Saipan Masters draw with Yona Rulz
Tuesday, 02 June 2009 23:24
“What a game, what a game.”
Yona Rulz pitcher Alvin Fejeran “unloads the canon during a Pacific Islanders Masters Baseball Tournament game against the Saipan Masters Monday, June 1, 2009 at Paseo Stadium in Hagatna. Yona Rulz and Saipan Masters played to a 17-17 tie. Photos by Matt Weiss
That was what was echoed throughout the stands after a fantastic 2009 Pacific Islanders Masters Baseball Tournament competitive division game yesterday at Paseo Stadium between Yona Rulz and the visiting Saipan Masters.
After five complete innings of play, both teams found themselves deadlocked at 17-17 to end the game in a draw.
“What a great game,” Saipan fan Margaret Flores said. “This is a great way for players and fans alike from Saipan, Guam and Australia to get together and have fun.”
Guam Masters Baseball Association president Roke Alcantara, Sr. said “the tournament is put together every year so that we can compete against off-island teams and by doing that, make a lifelong bond with new people on the baseball diamond.”
There are two divisions in the tournament, a competitive division and a non-competitive division known as the social division.
Both teams scored at will when it counted and in the end, after time had expired, game umpires called it a draw. Fans were treated to great ball throwing and acrobatic maneuvers that only players in the 2009 tournament can bring.
After Yona Rulz took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Saipan Masters waited for the right opportunity to strike. That came in the bottom of the second inning after scoring four runs to take a 4-1 lead. Dennis Renguul was credited with a two-RBI double after he hit the ball into deep center field. Moments later, Mark Flores recorded a RBI single after he brought in Dennis with a shot to the left field fence. Ending the spree was Mike Muna as he hit the ball softly on the ground forcing Mark Flores to cross the plate on a fielder’s choice call.
Not to be outdone, Yona Rulz tied the game 4-4 in the top of the third inning after Frank Fernandez drove in Richard Mendiola and Felix Mesa for a two-RBI triple. Moments later, a fielding error by the Saipan Masters resulted in Fernandez stepping over home plate for another score.
“We are just having fun out here, enjoying the games and our stay on Guam,” said Ted Dapileo, a resident of As Lito, Saipan.
Saipan once again proved they belong among the elite of Guam as they retook the lead 7-4 in the bottom of the third. Starting things off was Bob Lizama of Garapan, Saipan. Lizama ripped a towering shot into left field for a two-RBI single that brought in Wally Imul and John Duenas. Ted Ngewakl brought in Mark Flores after smacking an RBI single shot to shallow right field.
Yona thought they put the game out of reach in the top of the fourth inning by scoring 10 runs giving them a comfortable 14-7 lead. Ken Espinosa got things going after recording an RBI single. From there, Mendiola smacked a hard shot to left field for a two-RBI single to tie the game.
Two errors by the Saipan Masters and two straight two-RBI doubles and an RBI single gave the Yona team a comfortable lead. So they thought at that point.
Saipan managed to score a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning, trimming Yona’s lead to14-8. Yona Rulz added anoher three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 17-8 lead. Espinosa recorded a two-RBI single that brought in two of his teammates. Moments later, Mendiola added another RBI to his total after lining a shot to right field bringing in JR Javier.
Now it was do or die for the Saipan Masters as the time winded down and the final inning was upon them. The Saipan Masters came through as they scored nine runs tying the game, thus putting the smiles on all of the players of Yona Rulz away.
Saipan Masters’ pitcher Bob O’Conner pitches the ball during a Pacific Islanders Masters Baseball Tournament game against Yona Rulz Monday, June 1, 2009 at Paseo Stadium in Hagatna. Yona Rulz and Saipan Masters played to a 17-17 tie.
Three straight RBI singles by Muna, Kapileo and Ben Cabrera gave the Saipan team hope. Moments later a throwing error by Yona pitcher Victor Hernandez brought in another run. With two outs in the books, the Saipan Masters stayed strong in the face of defeat and scored five more runs on RBI singles by Lizama, a 2 runs stand up doubles by Dennis Renguul, a singles by Muna, Kapileo and Cabreara.
With the tie, Yona Rulz is 0-1-1 in the tournament and the Saipan Masters are now 0-1-1. In other action the Guam A’s defeated the Agat Cardinals 7-9. The Cardinals are 0-1 in the tournament and the A’s are 1-0.
In the social division, the Guam Masters are 2-0 in the tournament and the Aussie Wombats are 0-1 after Guam defeated the Australian team 8-0. In the other game in the social division, the Kosrae Masters defeated the Korea “J” Masters 20-8. Kosrae is 1-1 in the tournament and the Korea “J” Masters are 0-2.
Action continues tomorrow with the Guam Masters taking on Guahan Old School at 1 p.m. in the competitive division. At 6 p.m., the last competitive division game takes place as the Agat Cardinals take on the Saipan Masters. In the social division, the Korea “J” Masters take on the Guam Masters at 3:30 p.m. and the Kosrae Masters take on the Aussie Wombats at 8:30 p.m.
Top Performers
Yona Rulz
Frank Fernandez - 4-4 with 2 runs, 3 RBIs
Ron Mendiola - 3-4 with 2 runs, 3 RBIs
Dan Aguero - 2-3 with 1 run, 2 RBIs
Richard Mendiola - 4-4 with 1 run, 2 RBIs
Saipan Masters
Manny Tenorio - 4-5 with 1 run, 4 RBIs
Bob Lizama - 4-5 with 1 run, 4 RBIs
Mark Flores - 4-4 with 2 runs, 4 RBIs
Dennis Renguul - 3-4, 3 runs, 3 RBIs
