Ol’Aces topple Aztecs, Hustlers snap losing skid

Ol’Aces toppled Aztecs, 17-5, last Tuesday night and seized the solo lead in the Big League Division of the 2009 SLLB at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Shortstop Juan Iguel went 5-for-5 with four runs and two RBIs. Ryan Lisua Jr. had three runs and an RBI after going 4-for-5 at the plate.

Jimmy Brel Jr. gave up 13 hits, allowed two walks, and hit a batter but struck out three in five innings to help Ol’Aces to its third straight win and fourth in five games.

In the fifth, the first three batters of Team Aztecs got the better of Brel, as Tim Cruz hit a two-run single sending Nicko Martin and Nick Muna home and Cruz followed suit on a passed ball.

After that, Brel struck out the next two batters, Nick Cruz and Franklin Togawa, then walked Ben Taisacan before retiring John Welson on a flyout to first as Ol’Aces remained in control, ahead 12-5.

Team Aztecs sent its second reliever Nick Cruz in the bottom of the fifth and Ol’Aces, as if on cue, connected on five hits with one advancing to first base on a base on ball, as the team padded its lead with five more runs from Leo Galarse, Ken Villagomez, Mike Borja, Mario Salas, and Iguel.

Ryan Lisua Jr. relieved Brel in the bottom of the sixth and completed the win for Ol’Aces on a 1-3 play off Wally Emul, a fly out to first against Togawa, and another fly out to shortstop off Martin.

Aztecs suffered its second straight loss and slipped to fifth place with a 2-3 win-loss slate.

Hustlers struggled against relentless IT&E Fielders before pulling out a 3-1 victory in a defense-oriented game up Wednesday night.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid by the Hustlers, who are now tied with the D-9ers in third with similar 2-2 records.

The Fielders fell to 1-4 in the bottom of the standings.

Martin Kaipat scored the first run of the game after he tripled with one out in the bottom third and reached home via Giovanni Ayuyu’s double.

Anthony Tenorio tied the count in the top of the fourth. He was hit by a pitch to reach first, advanced to second on a single by Wensimer Namelo, stole third base via passed ball, and reached home on another passed ball.

The Hustlers scored two in the top of the fifth as Vincent Cepeda doubled and went to third on Ayuyu’s triple. He latter dashed crossed home plate on a passed ball.

Ayuyu, who struck out 10 batters and gave up only four hits, was rested with two outs in the top of the seventh because he already eclipsed the pitching limit of 105. He pitched a total of 108 after John Tudela’s single.

His reliever Ton Rogolifoi insured the win via a 6-3 play off Tenorio.