By Mike Nauta Jr.

Wednesday afternoon, the Northern Mariners and Crusaders made their way to the Paseo Stadium to take on one another in Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth (13-15) Baseball League action.  The Mariners entered the game looking to pick-up their first win of the season, while the Crusaders hope to improve on their winning record.  At the end of the game, it was the Crusaders who clinched the “W” after trouncing their opponents 23-0.  The game was called after four and a half innings of play via the league’s mercy rule.

At the start of the game, it was the Mariners taking the plate first on offense.  However a tough Crusaders defense made quick work and retired the side in three-up, three-down fashion.  In the bottom half of the inning, the Crusaders went through the entire lineup nearly two complete times.  Putting on a display of offensive power, the Crusaders opened a commanding 13-0 lead at the end of one.  Rodney “Hot Rod” Cruz, Allan Gillan, and Cooper Paulino combined for seven RBIs in the early onslaught.

Crusaders Isiah Nauta hits a fly ball to right field for the single. (photo by Joey Blas)

The Mariners refused to give-up despite the huge deficit early in the game.  In the second inning, Cody Iguel smacked a hard shot to leftfield giving the Mariners their first hit of the game and also a chance at scoring.  However, Crusaders starting pitcher Paulino managed to retire the side with two-straight strikeouts.  With the Crusaders at-bat in the bottom half, the Mariners’ starting pitcher Austin Aguon went to work and with the help of the defense got out of the inning holding their opponents hitless.

For the remainder of the game, the Mariners found some difficulty offensively as they were held hitless over the next three innings.  Meanwhile, the Crusaders pushed a run across in the third after an RBI-single by Paulino drove in Gillan.  In the bottom of the fourth, Back-to-back RBI-singles by Isaiah Nauta and Nohea Blas sparked a nine-run inning that eventually made it a 23-0 ballgame.  Heading into the top of the fifth, the Mariners needed a huge comeback to have any hopes of extending the game further.  However, a one-two-three inning was what the Crusaders delivered ending the game via the mercy rule.

Paulino who pitched four and a half innings striking out six batters led the Crusaders defensively.  Offensively, seven different Crusaders were credited with driving in at least one run.  In the losing effort, the Mariners’ Aguon racked up five strikeouts from the mound and went 1-for-3 from the plate with a single.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Mariners Pangelinan strikes out to end the inning against Crusaders. (photo by Joey Blas)

Crusaders Coby Gogue tries to leg out an infield hit, but was out on the play. (photo by Joey Blas)

Mariners Castro attempts to lay the bunt down but missed for the third strike to end the inning. (photo by Joey Blas)

Crusaders Cooper Paulino delivers a pitch against Mariners. (photo by Joey Blas)

Crusaders Isiah Nauta hits a fly ball to right field for the single. (photo by Joey Blas)

Mariners Pitcher Aguon delivers a strike against Crusaders. (photo by Joey Blas)