By Robert Balajadia
With just enough time for a lunch break in between, Team Guam earned two wins during their double-header Thursday afternoon in the 2017 Micro Classic Baseball Tournament at the Paseo Stadium. Guam picked up a 15-4 win over Kosrae in the morning and then beat Guam U23 10-3 in the later game.
Team Guam has been playing like they’re making up for lost time on the Paseo Diamond after putting up runs in each inning against Kosrae during your typical hot Guam day, with that odd rain shower for five minutes before it gets hotter than before.
The unpredictable weather played no deterrent to Guam’s offense as Randy Alcantara continued his strong play by getting Guam on the board in the 1st inning with an RBI single. Carl Quintanilla brought in Alcantara via sac-fly as Guam enjoyed a nice 2-0 start to the contest.
Jared Palomo stole the show in the 2nd inning with a solo homer as the lead batter. Palomo’s smash deep left was already the third home run of the tourney for Team Guam after Alcantara and Mike Bautista earned homers in their debut.
After a short rain delay, Team Guam quickly doubled up on their 4-1 lead getting an RBI from JD San Nicolas as well as a 2RBI single from Jathan Muna-Barnes to go up 8-1, prompting the exit of starting pitcher Roke Alcantara.
Guam closed out the 6th inning with six runs to get up 15-2. Kosrae managed to grab two runs in the bottom of the 6th before Guam’s defense ended the game via 10-run rule.
In the nightcapper, Guam U23 beat CNMI 15-6. Guam U23 does not qualify for the semifinals as they were inserted into the tournament to provide them some competition for an upcoming off-island tournament.
Friday
3 pm CNMI vs. Palau
7 pm CNMI vs. Guam
Saturday Semifinals
3 pm #2 vs. #3
7 pm #1 vs. #4
Sunday
12 pm Consolation Game
3 pm Championship Game
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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- Carl Quintanilla scoops up a grounder and fires a throw to 1st base. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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- Kosrae’s Niiko Palik gets the teams first hit of the game. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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- Guam’s Randy Alcantara tracks down a foul ball for an early inning out. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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- Roke Alcantara winds up for a pitch in the 2nd inning. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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- (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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- Jathan Muna-Barnes gets a hit that leads to a 2RBI single to put Guam up 8-1. (photo by Robert Balajadia)
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- (photo by Robert Balajadia)
DID U KNOW?
Frank ‘The Crank’ Camacho was a competitive youth golfer in Saipan with dreams of making it to the PGA.
QUICK HITS
(AP/Carlos Osorio)
