JOE LEADS MERIZO TO COMEBACK WIN

By Nick Akimoto

The final week of DPR Liberation Baseball Tournament pool play action finished with a Merizo Islanders comeback win over Hågat 1. After their Saturday game was rained out, Merizo faced 5-0 deficit at the start of the day. Despite being down by such a huge margin, however, the Islanders climbed back to win their last game 10-6. 

RJ Joe was the centerpiece of the Islander’s comeback. Joe helped Merizo get on the scoreboard after his base hit brought in their first runner, but it was his contributions in the fifth inning which would help his team get the momentum they needed. In the fourth inning, Joe’s deep hit into centerfield would bring in three runners to tie things up. Defensively, Joe would do all that was necessary to keep Hågat 1 at bay. Not only did Joe clock in four strikeouts, he would also snatch two line drives out of the air to help hold Hågat 1 to one run on the day. 

As regular pool tournament action comes to a close, six teams will compete next weekend to determine the champion of the inaugural DPR Liberation Baseball Tournament. 

GAME RECAP 

Merizo would start the Rain Check games with Joe bringing in a runner off of a single base hit to start the climb 5-1. The two teams would trade scoreless at-bats before Hågat would add a run off a ground hit. Down 6-1 at the bottom of the fifth inning, Jonah Peredo would kick things off with a left side hit which would bring in Shane Muna, who stole two bases to get into scoring position. 

Hågat would grab two outs and prepare to return to the dugout, but a well placed DC Nena hit would drop in between left and center field and would help the Islanders bring in two runs. Ryan Palomo would hit a single to get on base, and RJ Joe would slam one into deep centerfield which would be good to bring in three runners and tie things up 6-6. 

Hågat would retire the next batter to return to the dugout, but would be unable to bring in a run. In their next at-bat, Merizo would continue to stay hot, taking advantage of full bases to bring in another four runners and go up 10-6. Hågat would get one more opportunity to score, but it would prove to be too much to overcome as the Islanders would field three straight outs to end the game.

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