By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

Team Standing
W L Bud Kings 8 0 Ford Rangers 5 3 Falcons 4 3
Masters 4 4 Young Guns 3 6
Jaguars 1 9
THE Korean Jaguars made a graceful exit from the 2007 Budweiser Saipan Major League baseball tournament after defeating the Young Guns, 12-10, last Monday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.
It was the Jaguars first and only win in the regular season ending the double-round tournament with a 1-9 record. The Young Guns absorbed their fourth loss in a row and dropped to a 3-6 slate.
Both the Jaguars and the Young Guns are out of contention for the playoffs, as only the top four teams after the regular season will advance to the next round.
The defending champion Bud Kings are the only team assured of a slot in the playoffs with their perfect 8-0 record. The Ford Rangers are in second place with a 5-3 record, while the Tanapag Falcons (4-3) and the Masters are in third and fourth places, respectively.
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, the Jaguars had a good start scoring three runs at the top of the first.
The Young Guns, who had only a run in the first inning, recovered with a four-run second to grab the lead, 5-3, after two complete innings.
Both teams struggled in the next four innings with the Jaguars still down by two, 5-7.
But a five-run seventh inning put the Jaguars in the driver’s seat, 10-7, as they shut out the Young Guns for the third straight time.
The Jaguars increased the lead to five 12-7, after scoring one run in both the eighth and ninth innings.
The Young Guns came to bat at the bottom of the ninth and were hoping to pull off a come-from-behind win.
But they had a bad start at the bottom of the last inning, as leadoff batter P. Alepuyo was beaten to first base.
The Young Guns’ next three batters scored to move within two, 10-12, but that was the last time they reached home.
The Young Guns’ were called for the second out after N. Toppen was beaten to first base.
The Jaguars’ pitcher S. Mendoza then walked the next three Young Guns batters, who were left stranded on first, second and third bases, as Mendoza struck out B. Taisacan.
Meanwhile, the Tanapag Falcons face the Ford Rangers tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The Rangers are hoping to extend their winning run to four and secure the second playoffs ticket.