CRUSADERS TAKE 2015 AMATEUR TITLE

Barrigada Crusaders take 2015 Amateur Baseball title

(Leo Palace Resort)- The Budweiser Amateur Baseball Championship Series kicked off this weekend with the #2 Chalan Pago Amigos taking on the #4 Barrigada Crusaders.

The Crusader’s Mike Concepcion would get the scoring started in the 1^st inning with an RBI double and Ryu Topasna would cap the rally with a two RBI single to put the Crusaders up 5-0.  In the 2^nd inning Jerry Santiago would follow back to back singles by Tyler Bautista and Kyle Martinez with a two RBI double to chase Panaguiton and stake the Crusaders to a 9-0 lead through after two inning.

The Amigos would get on the board in the 3^rd inning with two runs off a throwing error and RBI single by Alan Quintanilla to cut the lead to 9-2.

The Crusaders would stay hot in the 3^rd inning rallying for four more runs with Martinez, Bautista and Santiago again delivering consecutive RBI hits to put the Crusaders up 13-2.

Crusaders starter Allan Gillan would cruise through the first four inning but the Amigos would finally explode in the 5^th for six runs.  Eric Lizama would come in out to the bullpen to finally stop the bleeding as the Crusaders held onto a 13-8 lead through five innings.

In the top of the 6^th inning the Crusaders would add an insurance run with Sage Afaisen driving in Cooper Paulino to stretch the lead to 14-8.

The Amigos would again answer in the bottom of the inning with Pete Castro singling to lead off the inning and coming around to score on an error to cut the lead to 14-9 as the Amigos tried to chip away.

Mother Nature would not be on the Amigos side as rain would end the game in the top of the 7^th inning to give the Crusaders a 14-9 win with the game official after 5 innings of play.  Jerry Santiago gets the Strike Zone Player of the Game going 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBI.  Kyle Martinez added three hits and Tyler Bautista was 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI to lead the Crusaders explosive offense.   Gillan picks up the win for the Crusaders.

Pete Castro was 2 for 3 with three runs and an RBI and Brod Santos had three hits for the Amigos who are forced into a must win for game two.

Game 2 would be a lower scoring matchup with both starters, Paul Campos for the Amigos and TJ Leon Guerrero locked in for most of the game.

Both teams would push a run across in the first inning and timely defense and pitching would keep the score tied at 1-1 until the 4^th inning.  The Amigos would score a run in each the 4^th and 5^th inning.  David Allan Quintanilla would be involved in both innings with a single and RBI fielder’s choice to help the Amigos take a 3-1 lead in the critical game two must win matchup.

The Crusaders would rally for two runs in the bottom half of the 5^th inning with Cam Varney and Cooper Paulino delivering RBI singles as the Crusaders would tie it up 3-3 through five innings.

Rayzor Quintanilla would get the lead back for the Amigos in the top of the 6^th inning with a clutch RBI double scoring Ryan Castro would had singled.  The Amigos would add an insurance run in the top of the 7^th with David Allan Quintanilla beating out an infield single and Castro tripling to drive him in putting the Amigos up 5-3.

The Amigos wouldn’t get an out in the bottom of the 7^th inning.  Cooper Paulino would start things off for the Crusaders with a single to center.  Sage Afaisen and Mike Concepcion would follow with singles to load the bases.  Campos would then hit Napu San Miguel to force in a run and cut the lead to only one run.  More importantly that was Campos 4^th hit batter of the game forcing him to be removed for another pitcher.

Bruce San Nicolas would come out of the bullpen for the Amigos and promptly hit Kyle Martinez with the first pitch to force in another run and tie up the game 5-5.  With bases still loaded Gerard Lujan would hit a slow roller that the Amigos couldn’t make a play on and San Miguel would cross home plate with the game and series winning run giving the Crusaders the 2015 Budweiser Amateur Baseball Championship.

Paulino is name Strike Zone Player of the Game for game two going 2 for 3 with a run and RBI.  TJ Leon Guerrero notches the win with seven strong innings allowing only seven hits while striking out three.

David Allan Quintanilla was 2 for 4 with a run and rbi and Ryan Castro was2 for 4 with two runs and an rbi for the two time Amateur champion Chalan Pago Amigos who finish another great Amateur season but fall just short of a third title.

Crusader’s Mike Concepcion is named 2015 Budweiser Amateur Baseball Most Valuable Player going 13 for 23 with a complete game win and a 1.51 ERA during the Crusaders seven game playoff run as they battled back through the loser’s bracket.

Guam Amateur Baseball would like to thank all the players, fans and sponsors for a great Amateur season with special thanks to Casey Truong and Ambros and the crew at Leo Palace Resort.   For more information on Guam Amateur Baseball Adult and Youth Fall Leagues visit Facebook/Amateur Baseball Guam or call Strike Zone Batting Cages 649-9663.