TEAM GUAM PROVES STRONG IN DAY 1

By Robert Balajadia

POHNPEI – Guam was greeted by familiar opponents in both baseball and women’s volleyball, had to pull off an extra inning rally to win in women’s softball, got a big blowout win in men’s basketball, won a bunch of medals swimming, and reeled in an impressive catch in spearfishing.

Yamada & Palau Push Guam to Five Sets

One of the strongest teams in the 2014 Micro Games gave Guam an early test in the first game as Guam narrowly defeated Palau 25-12, 23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-10.

A familiar force of nature in Palau’s Holly Yamada helped her team shake off a bad first set to nearly topple Guam’s best. Yamada attended high school on Guam at GW during the 1998-99 years and made her name with teammate Aubrey Posadas as the fearsome duo were the queens of the sport.

Kara Guerrero goes up for the kill against Palau. (Photo by Joey Blas)

Head coach Dan Hattig made a key switch midway through the third set subbing in Edelene Cruz for starter Mary Gillan and Cruz made the most of her opportunity immediately making an impact.

Guam was facing a 15-11 deficit in the 3rd set before plugging in Cruz as the server and she shaved off six straight points, including two aces, to recapture the lead at 16-15 putting Guam right back in the game. Cruz then went over the top to deliver a lead changing kill after Palau had tied the game with Guam up 22-21. Teammate Kara Guerrero served an ace to give Guam the official set win at 25-23.

Yamada came up huge in the fourth set to avoid elimination getting six kills in the set alone, including the final two kills of the set to squeeze by 26-24.

Team Guam Women Volleyball Player of the Game Edelene Cruz (Photo by Joey Blas)

Guam was in danger after Yamada picked up two kills in in the first six points with Guam tying the score after two errors by Palau.

Cruz was able to put Guam up 11-6 after a kill, but three straight points by Palau forced Hattig to call for time. Guerrero, Emma Gillan-Gatewood, Maria Wahl and Gemma Datuin all played a hand in the final five points for Guam as they finished the game on a 4-0 run.

Guam Loses to RJ Joe and Kosrae

Kosrae pitcher RJ Joe celebrated a big win over plenty of friends from Guam having pitched for the 2014 BBL champion AM Insurance Orioles during the 2014 season. Joe and Kosrae took advantage of an error-filled day from Guam beating the men 7-4 through seven innings while holding off a possible comeback in the final two innings.

There were plenty of factors that went into the loss, but the most noticeable one was the midday heat. Guam’s men looked fatigued, burnt, and on the edge of falling over as the sun was described as “nothing you can prepare for.”

Guam also had trouble at the plate with Ryan Martinez the lead man going 2-4 for the game.

Team Guam left fielder Jared Palomo hits a deep fly out to left field. (Photo by Joey Blas)

Roke Alcantara pitched the entire game for Guam, but was relieved of pitching the final inning due to Kosrae being the home team.

Guam had a great chance to tie the game in the top of the 6th inning trailing just 5-4. Jathan Muna-Barnes was at first base and a great hit by Martinez nearly brought him home but a great diving catch was made at centerfield to stuff the play.

Guam allowed two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, one off an error after a fielder’s choice that gave Kosrae their seventh run.

Down 7-4 in the final inning, Guam had two empty trips at bat with one out away from ending the game. Matt Muna delivered a base hit followed by Jared Palomo who was walked by Joe.

The stage was set for big hitter Mike Bautista to cash in some runs, but the slugger hit a ball that took one bounce into the hands of Joe who tossed it to first base to end the game.

Guam Dominates Swimming

It was a gold medal day for Guam in the single swimming events. Check out all the medalists in their respective divisions.

Gold 4×100 Medley Relay Men’s Team (L-R): Chris Duenas, Alejandro Atoigue, Jagger Stephens and Benjamin Schulte (photo by Lou Schulte)

1500m Freestyle Men

Benjamin Schulte 1st

Tommy Imazu 2nd

100m Freestyle Men

Jagger Stephens 1st

Benjamin Schulte 2nd

100m Freestyle Women

Pilar Shimizu 1st

200m Breastroke Men

Benjamin Schulte 1st

Tanner Poppe 2nd

200m Breastroke Women

Chasmyn Quinata 2nd

100m Backstroke Men

Jagger Stephens 1st

Alejandro Atoigue 2nd

100m Backstroke Women

Madison Packbier 3rd

200m IM Men

Benjamin Schulte 1st

Tommy Imazu 2nd

200m IM Women

Pilar Shimizu 1st

Lorelei Poppe 2nd

50m Butterfly Men

Christopher Duenas 1st

Jagger Stephens 2nd

50m Butterfly Women

Gold 4×100 Medley Relay Women (L-R): Lorelei Poppe, Pilar Shimizu, Taloani Atoigue and Mineri Gomez (photo courtesy of Lou Schulte)

Mineri Gomez 3rd

4×100 Medley Relay Men

1st

Jagger Stephens

Benjamin Schulte

Alejandro Atoigue

Christopher Duenas

4×100 Medley Relay Women

1st

Taloani Atoigue

Pilar Shimizu

Lorelei Poppe

Mineri Gomez

Women’s Softball defeats Pohnpei 6-3 in Extra Innings

Guam went into a 3-3 tie for four straight innings before mounting a three-run comeback in the 8th inning to rally and defeat the home team Pohnpei. Misty Palomo hit a sacrifice bunt in the inning to officially give them the lead which they managed to hold on to through the bottom of the inning.

Men’s Basketball Drops RMI 91-67

Guam got a big outing from Willie Stinnett and Joe Blas to topple the Republic of Micronesian Islands. The men will play a tough Kosrae team Tuesday at 8 pm.

Men’s Spearfishing Big Reels

The guys from Guam reeled in an impressive catch though the unofficial word is that Palau weighed in the more substantial catch. Guam’s men were asked what they were going to do with the catch and they simply replied, “Eat it!!”

Team Guam spearfishing team (L-R) Micheal Cassidy, Raymond Flores, James Borja, Stephen Meno show off their catch in the Individual category. (Photo by Joey Blas)

Wednesday Events

8 am – Women’s Basketabll vs. CNMI

8 am – Spear fishing leaves for team events

8 am – Tennis Team event

9 am – Swimming Events

12 pm – Women’s Volleyball vs. Yap

1 pm – Men’s Spearfishing Medals

1 pm – Women’s fast pitch vs. Chuuk

3 pm – Men’s fast pitch vs. Palau

8 pm – Men’s Basketball vs. Kosrae

Don’t forget to check out Guam’s men’s volleyball team and pictures from softball and swimming here!

PHOTO GALLERY:

Shanniqua Mendiola receives a serve against Palau. (Photo by Joey Blas)

Team Guam Starting Pitcher Roke Alcantara Jr. gets ready to deliver a pitch against Kosrae. (Photo by Joey Blas)