YONA HAWKS TOP DE LA SALLE

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By Gus Untalan

After trailing most of the game, the Yona Red Hawks bounced back in the final inning of play to win the 14-and-under division in the 2012 Governor’s Invitational Youth Baseball Tournament defeating the de La Salle Green Archers 12-9 Sunday Afternoon at the Paseo Stadium.

The Yona Red Hawks and de La Salle Archers battle under beautiful Sunday skies at Paseo Stadium. (photo by Jesse Castro)

“It feels great. The Philippines is a very strong team, hats off to them. It was a good ball game and we prevailed,” said Red Hawks coach Robert Cruz.

With the two hour and 15 minute time limit expired and the score tied at nine , the championship game went into a sixth and final inning, winner take all.  The Guam team took advantage at bat scoring three runs to secure the victory.

Gavin Salas sparked the run for the Red Hawks whacking a RBI single to right field that drove Travis Concepcion home.  On the same play, Reed Seman stole home as the Green Archers tried to tag Salas out.  Salas would find his way home off a RBI double by Stephon Murdock over center field to score the final run of the game.

The Red Hawks got on the board first scoring three runs in the opening inning.  However, de La Salle stunned the Guam team in the second inning scoring an impressive six runs off of key plays by Justin Monzones and Ethan Mora.  The Green Archers continued to score runs adding three more in the third inning as Carlos Valdez scored off a sacrifice fly by Troy Tolentino.  Back to back field errors allowed Monzones and Miguel Ofilada to add runs.

Yona Red Hawks pitcher Gavin Salas fires away during a youth baseball game against the De La Salle Green Archers. (photo by Jesse Castro)

“We started off too fast, I told them to slow down and stick to the basics, stay in and fight and you’ll be successful,” added Coach Cruz.

And fight they did slowing cutting the lead by the visiting team.  The Red Hawks first scored two runs in the fourth off field errors cutting the lead to one run.  They then tied the game in the fifth as Stephon Murdock stole home on a wild pitch sending the game into extra innings where Guam was able to triumph.

Majors Division: 12-and-under

The Agana Heights Cougars was crowned champions in the 2012 Governor’s Invitational Youth Baseball Tournament shutting out the de La Salle Green Archers of the Philippines 14-0.  The Cougars finished the tournament undefeated.

Yona Red Hawks pitcher Gavin Salas fires away during a youth baseball game against the De La Salle Green Archers. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Green Archer’s Anton Rosas hits a high pitch out towards second base. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Red Hawk’s Reed Seaman as he runs towards first base looks towards where he popped the ball to see Green Archers right fielder Eathan Mora miss the catch. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Red Hawk’s first baseman Mark Laanan chases down Green Archer’s Geof Magasadia who is scrambling back to first after Laanan caught the infield pop fly. (photo by Jesse Castro)

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