[sixcol_five_last]
By Robert Balajadia

Rangers’ Andrew Concepcion slides into second base while Crusaders’ Eddie Garza with ball in glove waits to make the tag. (photo by Jesse Castro)
The Barrigada Crusaders needed just one run to keep the game going in the top of the seventh inning but Talofofo Rangers pitcher and McDonald’s Player of the Game John Tenorio pitched two of his six strikeouts in the inning to seal the Rangers’ 3-2 win, to capture Game 1 of the Jim Beam Amateur Baseball League Championship Series at the Leo Palace Baseball Stadium Tuesday night.
The Rangers move within a single game of securing their 2013 title in this best-of-three series and Tenorio was on-point on the mound leaving Crusaders Kin Fernandez swinging for air to close out the final inning.
“We just needed one out to get the pressure off us because our defense was playing great. The pressure was on me but in reality the pressure was on them too so I just had to think of it like that. The 2-seam was working for me out there, big time,” stated Tenorio on having the game on his shoulders.
The Crusaders were heading into the bottom of the fourth inning with a 2-0 lead but the Rangers used a bolster of errors from the Crusaders outfield to cash in all of their runs for the game.
Rangers’ Conan Dela Cruz knocked a single but an error brought him to second base which allowed previous batter Kagan Rabago to score the teams first run. A few batters later, Rangers’ Andrew Concepcion got a good lick on the ball which sent it deep right but the Crusaders’ outfielders had a tough time securing the ball which brought two more runs in for the Rangers which gave them the 3-2 lead.
The Rangers then flipped on their defensive switch, which was anchored by Tenorio, allowing just one hit in the final three innings.
When asked how important defense has been all season long Tenorio responded by saying, “It has been a big part. If it wasn’t for our defense and pitching staff then we wouldn’t be in undefeated and we wouldn’t be in the playoffs. Big-ups to our defense.”
Crusaders pitcher Clayton Cruz gets the loss for the game while teammate Eric Lizama had the lone RBI for the game which he got in the first inning. The Crusaders scored their second run in the third inning off an error.
Game 2 action is Thursday at the Leo Palace baseball field at 7 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will conclude the 2013 season on Saturday at 6 p.m.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Rangers’ Terrence Pablo races Crusader pitcher Clayton Cruz to first base as Crusaders’ first baseman TJ Leon Guerrero tosses the ball. (photo by Jesse Castro)
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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