Pues OK 4Nate run-rules Angels

Pues OK 4Nate’s Angel Palacios and Angels’ Willow Quitugua intently look at the batter in the fourth inning of their King of the Diamond Labor Day Softball Tournament last Wednesday night at the Capitol Hill Ballfield. (Mark Rabago)

Pues OK 4Nate won its second straight game after a 13-3 mercy rule victory over Angels in the King of the Diamond Labor Day Softball Tournament last Wednesday night at the Capitol Hill Ballfield.

The team started out with bang, scoring five runs in the first inning with two of its players—Frank Nakamura and Ban Ayuyu—going yard. Angels retaliated with a lone score in the second inning, courtesy of a homerun by Dung Maratita.

Leading, 5-1, Pues OK 4Nate widened their advantage in the third inning after Nakamura got on base and Harry Nakamura brought him home with another homerun.

Only Kobe Lifoifoi made it to base in the fourth inning for the Angels as Pues OK 4Nate’s Ben Pangelinan induced the next three batters—A.J. Evangelista, Gio Mira, and Maratita—to either ground out or flyout to end the inning.

Ko Lizama was responsible for Pues OK 4Nate’s lone score in the fourth inning after he was drove in by Ben Flores. Angels had one gasp left in them in the fifth when Vince Torres and Willow Quitugua hit back-to-back jacks to trim Pues OK 4Nate’s lead to 8-3.

Pues OK 4Nate, however, quieted the Angels dugout and quashed any thoughts of a comeback when A.J. Lizama, Frank Nakamura, Harry Nakamura, Bill Sanchez, and Ayuyu all crossed home plate to end the game via the 10-run mercy rule in the fifth inning. Frank Nakamura registered his second homerun that inning that also gave Pues OK 4Nate four jacks in the game.

Winning manager Franklin Lizama congratulated his players for the win.

“We did our job. We got on base and used our four homeruns wisely,” he said.

Lizama said they were also fortunate that Pangelinan controlled the Angels’ batters with his superb performance from the mound.
“Plus we did good on defense. We were happy he was able to find his strike zone early in the game,” he said.

Angels manager Nish Mario said despite the blowout loss, she’s still confident in her team’s ability to bounce back in the loser’s bracket.

“Although we got our first loss last night, I’m confident that Team Angels are ready to fight our way in the loser’s bracket to make it back up to the top. We never look at it as a loss but more of a learning experience. Whether we’re down by 10 or up by 20, you’ll always see Team Angels smiling. All for the love of the game!” she said.

Mario also sent a shout-out to the team’s sponsors, namely Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), A.J. Murig, and Marianas Inflatables. “Thank you all for allowing Team Angels the opportunity to play in the King of the Diamond.”

The two other games Thursday night also finished via the 10-run mercy rule. Kliq wiped the floor clean of the Blazers, 16-2, while Alapatiw spanked Sufa, 15-2.

Prizes for the King of the Diamond Labor Day Softball Tournament is $1,000 plus a set of 12 uniforms for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place, and $350 for fourth place. It is sponsored by Budweiser, Saipan Select, AllStar Sporting Goods, Power 99, and Marianas Variety. For more information on the Roil Soil Marketing event, call Ikluk Masayos at 287-7979 or Shayne Villanueva at 285-4269.