GECKOS TAKE NAIL-BITING WIN

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By Regina Shiroma

Joseph Mendiola slugs a 2RBI double to break the 2-2 tie and win the game for the Geckos. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Expect the unexpected when it comes to the GW Geckos baseball team. Finishing in the top four last season, they themselves did not expect to win—but indeed they did. After seven full innings of play, the GW Geckos rallied to a 4-2 win over the Guam High Panthers in their first game of the 2012 IIAAG high school boys baseball season.

Freshmen Joseph Mendiola gave his Geckos the win, breaking the tie and hitting a two RBI double in the bottom of the seventh deep into left-center field to bring in Christian Borja and Christian Cruz.

“The pitcher threw me two curve balls that I thought were going to hit me, but I felt confident for the last one, so I just stroked it and it flew. I didn’t expect it to fly, but it just did,” said Mendiola.

The McDonald’s player of the game: Geckos’ Joseph Mendiola. Game-winning 2RBI double

Guam High came up with a run in the top of the second to put their team up 1-0 when Brandon Quintanilla hit a RBI single into right-center field and brought in Daniel Morta.

Geckos’ Christian Palacios pitches the ball in the fourth inning. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Geckos Kaleb Cruz tied the game at one apiece coming in on an error in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth Cain Madison came in on a RBI double by Robit Cabe, allowing the Panthers to take the lead once again at 2-1.

With a two-hour time limit, the Geckos were pressed for time to put in a run. Kaleb Cruz came up big for his team again, hitting an RBI triple deep into center field, bringing in Mendiola, to tie the ball game at 2-all.

The Geckos buckled down on defense, sending the Panthers offense off three up, three down in the top of the seventh.

“I feel great because I didn’t expect that we were going to win, and that was just a lucky hit that I did,” said Mendiola of his game-winning hit.

In the loss, Panthers pitcher, Morta finished with an impressive 13 K’s.

In other games:

ND def. Okkodo 21-3

Panthers’ pitcher Daniel Morta throws the ball to first baseman Kyle Dougherty while Geckos’ Brandon Muna scrambles back to make it safe. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Geckos second baseman Kaleb Cruz catches a high ball for another out against the Panthers. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Panthers’ Daniel Morta delivers the final strike on Geckos’ Brandon Laguana. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Panthers’ Daniel Morta pitches the ball to Geckos’ Rommel Cabrito in the second inning. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Panthers’ Brandon Quintanilla gets a hit off a pitch from Geckos’ Brandon Muna. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Panthers’ Eddie Ray earns a base hit in the top of the fourth inning. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Geckos’ Brandon Muna swings and hits, forcing Panthers second baseman to make an error, allowing teammate Kaleb Cruz to score a run in the bottom of the fourth. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Geckos’ Jude Santos makes an underhand toss to teammate Kaleb Cruz to tag out Panthers’ James Scouill. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

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