SHELL Marianas scored three straight runs both in the first and second innings as they kept Sai-Pal scoreless in five innings towards their 10-4 victory during the championship of the King & Queen of the Diamonds Coed Softball Tournament at the Capital Hill Ballfield yesterday.
Mel Sakisat held Sai-Pal to a number of unearned runs as he pitched into the seventh inning, as he also had a pair of inside-the-park home runs, three triple, one single and one double.
Right fielder Jj Laniyu and Ben Tagabuel hit a two-run homer to help Shell Marianas gain one leg advantage towards the King and Queen of the Diamonds championship in October.
Tagabuel scored a couple of runs including 1 home run in the second inning.
Almost all members of the Shell Marianas scored runs from first to the fourth inning, then, stood their ground in the rest of the innings allowing Sai-Pal hit 2 runs only in the fifth inning.
Aside from Sakisat, Jerry Ayuyu and Ton Camacho scored runs in the first inning, Julian and Bert Camacho ran safe to the home base in the second , and Jay-R Suel added 1 run in the third.
Sai-Pal’s Tyron Omar who had 2-for-3 when they beat Total Chaos in the earlier game scored 1 run in the third inning but got struck out in the seventh where they needed to score to get even.
Poland Masaharu who had 3-for-3 in game against Total Chaos and Rusco Yamada both scored only 1 run in the fifth.
The qualifying tournament, says coordinator, Joey Dela Cruz went smoothly as planned as they now prepare for two more legs coming up for the inter-island championship in October.
“Thanks to Budweiser Continental and to all the teams that participated,” he said.
Budweiser sales manager, Melvin Tenorio noted the very good turn out of the tournament as he observed it was well organized.
He said it was only this year that they held a King and Queen of the Diamonds Coed Softball tournament which includes female players.
In the past, it had always been King of the Diamonds only, and this year, they came out with the idea of including the women many whom in the land have potentials.
Two more qualifying tournaments he said will be held in July and September and every body still has the chance to play and get consolation prizes in the final championship that is coming up in October.
Whichever team wins in final championship will play the King and Queen of the Diamonds champions of Guam and Palau in the regional championship that will be held in Palau in November.
