By Patrick Lujan
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!
(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!”
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.
GPS Sports Calendar
November 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for October
1st
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for November
2nd
Events for November
4th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
6th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
7th
H.S. BASEBALL
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
8th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CONSOLATION
Events for November
9th
H.S. BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FINALS
Events for November
11th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
12th
H.S. BASEBALL
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
13th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
15th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
16th
Events for November
18th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
19th
H.S. BASEBALL
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
22nd
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
23rd
Events for November
25th
H.S. BOYS SOCCER
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
26th
H.S. BASEBALL
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for November
27th
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Baseball
FD REDEEMS FROM ’23 CHAMPIONSHIP
Basketball
PETERS LEADS KNIGHTS TO 3-0 START
COMING SOON …
Lots of 2nd Quarter Sports
Guam vs. Japan men’s basketball November 24
QUICK HITS
The Fall PONY Bronco youth baseball league 12U came to an end with the Rangers going 7-0, defeating the Buckaroos 13-3 in the championship game.