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By Michael J.A. Nauta Jr.
Under the bright lights at Paseo Stadium in Hagatna, the Agana Heights Cougars and Belau Masters battled one another in their first game in the Guam Budweiser Masters Baseball League last night. Looking to notch a season-opening victory, both teams gave everything they’ve got.
However, what began as a tight game eventually blew open and it was the Cougars who walked away with a convincing 14-4 victory. The game was called after five complete innings of play via the league’s ten-run mercy rule.
The Belau Masters wasted no time in the first-inning as they managed to build a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back hits by Roman Beeches and Harry Tesei put Belau runners at the corners early in the inning. Relying on their speed, a double-steal by Beeches and Tesei was a success and failure at the same time. Beeches scored the game’s first run, while Tesei was tagged out at second.
Before the Cougars could get out of the inning, Belau’s second run came courtesy of an RBI single by Clancy Iyekar.
Agana Heights was able to trim their deficit in half in the bottom of the first inning to make it a 2-1 game. Belau starting pitcher Cliff Kyota ran into some early trouble walking the Cougars’ John Farnum and Rick Cruz. Several batters later, Farnum touched home plate after teammate Gene McDonald hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
Later in the third inning, Agana Heights’ starting pitcher Franklin “Spider” Ninete retired the Belau side plating only four batters to include his second strikeout of the game. In the bottom half of the inning, the Cougars took their first lead of the game after scoring two runs.
Shortly after teammate Tim Dungca got on base on an infield single, Rick Cruz stroked a long shot to centerfield that allowed Dungca to equalize the game at 2-2. Before taking the field on defense, Agana Heights’ Luke Tedtaotao would join the party and drive in a run of his own to give his team the one-run lead.

Cougars’ John Mendiola arrives at third base while Belau’s Milton Nigirarois waits for the ball. (photo by Jesse Castro)
The Cougars continued to showcase their dominance on both sides of the field in the fourth. Defensively, the gave up one hit before returning back to the plate. It was in the bottom of the inning where a combination of lit up sticks and errors by Belau that allowed the Cougars to score nine unanswered runs to build a commanding 12-2 lead. The trio of McDonald, Farnum, and Jerry Leon Guerrero that combined for five RBIs in the inning.
Heading into the top of the fifth, the Belau Masters needed at least one run to prevent the game from ending via the mercy rule. With Tesei on base after a walk, teammate Lawrence Idelbong took full-advantage and hit a long shot for an RBI-double that made it a 12-3 game an ensured at least another half inning of play. On the ensuing at-bat, Iyekar drove home Idelbong on an hit single to pull Belau within eight.
However, that was all the offense produced before the Cougars were right back on offense. In the bottom of the inning, Agana Heights needed only two runs to end the game and that they got via two passed balls that scored Ken Cruz and Mike Cruz.
The Cougars’ Ninete earned the victory on the mound pitching four complete innings with three strikeouts. Belau’s Kyota was dealt the loss. Offensively, the Cougars were led by McDonald who went 1-for-3 with a double and three-RBIs, while teammate Farnum went 1-for-3 with a single and two-RBIs. In the losing effort, Belau’s Idelbong went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored.
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | R | H | E | ||
Belau Masters | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | X | 4 | 8 | 8 | |
AH Cougars | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 2 | X | X | 14 | 9 | 3 |
WP – Franklin “Spider” Ninete
LP – Cliff Kyota
Saturday – February 8 Results
- Triple J Blue Jays and Santa Rita Braves tied 9-9
- IP & E Twins defeated Kosrae Masters 29-2


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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