By Patrick Lujan

Baseball standouts Shane Arceo (graduate) and younger brother Matt Arceo. (courtesy photo)

A pair of Guam sons are making the most of their baseball skills in Virginia.

Shane Arceo (18): Bill Gates Millennium Scholar and college baseball commitment

Matt Arceo (15): Finalist for the U16 USA Baseball Team

Both accomplishments deserve a stand-alone story and are very impressive, but in this case, the brothers are happy to share the spotlight.

Baseballs didn’t fall far from the tree. Their father Jerry Arceo was a star in the Guam Major League in the early 1990’s. As a rookie in 1991, he was the leadoff hitter for the AK Islanders before moving over with the Pepsi Giants where he was in the middle of a potent lineup that included Keith Hattig, Benjie Pangelinan and Elbert Certeza. He was also on the gold medal baseball team in the 1994 Micronesian Games on Guam under manager Willie Brennan.

Jerry and his wife Beverly would move their family to Virginia in 1995 for better financial and educational opportunities.

 4.07 GPA

For elder son Shane, he is a recipient of the prestigious Gates Scholarship this year as only 1000 of the 57,000+ applicants received the award. It is an all-expense-paid trip to college courtesy of the richest man in the world!

Bill Gates Scholarship recipient Shane Arceo

(See feature story from Virginia’s Daily Press)

Shane was the team captain and shortstop for Denbar High in Virginia. He’s committed to play for Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

“I believe he’s the first Chamorro to receive this scholarship,” Jerry Arceo said.

U16 USA Finalist

And then there is Matt, who has been doing wonders on the baseball diamond.

Not only has he been named First Team All-Conference as a starting center fielder for his high school baseball team, he’s also made the Virginia Commonwealth All-Star list as a freshman and sophomore.

Now the opportunity to make the U16 USA Team.

He’s already passed the first three rounds of tryouts and is currently on the Capital Region Team consisting of the best from the states of Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington D.C.

“The talent level was amazing, especially when we got into round two (of tryouts),” their father said. “15 and 16 year olds were throwing in the upper 80’s and outfielders were running 60-yard dashes between 6.4 and 6.9 seconds.”

The final stage happens this Aug. 20-23 in Cary, N.C. where the best from 16 regions around the nation will gather with hopes of making the final roster.

“We are very pleased, excited and blessed that my son Matt, a Chamorro, has made it this far,” Jerry added. “Of course, his ultimate goal is to make the team. Whatever the outcome, my wife and I are very proud of him and pray that he does his very best. He/we will always represent our island and the people of Guam. BIBA CHAMORRO!”

Shane Arceo was the starting shortstop and team captain before graduating from Denbigh High School in Virginia. (courtesy photo)

Guam Talent

There’s no doubt Guam athletes always possessed the talent and the heart. Jerry Arceo reiterates the importance of exposure.

“The boys back home have the same talent, they just lack publicity. They have a lot of heart and the work ethic is there. They just need the exposure.”

Note:  Their grandparents are Julian and Irene Arceo and the late Pedro and Tomosa Fejaran.