Elias claims ‘Bottom Six’ softball title

  Elias overcame Talu Fahn, 15-11, in nine innings of their title duel in the “Bottom Six” of Chamolinian Softball Association’s 2nd Budweiser Softball League last Thursday at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

The champion team is composed Glen and Rodney Camacho, Gary and Mike Cruz, Brian Nicholas Jr., Jose Iguel, Delvin, Emilio and Melvin Manahane, John-Peter, Mario, and Myron Sablan, Ernest Sablan Jr., Ben and Jordan Tagabuel, and Jay Tilipao.

Elias and five other squads played in the single-elimination tournament after failing to make the competition for the Top 8 teams, which had a separate double-elimination contest.

Elias’ Mike Cruz snuck on base off an outfield error and was escorted home via a sacrifice fly by JP Sablan in the first inning. Elias added three more runs in the third frame off four hits and another sacrifice fly by Rod Camacho. Sablan belted a two-RBI single in the surge for an early 4-0 lead.

Talu Fahn roared back, however, in the bottom portion and pulled in front, 6-4, off six hits. Two leadoff hits set up an RBI single for Eldred Sanchez and a two-run homer for Eric Cabrera. A bonus run made it home off an error before Cabrera’s long ball and Ryan Mizutani capped off the rally with an RBI base smash.

Talu Fahn then added a run off an infield error and a double by Manny Cabrera in the fourth inning, but Elias got it back later in the sixth from an RBI single by Glen Camacho.

Elias would turn the table in the sixth inning with another three runs, thanks to some costly errors and a couple of hits from Mel Manahane and Rod Camacho.

Talu Fahn then had a few good chances to secure the game in regulation, but left the winning runner at third base two times in a row. It responded with just one run in the last inning of regulation from a sacrifice fly by Eric Cabrera and Elias thwarted the rally effort with a double play and forced the match into extra innings.

Then both teams peppered the board with three runs in the eighth inning, but Elias put out another fire to save its tails, this time with the bases loaded.

Elias erupted with four runs in the top of the ninth inning, thanks largely to a towering three-run homer from BJ Nicolas. Ben Tagabuel also tacked on a welcomed RBI single and Elias hung tough out on the field to secure the win.

By Walter J. Sutherland
Reporter