Typhoon strikes Tigers, 31-11

Members of Tinian Sports Association Typhoon pose for a group photo before playing against the Tigers in the Major division of the 2014 Tinian Little League Baseball late last month. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Tinian Sports Association Typhoon crushed the Tigers, 31-11, in the Major division of the 2014 Tinian Little League Baseball late last month at the Tinian Ballfield.

With the big win, the Typhoon snapped its two-game losing skid and handed the Tigers their first loss in three matches. The Typhoon earned the blowout after winning the second-inning exchange against the Tigers. The visiting team was ahead by only three, 6-3, after one complete inning when it racked up 10 runs at the top of the second for a promising 16-3 advantage.

Two homers highlighted the Typhoon’s second-inning assault with B.J. Gonzales making the first home run and bringing in two runners with him. Sir Lashu Dela Cruz also blasted a two-run homer in the pivotal inning. The Typhoon got five more runs in the second at bat of its top of the order and had three players—Dela Cruz, Dre Lizama, and Malinao Palacios—making three runs each after only two innings.

The Tigers answered with only six runs at the bottom of the second off four earned runs and two from the Typhoon’s miscues to still fall behind, 9-16.

The Typhoon got the six runs back and added two more as it continued to strike in the third inning. Dela Cruz and Eron Borja hit RBI singles at the top of the third, while the Typhoon notched the six other runs off passed balls, wild pitches, and RBI walks to regain the twin-digit lead, 23-9.

At the bottom of the third, the Tigers were tamed, failing to reach home plate. Borja, who was the Typhoon’s starting pitcher, struck out three Tigers batters and walked two in the third inning. With Borja’s steady game from the mound at the top of the third, the Tigers could only advance to second base.

The Typhoon went on to secure the early win via 10-run mercy rule after four innings, as it collected eight more runs at the top of the fourth, while the Tigers countered with only two runs.

Palacios, Dela Cruz, and Borja delivered the killer blows in the fourth with their RBI singles, while Lana King stole plates three times to add another un for the Typhoon. The four other runs came off the Tigers’ defensive lapses.

Dela Cruz had a perfect performance from the plate in the lopsided win, going 4-for-4. He also logged four RBIs, four runs, and one double. Lizama had the most runs for the Typhoon with five, while two others added four each, and four contributed three each.

The Typhoon had 10 players suiting up against the Tigers with Jared King, Leo Epity, Chris King, and Karl Litulimar completing the roster.