By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Islanders and the Tanapag Falcons earned contrasting wins in the Men’s Fast-pitch Softball League last Thursday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield.
The Islanders nipped Che’luus, while the Falcons had an easier time beating the San Vicente Sunrisers in the second game, 15-6.
The Islanders played their first game, while the Falcons had back-to-back matches. The Tanapag-based team played their debut game badly, bowing to the defending champion D-9ers, 0-11 on March 20.
Nick Guerrero, Dennis Ngeskebei and Jess Mesa led the Islanders’ offense. Guerrero went 3-for-5 with two doubles, while Ngeskebei was 2-for-5.
Mesa went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs.
Jess Manibusan pitched for the Islanders in no relief for nine innings and had four strikeouts.
Brother John was the Che’lus starting pitcher and had three strikeouts before John Camacho relieved him at the top of the seventh.
Jess Cabrera hit 3-for-5 for Che’luus and had two runs, while Audrey Maratita went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a triple.
In the second game, JR Suel, Mel Aldan and Mike Cruz all went 2-for-4 to lift the Falcons to a nine-point win.
Suel also had one run, an RBI and a double, while Aldan scored four runs and made two RBIs and a double. Cruz had three runs.
Paul Roberto pitched for the Falcons in the first two innings and had three strikeouts. Gus Aguon replaced him at the top of the third.
Ben Mesa led the Sunrisers’ losing cause going 3-for-4 with two runs and a double.
Jess Kapileo had two RBIs and a double and went 2-for-4, while Randall Aguon had one run, a single and was 2-for-5 at the plate.
The Sunrisers absorbed their second defeat in as many games after losing to Proa in the league opener on March 20, 11-6.
The Sunrisers were hoping to enter the win column yesterday, as they were battling the Islanders in the first game last night.
The Falcons were gunning for their second straight victory against Proa in the second game.
The results of these matches were unavailable at press time.
Tomorrow, the Islanders take on Proa in the first game, while the D-9ers face Che’luus in the second match.
Aside from the pennant and championship trophies, also at stake in this year’s tournament are slots on the NMI team.
The CNMI Amateur Softball Association will be selecting top players from the league to represent the island in the North Pacific Qualifying Tournament on Guam this year.