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Guam bid farewell to one of its finest baseball players to ever play the game.
The name Fernando Diaz was synonymous with the words hustle, hard work and dedication. Diaz played throughout the Guam Major League and Budweiser Baseball League and into the Guam Masters League before passing away last week.
Diaz was a multiple All-Star playing center field and batting leadoff mostly for the old UOG Tritons, Continental Golden Jets and Exxon Tigers. He was laid to rest Thursday after funeral services at the Maina Catholic Church.
GSPN was able to get some other baseball legend’s reflection on possibly the greatest centerfielder to ever roam Paseo Stadium.
John Hattig (UOG/Continental left fielder): He would always give you a 110%. He’s always a team player. He’ll never give the team any bad vibes. You can always depend on him. He’s got a lot of heart, he was a good man. Playing center field, he always had control. He was a great leadoff hitter. You can almost guarantee he will get on base. He’s one of the batters who’s very hard to strike out and had a really good eye.
Jimmy Pangelinan (Exxon first baseman): He’s an all-around player. You can count on him to come through when anything arises: get on base, steal the base. He had good eyes at the plate and a very selective hitter. We’re going to miss him. He’s got good judgement (in centerfield). We played together in the Exxon Tigers. In the masters league, whenever he got on base, I knew he was going to go either the first pitch or the second pitch.
Randy Kakigi (UOG/Continental pitcher): He was a good teammate. A really tough competitor. It was worse when I had to play against him. He was always distracting because he was always a threat to steal. When we were teammates, anything out there (in centerfield) he would catch it…it was like 100% of the time and it made my job a lot easier. Good comfort for me. He was the catalyst for our team (as the leadoff hitter). Whenever he got on base, it was almost a guarantee he would take second on a steal.
JR Hattig (Continental bat boy): As a bat boy with the Jets, he was one of the premier centerfielders and the leadoff guy who can hit for power and average. He would always talk about fundamentals. It was a joy to watch him play. He was one of the first users of the ceramic bat. I remember him tracking balls down, throwing guys out. He was a five-tool player, he was all around.
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs