PRESS RELEASE – Jim Beam Amateur Baseball action returned to Leo Palace Thursday night with a great matchup between undefeated Barrigada Crusaders and the 2-1 Blue Jays.   Crusaders starter Johnny Sablan and Blue Jays starter Jay Cing would put on a classic pitcher’s duel with Sablan coming out on top carrying a no hitter into the 6th inning before giving way to the bullpen and picking up the 4-1 win for the Crusaders.

With the pitchers both locked and runs at a premium the Crusaders offense played small ball using 3 sacrifices to scrape across four runs which would prove just enough for the win.   The Crusaders would push across their first run in the top of the 1st with a clutch two out single from Saige Afaisen and a rbi single from Howard Wolford getting the Crusaders on the board.

The Crusaders would score again in the 2nd inning with Jonaven De la Cruz beating out an infield single, stealing 2nd base and coming in to score on rbi ground out by Kin Fernandez giving the Crusaders a 2-0 lead.  In the top of the 4th inning the Crusaders would add more insurance with Howard Wolford leading off with a single. Designated runner Hank Sablan would steal 2nd base and score on a sac fly from Fernandez who had 2 rbi in the game and give the Crusaders a 3-0 lead.  The Crusaders would score again in the top of the 6th inning with Wolford leading off with a towering triple to center field and scoring on a rbi single by Deshon Naputi giving starter Johnny Sablan a 4-0 lead.

Sablan didn’t need much run support, taking a no hitter into the bottom of the 6th inning before giving up a leadoff single to the Blue Jay’s Josh Perez.   Perez would come in to score on a wild pitch to get the Blue Jays on the board and cut the Crusader’s lead to 4-1.

Sablan would give way to Nate Cruz who would close out the Blue Jays in order in the bottom of the 7th for 4-1 final and improve the Crusaders to 4-0 on the young season.  Sablan picks up the win and Strike Zone Player of the Game honors allowing one hit and one earned run in six innings.   Jay Cing picks up the loss despite seven solid innings and six strikeouts as the Blue Jays even their record at 2-2.1

Follow the action live this weekend with the IT&E live in game updates on Facebook/AmateurBaseball Guam and our website www.guamstrikezone.com.Saturday and Sunday at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm.