedom Air took a short route to gaining its 10th win in the men’s division of the 2008 Inter-Government/Business Slow-pitch Softball League after crushing the Saipan Mayor’s Office in four innings, 22-1, Friday night at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

Freedom Air shut out the Mayor’s Office in the first three innings to cruise to an easy victory that allowed the former to tie Commonwealth Ports Authority (10-2) in second place in the team standings.

Shortstop Reno Celis scored two homers, while first baseman Roy Celis and centerfielder Joe Lizama made one round-tripper apiece for Freedom Air.

Roy had seven RBIs, making a three-run homer at the top of the third. Reno made back-to-back home runs in the third and fourth inning and scored three RBIs.

Lizama also had a three-run RBI in the third and a one-run single. Leftfielder Shane Yamada and pitcher Roque Camacho were without homers, but both went perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4.

The Mayor’s Office scored its lone run at the bottom of the fourth with second baseman Ernest Kani reaching home plate on a Manny Sablan single.

Customs 16, Hopwood 8

Customs halted its five-game losing skid after a 16-8 triumph over Hopwood.
First baseman J.P. Sablan went 4-for-4 at bat and recorded four RBIs, while catcher Ton Iguel hit 3-for-4 and had four RBIs.

Customs saved its best in the last two innings scoring 11 runs to turn a 5-2 lead to an 16-8 advantage, going into the top of the last inning.

Customs secured its third win in 13 games after Hopwood’s first two batters flied out and the third was beaten to second base.

WOMEN’S

CUC 12, DCCA 6

In the lone women’s match, Commonwealth Utilities Corp. shut out defending champion Department of Community and Cultural Affairs in the last two innings to eke out a 12-6 win.

CUC was ahead by only two runs, 8-6, after five full innings when it tightened its defense in the last two innings to preserve the victory.

At the bottom of the sixth, DCCA’s two batters were beaten to first and second based, while the fourth one flied out.

At the bottom of the seventh, CUC pitcher Dolorina Panuelo struck out lead off batter Erica Tenorio and Panuelo made another defensive stop picking up a grounder and throwing to first base for the second out.

Third batter Janice Camacho gave DCCA a breather when she singled in the ensuing play. But Camacho was left stranded on first when CUC shortstrop Jenny Palacios caught Jenny Teigita’s linedrive, ending DCCA’s chances to extend the game.