Lady Ayuyus complete perfect softball season

The Kagman High School Lady Ayuyus dethroned defending champion Lady Manta Rays of Saipan Southern High School, 14-5, in last Saturday’s Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization girls fast-pitch softball championship at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.

The victory was the cherry added on top of a flawless regular season, as KHS won six regular season games in a row before sweeping the four team single-elimination playoffs.

The Lady Ayuyus are made up of seniors Mikaela Borja, Zerah Castro, Betty Kanai, Sumech San Nicolas and April Welson, juniors Janica Lizama, Tracy Pelep, and Ignacia Sakisat, sophomores Nicialyn Cabrera, Andrea Camacho, and Allyson Kanai, and freshmen Alice Agulto, Jenni Dela Cruz, Joelin Mettao, Maelyn Naputi, and Jeromalyn Santos. Other members of the team are utility player Janelle Brel, catcher Catalina Dela Cruz, and Dorothy Jebehn.

Emy Quitigua and Jerome Taisacan coached the squad with assistance from John Sanchez, Greg Iskawa, and Lamarc Iguel.

The group was presented with the MISO team trophy, which will be featured for a year in KHS’ trophy case.

The final table was set on Friday as KHS defeated the Marainas High School Lady Dolphins, 7-3, just before SSHS took the field and bested the Mount Carmel School Lady Knights, 19-11. MCS won the consolation match, 13-7, over the Lady Dolphins.

Both teams went three up and three down in the opening frame of the main event, but KHS moved in front, 2-0, in the second inning off two hits. Castro led off with a walk and was brought home by Brel who was immediately driven in by Welson.

KHS then bolted ahead, 7-0, in the third inning off a flurry of six hits. Santos, Catalina Dela Cruz, Lizama, Pelep, and Castro all bashed hits and touched home plate.

SSHS made a stand on defense in the fourth inning, but were stuffed again at the plate by KHS ace pitcher Castro who brought her A-game to the mound on Saturday.

Castro gave out some free passes as she worked from the rubber, but managed to fight out the jams through four innings.
She and her teammates then added two runs to the lead in the fifth frame. Castro drove in hit batsmen Borja before scoring off a double by Brel.

SSHS finally hit the board with three runs in the bottom frame, but KHS’ Castro escaped with the bases load. SSHS’ Keanah Deleon Guerrero, Dayna Pena, and Stephanie Espayes made their way around the diamond as Castro gave up three hits and four walks in the inning.

KHS would not be denied, however, and got the runs back in the top of the sixth.

With a string off three hits and a pair of fielder’s choices, Naputi and Catalina Dela Cruz scampered home as the KHS coaches had the green light on all day in the base paths.

KHS’ Castro struck out the side in the bottom half and the Lady Ayuyus posted up three more runs in the last inning of regulation that diminished SSHS’ chances to mount a late comeback.

The runs were actually gifted as the Lady Manta Rays appeared lethargic as they took the field for the last time.

SSHS did, however, manage to work around a couple of runs in the final stand thanks to some extra throws around the infield under the pressure of closing the last out.

KHS’ Castro delivered another strong performance as she did all year.

Castro gave up just five hits in the match and left eight runners stranded on base through seven innings. She walked 10, hit one batter, and struck out 10.

KHS’ Brel batted 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs.