X-clusive sneaks past Saipal, 7-6

  X-clusive pulled out a crafty 7-6 comeback victory over Saipal in the Chamolinian Softball Association 2012 Budweiser Softball League men’s division match held last Wednesday at the Capitol Hill Ballfield.

In other results, Gagu Eyes bested Managaha Boys, 10-5, and Natibu run-ruled Familia, 19-8, in five innings.

As of Wednesday, the men’s division standings show the defending champion Man Amigos tied for first place with the 2011 runner-up Natibu. The frontrunners are the only unbeaten teams, left out of the 15-team field with three wins apiece.

Your Balls, Berdax, and Manelos all share identical 2-0 win-loss cards; Gagu Eyes, G-Ballers, Saipal, Familia, and X-clusive hold even 2-2 records; Team Elias sits at 1-1; Six Pack and the Warriors have 1-2 slates; Talu Fahn is at 1-3; and the Managaha Boys remain winless after four tries.

The women’s standings show Check It Out in first place and still unbeaten after three games; Sakudi remains in second place at 2-2; Enamo Meta is at 1-1; 670 Babes have a 1-2 slate, and the Rookies bring up the rear at 0-2.

X-clusive 7, Saipal 6

X-clusive rallied back from a 0-4 deficit in the first two innings with a two-run home run by Fred Sato in the third, a solo shot by Vince Cepeda in the fifth, and a slew of four hits in the sixth frame capped off by a two-RBI smash by Mike Manas to put them ahead, 5-4, heading into the last inning of regulation.

Saipal mustered two runs with their back against the wall off a triple and a sacrifice fly, but X-clusive knotted it back at 6-all in the bottom frame from another solo blast by Cepeda.

Then in the eighth, am X-clusive batter drew a lead off walk and was moved into scoring position a base hit later and scored after tagging up on a line out by John Reyes for the win.

Gagu Eyes 10, Managaha Boys 5

After a 2-2 deadlock form the first inning, Gagu Eyes trotted ahead, 4-2, in the second frame off a pair of base hits by Mike Iguel and Nokki Torres.

Gagu’s Nokki Saralu left the yard with a solo blast in the third inning, but Managaha Boys’ Simon got it back later in the fifth.

Gagu Eyes then went ahead, 8-3, in the bottom frame off two hits, a fielder’s choice, and a double by Swain Cangco and both teams managed two runs in the sixth inning before Gagu Eyes held it down in the final stand.

Gagu Eye’s Saralu batted 3-for-3 with three runs; Managaha Boys’ Joey Sablan also went 3-for-3 with a pair of two-run homers.

Natibu 19, Familia 8

Natibu’s Jerry Guerrero broke the ice with a two-RBI single in the opening frame and his teammates Bruce Norita and Josh Wilson tacked on three more runs in the second inning with a solo shot and a two-run bomb.

Familia mustered a run in to start the third, but Natibu obliged with seven more runs in the bottom frame off five hits, a pair of fielder’s choices, two walks, and a sacrifice fly; Norita pounded a three-run homer in the mix.

Familia struck back with a seven-run tear in the fourth off nine hits from a solo homer by Pat Guerrero, an RBI single by Kolin Reyes, a grand slam by Jack Sablan, and a two-RBI double, but Natibu held true in the clutch with another seven runs off eight hits in the bottom frame highlighted by a grand slam by Norita.