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By Robert Balajadia
The Budweiser Baseball League has reached it’s final possible seven games as the AM Insurance Orioles and Paradise Fitness Jr. Nationals dive into their Championship Series.
The Orioles had to knock out the five-time defending champion IT&E Braves while the. Jr. Nationals had to hold off a gritty Bank of Guam Athletics squad.
One of the bigger issues the Jr. Nationals will be dealing with this series is that a good portion of their team will not be participating in the series due to leaving to play in the Philippines part of a the 16-18 year old Big League Tournament.
| Leaving To PI:
Coach Shon Muna
Jess Miner
Julian Flores
Darren Meno
Bill Quenga
Ed Garza
Johnny Aguon
Dan Cruz |
Staying To Play O’s:
Manager Jess Pereda
Shane Muna
Lorenzo Flores
Kel Francisco
Mike Concepcion
Tyler Bautista
TJ Leon Guerrero
Miyasaki
Darren Pangelinan
Jaz Balajadia
Sean Flores
Jared Muna
Earl Lorenzo |
The Orioles went unbeaten in the regular season but were pushed to a Game 5 against the Braves. The way the team has come together can only bode well for the groups they prepare to face off against the league’s youngest team.
“We’re just going to play O’s baseball. We’re not taking any team for granted,” said Orioles’ manager Pat Leon Guerrero. “This team is young and are playing great baseball and they’ve got dangerous guys even off the bench so we’re not expecting anything easy.”
The Orioles have been playing inspired baseball with a good mix of young guys and veterans to the sport. The team appears to be clicking after being humbled in both their losses to the Braves. Leon Guerrero says the team has bought in to their winning mentality from day one of the season with a little help from the former pro JR Hattig.
“[JR] Uses the name ‘Wally Pipp’ a lot to inspire the team,” said Leon Guerero. Pipp was the starter for the Yankees until falling ill one day which opened the too for super star Lou Gehrig. “[JR] calls it ‘Wall Pipp Baseball’ which signifies that anyone on the team at any given moment can step up and shine.”
Jr. Nationals’ Lorenzo Flores knows the odds are against them, but he assured that he and the young guns will be ready to play their best baseball yet.
