TOP TEAMS STAY SHARP

PRESS RELEASE – The Leo Palace/Jim Beam Amateur Baseball League continued Saturday and Sunday with teams searching for their first win of the season and early season favorites staying undefeated.  The Crusaders, Blue Jays and Rangers all 2-0 and all share the top spot in the 12 team league.  Only one team came out of the weekend without a win on the season and every game is a good one where any team can win on any given night.  

Barrigada Crusaders (2-0) 5 Chalan Pago Amigos (1-2) 2

The Barrigada Crusaders matched up with the defending champion Chalan Pago Amigos in the 12pm Saturday game to kick of the weekend action at Leo Palace Resort.  The Crusaders would stay undefeated in a crucial test so early in the season taking a close game from the Amigos 5-2.

A great pitcher’s duel, Crusaders starter Eddie Garza matched Amigos starter Bruce San Nicolas inning for inning until the bottom of the 4th when the Crusaders would finally get through against San Nicolas scoring four runs capped by a two rbi single by Deshon Naputi.

That was all Crusader’s starter Eddie Garza would need going five great innings allowing no earned runs and only three hits while striking out five to pick up the win and Strike Zone Player of the game honors.  Eric Lizama closed out the last two innings to get the save as the Crusaders stay perfect at 2-0.  Bruce San Nicolas threw six strong innings for the Amigos allowing only two earned runs but is tagged with the loss as the Amigos fall to 1-2 on the season.

Asan Guns (1-2) 10 Agat Mayor’s Office Cardinals (0-3) 7

In the 3 pm Saturday game the Asan Guns faced off against the Agat Mayor’s Office Cardinals with both teams looking for their first win of the season.  The Guns would break open a tie game in the 5th inning and hold off a late Cardinals rally to get the 10-7 win.

With both teams hungry for a win the Cardinals and Guns put on a great show with four lead changes in the last four innings. The Guns would come out on top with starter Hank Salas holding off a late Cardinals rally in the 7th inning to preserve a 10-7 win.

Hank Salas picks up the SZ Player of the Game honors with a 3 for 3 day at the plate and the win on the mound going all seven innings allowing three earned runs with seven strikeouts.  The Guns pick up their first win of the season improving to 1-2.  Ricky Joe Cruz was 3 for 4 in the loss for the Cardinals who drop to 0-3 on the season.

Yona Redhawks (1-1) 3 Yona (1-1) 1

The Saturday night matchup featured the Yona Redhawks taking on Yona in a friendly village game.  Redhawk’s starter Chaz Cruz shutdown Yona for the first five innings and Mark Parks blanked Yona for the final three innings to give the Redhawks the 3-1 victory.

Chaz Cruz was unhittable for the first three innings allowing one baserunner on a fielding error before allowing BJ Quenga to collect Yona’s first basehit with two outs in the first four innings.  Cruz would give way to Mark Parks in the 6th inning and Parks was nearly as unhittable allowing only one hit while striking out four to pick up the save.  Cruz would pick up the SZ Player of the Game and the win allowing only one hit over five inning with eleven strikeouts.

Yona falls to 1-1 with the loss and the Yona Redhawks pick up their first win and improve to 1-1 on the season.

Sakudee (2-1) 14 Agat Reds (1-2) 4  

Sunday Amateur League baseball started Sakudee matching up with the Agat Reds under beautiful skies at Leo Palace Resort.  Sakudee would ride starter Matt Barcinas arm and bat to take down the Reds 14-4 with the 10 run mercy rule.

Jarrett Barcinas and Craig Palomo had four hits for a Sakudee offense that banged out 17 total hits.  Matt Barcinas picked up SZ Player of the Game with a complete game on the mound allowing two earned runs and striking out five in six innings.

The Agat Reds fall to 1-2 with the loss while Sakudee picks up their second straight win and improves to 2-1 on the season.

Haggan (1-1) 4 Blue Jays (2-0) 10  

The Blue Jays and Haggan matched up in the 3pm game with both teams looking to stay undefeated.  The Blue Jays would stay perfect using a three run 5th and 6th inning to take a 10-4 win over Haggan.

Jarrett Blea had three hits and Austin McKay was 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs and two rbi to pick up SZ Player of the Game honors.  Blue Jays starter Marcus Certeza went six innings allowing only one earned run to pick up the win.

Justin Candoleta was 3 for 4 in the loss as Haggan evens their record at 1-1.  The Blue Jays stay undefeated improving to 2-0 on the season.

Yona (1-2) 5 Talofofo Rangers (2-0) 13

The Sunday night cap 6pm game featured Yona taking on the Talofofo Rangers.  The Rangers stay tied atop the standings and perfect at 2-0 with a huge nine run first inning to take out the young Yona team 13-5.

The Rangers would unload for six hits and nine runs in the first inning to put away Yona early.  Yona managed only three hits in the game against Rangers pitchers Frank Santos Jr. and Andrew Taijeron.  Santos Jr. would pick up the win and SZ Player of the Game going three innings with six strikeouts.  Taijeron closed out the last three innings allowing only one hit and one earned run.

The Rangers improve to 2-0 and a share of first place. Billy Quenga walked four times in the loss for Yona who fall to 1-2.

Leo Palace/Jim Beam Amateur Baseball League action continues every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm and three games each Saturday and Sunday at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm.  Follow the action live with the IT&E live in game updates on Facebook/AmateurBaseball Guam and on our website www.guamstrikezone.com.