Nov. 11, 2008 — The Bob Owens Slow Pitch Softball League kicked off its 2008-2009 season Monday night at the D.C. Canegata Ball Park in Christiansted with two of three scheduled games played.
After Anchor Dive forfeited the first game of the night to the Cartel, it was a rematch of last year's finals between the champions Wyatt Heat and runner-up Seaborne Stealers. This game, however, did not materialize into much of a contest as the Stealers — still smarting from last year's defeat — unleashed a ferocious offensive attack that totally overwhelmed a shorthanded Wyatt Heat ball club. By the time the dogs were called off, the Stealers had pounded out 27 runs on 24 hits to knock off the defending champs 27-6 in a five-inning, 10-run mercy-ruled victory.
Batting first, the Stealers wasted little time in jumping on the Heat — who had to play with just three outfielders — for three runs in the top of the first inning. They scored three runs on a solo shot by Ronald Schjang and a two-run double off the bat of Guido Schjang to take the early lead. Wyatt Heat was equal to the task in the bottom of the inning, answering with three runs of their own on a two-run single by Martin Charles and an RBI single by James Smith to knot the game at three after one inning.
The Stealers were back on the attack in the top on the second when they erupted for seven runs to take a 10-3 lead, and they would not trail again. They scored seven runs on a three-run blast by Guido Schjang and RBI singles by Wayne Biggs, Sam Ramos, Ronald Schjang and Raymond Cintron. The Heat went quietly in the bottom of the inning.
A solo home run by Dave Schjang in the top of the third inning extended the Stealers' lead to 11-3. This time the heat was able to answer with three runs in the bottom of the inning to cut into the Stealers eight-run lead, bringing the score to 11-6. Unfortunately for the Heat they would not score again on the night. They came up with those three runs on a two-run single by George Knight and a Stealers error.
The Stealers really poured it on over the next couple of innings as they scored eight in the top of the fourth and nine in the top of the fifth to crush the defending champs by a final score of 27-6.
The Stealers' ace pitcher, Sam Ramos, who picked up the win on the hill, helped his own cause with the bat when he hit a towering three-run blast over the center field fence in the top of the fifth inning. Smith got the loss for Wyatt Heat. Top hitters for the Stealers were Guido Schjang, 4 for 5 with a home run and six RBIs; Dave Schjang, 4 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs; and Ramos, 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. For Wyatt Heat, Eric Perez went 3 for 3 with one RBI and David Gonzalez went 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Speak the Word Ministries 26, Claudio Enterprises 23
In the late game Monday, Speak the Word Ministries outslugged Claudio Enterprises 26-23 in a high-scoring affair. It was Speak the Word with 26 runs on 20 hits with three errors, while Claudio finished with 23 runs on 18 hits with two errors. The winning pitcher was Steve Nisky, while Jeffrey Naar got the loss for Claudio. Norbert Pickering led Speak the Word's offensively, going 5 for 5 with two home runs and six RBIs. He was well supported by teammates Sylvester McIntosh, 4 for 5 with a home run and six RBIs, and Juan Figueroa-Seville, 4 for 4 with one RBI. For Claudio Enterprises, Miguel Rodriguez went 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs and Ernecido Bon went 4 for 5 with two home runs and six RBIs.
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