Tanapag Middle School’s Jesus San Nicolas pitches against Hopwood Middle School during the boys middle school division title game of the PSS-NMISA Interscholastic Fastpitch Softball League SY24-25 at the Capital Hill softball field on Saturday.
Tanapag Middle School second baseman Dayton Marchadesch beats a runner for the pickoff during the championship game against Hopwood Middle School in the boys middle school division of the PSS-NMISA Interscholastic Fastpitch Softball League SY24-25 at the Capital Hill softball field on Saturday.
TANAPAG Middle School survived Hopwood Middle School’s late-game rally to triumph, 9-7, and claim the boys middle school division championship of the NMISA-PSS Interscholastic Fastpitch Softball League SY24-25 at the Capital Hill softball field on Saturday.
Both teams showcased their defense capabilities with no runs scored in the opening inning.
The silence was broken by HMS in the top of the second inning thanks to KC William’s sacrifice fly, which brought in a runner and earned an RBI along the way.
HMS held the lead for a brief moment, however, as TMS retaliated in the bottom half with several stolen bases that led to three runs highlighted by Justin Garde with a two-RBI double while teammate Zekiel Falig scored an RBI single to give their team the upper hand, 3-1.
HMS scored a single run to close the gap, but TMS added two runs to stay ahead, 5-2.
HMS then fell into an offensive slump in the fourth and fifth innings. TMS failed to score in the bottom of the fourth, but recovered in the fifth with Peter Camacho and Damian Sablan contributing a run each to retain a comfortable lead, 7-2.
But the fight was not over.
In the top of the sixth inning, HMS suddenly cooked up a late-game rally, bringing in five runs to tie the game, 7-7.
After TMS scored two runs in the bottom half to retain the lead, 9-7, HMS still had one more chance to steal the win in the top of the seventh. However, they were allowed only one hit before TMS recorded the three outs needed to secure the win and the championship.
