By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

FOR the Hustlers, it capped an amazing season in which they won the pennant with a league-best 10-2 record while for the five-time champion Pirates, it ended their title-retention bid and their attempt for a Cinderella finish.
The Hustlers ended the Pirates’ title defense with a 15-4 whipping in Saturday’s Game 4 of the best-of-five title series in the 8th Fall League at the Francisco M. Palacios Ballfield.
The Hustlers won the series, 3-1, and regained the Fall League crown it last won in 2004.
The victory served as a gift to AJ Allen, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on Saturday. “The championship title is a good birthday present for me and the team.”
Clearly missing the services of ace pitcher James Kintol, the Pirates’ bullpen looked helpless against the Hustlers’ sluggers.
The outfielders and infielders did not help the Pirates’ cause much as they committed errors in the game that spelled doom for their team.
The Hustlers used a nine-run seventh inning, highlighted by Jonathan Delos Santos’ three-run home run, to turn a 6-4 lead into an 11-run advantage.
Martin Pangelinan singled to center to let Vince Duenas score while Ed Manibusan, who singled and stole second, escaped a pickoff attempt and reached home plate on another Pirates error.
The Hustlers put two more runners on base to set up Delos Santos’ three-run blast.
Delos Santos wasted no time and took Josh Dela Cruz’ first pitch deep into right field for his third home run this season. The Hustlers’ first baseman also homered in their 10-6 win over the Manhoben Young Guns on Dec. 18, 2006 and hit one more in their best-of-three playoff series against the Tanapag Braves.
“I saw the first pitch hanging and immediately put it out. I knew when it went up in the air it was gone. I never planned it, I just told myself to be alert and watch the pitches,” said Delos Santos after the game.
“This win is special for us since AJ (Allen) is celebrating his birthday. This is our present to him,” added the Department of Public works employee.
John Mafnas, who collected four individual awards, was the winning pitcher. “I was just thinking about finally ending the game.”
“I felt confident that the game was ours. We were ahead by a wide margin. Now, I will start preparing for next year, for our title defense,” said the 17-year old Saipan Southern High School sophomore.
The Pirates also lost Game 3, 7-4, last Friday despite tying the match at 4-4 after seven complete innings.
The Hustlers had some help from the Pirates’ outfielders as they were able to score three runs bridging the eighth and ninth innings.
The Pirates tied the series at 1-1 with an 8-1 triumph over the Hustlers in Game 2.
The Pirates struggled in the early part of the season with a 0-2 start and posted a 1-5 mark midway through the regular season.
They slowly climbed their way up in the standings, however, winning four of their last five games to finish third with a 5-7 record.
The Summer/Fall League started in 1999 as a developmental league for players under 25.