Two in a row for Patriots-Angels, Falcons

The Patriots-Angels and Falcons notched their second victory in as many games in the 2019 Natibu Sports Association Girls Fast-pitch and Boys Slow-pitch Softball League last Saturday at the Capitol Hill Ballfield.

In the first game in the girls fast-pitch division, the Patriots-Angels defeated Balas, 23-13.

The Patriots-Angels put the game out of Balas’ reach after they scored a combined nine runs in the final two innings—seven in the fourth and two in the fifth. Richelle Ramon, Kiana Aldan, Cass Camacho, Mariko Laniyo, Chanel Espinola, Christy Aldan, and Franzie Elieisar crossed home plate in the pivotal fourth, as the Patriots-Angels finished off Balas after only five innings, winning via 10-run mercy rule.

Before walking away with the early victory, the Patriots-Angels were just ahead by 5, 14-9, after three complete innings. The Patriots-Angels were in control of the match right at the get-go after making six runs at the top of first inning, while Balas countered with only three at the bottom. The Patriots-Angels then widened the gap in the second inning, adding seven more runs against the six of Balas, while the opposing teams had one run apiece in the third.

After staying close with the Patriots-Angels in the first three innings, Balas folded up in the last two, recording only three in the fourth and failing to score in the fifth. Balas had a chance to escape the early loss with two outs and runners on second and third at the bottom of the fifth, but Jaime Pangelinan flied out at centerfield.

With the victory, the Patriots-Angels took the lead in the four-team field with their 2-0 record, while Balas dropped to a 1-1 mark.

In the other girls fast-pitch game, the Ayuyus were given the outright win since the Niners did not have enough players for the match. The Ayuyus now have a 1-1 slate, while the Niners fell to a 0-2 card.

Braves 14, Ayuyus 7
In the curtain-raiser in the boys slow-pitch division, the Braves bounced back from their opening loss after beating the Ayuyus in six innings.

The Braves were still down after the third inning, 6-7, when they went on target in the fourth, scoring eight runs to grab the upper hand and never relinquished it. J.J.Sablan, Ton Dizon, Awang Tudela, Ping Kapileo, Jeremy Ngiraked, Nick Nekai, Blade Igitol, and Heath Camacho contributed to the Brave’s eight-run top of the fourth inning, while the Ayuyus (1-1) were silenced in the final three innings

Falcons 15, Blue Jays 10
In the other game in the division, the Falcons pulled off a come-from-behind victory against the Blue Jays after seven innings.

The Falcons, who faced a 2-10 deficit at the end of the fifth inning, came to life in the final two, scoring 13 unanswered runs to remain unbeaten.

Ping Norita led the Falcons’ recovery, as he blasted a two-run homer at the top of the sixth inning and also reached home in the seventh. Arby Yaguel, Angel Iguel, Keoni Serrano, and I.J. Iguel, had two runs each, too in the final two innings, while Kobe Lifoifoi, Dennis Cabrera, and Dung Maratita added one apiece.

The Blue Jays, after collapsing in the last three innings, dropped to a 1-1 record.