PRESS RELEASE – The Amateur Division Championship Series kicked off Thursday night at Leo Palace Stadium as the #1 Chalan Pago Amigos took on the #2 Sakudee in game one of the best of three series. With the Amateur Playoffs providing plenty of great games so far game one wouldn’t disappoint with Amigos starter Bruce San Nicolas and Sakudee starter Troy Simbahan matching up in a great pitcher’s duel. The Amigos would use a 6th inning rally to come from behind and behind a great performance on the mound from San Nicolas take game one 5-3 over Sakudee.
Sakudee would take a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning with leadoff hitter Vic Villagomez leading off the game with a walk and coming in to score on a rbi single by Matt Barcinas. The Amigos would tie up the ballgame in the 3rd inning with the Quintanilla boys Andy and Allan providing the offense. Andy Quintanilla would get on with a one out walk and come around to score on an rbi single from brother Allan Quintanilla. The Amigos would threaten to score more but a nice running catch in center by Villagomez would end the Amigos rally.
Sakudee would take back the lead in the 5th inning with Villagomez reaching on an error and Marvin Knowles driving him in with a rope to right center for a triple. Luke Tedtaotao would line a single to right to drive in Knowles and give Sakudee a 3-1 lead. The Amigos would get a break nailing Tedtaotao at the plate as he tried to score on a wild pitch to end the inning.
The Amigos would chip away, cutting the lead to 3-2 in the bottom half of the 5th inning with Florencio Binuya walking to lead off the inning and scoring on a Aleton Mesgnon sac fly. The Amigos would take the lead in the bottom of the 6th inning with RJ Aromin and Pete Castro Jr starting the rally with back to back singles to start the inning. With two outs Florencio Binuya would hit a single into right field scoring Aromin. Castro would then get caught in a rundown between 3rd and home and come into score when a throwing error sending the ball into left field. Binuya hustling all the way would also come in to score giving the Amigos a 5-3 lead through 6 innings of play.
Sakudee would threaten in the top of the 7th inning with leadoff hitter Josh Aguigui reaching on an error to start the inning. However, Amigos shortstop Mesgnon would nail Aguiugui at third base on a slow grounder to short for the first out of the inning. The next batter Marvin Knowles would then line a shot to center that centerfielder Florencio Binuya would make a spectacular diving catch for the 2nd out of the inning. San Nicolas would retire the final batter on a fly out to right field to close out the game and give the Amigos game one of the Championship Series.
San Nicolas picks up the win with seven quality innings allowing two earned runs and six hits. Simbahan gets the loss going 5-2/3 innings allowing only two earned runs and seven strikeouts. Aleton Mesgnon was 2-2 with a rbi for the Amigos at the plate. Luke Tedtaotao was 2-4 with rbi in the loss for Sakudee.
The Amigos and Sakudee meet again Saturday night 7 pm at Leo Palace Stadium for game two of the best of three Leo Palace Baseball League Amateur Championship Series. Follow the action live on Facebook/AmateurBaseball Guam.
Winning Pitcher- Bruce San Nicolas; Losing Pitcher- Tory Simbahan
DID U KNOW?
Frank ‘The Crank’ Camacho was a competitive youth golfer in Saipan with dreams of making it to the PGA.
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(AP/Carlos Osorio)
