
By Robert Balajadia
It’s hard to find ‘firsts’ when winning 13 Baseball Championships, but lucky number 13 did present a new milestone for Guam’s Tony Yatar after he and the IT&E Rays celebrated a back-to-back GML title last week. Yatar’s 13th was unique after sharing the field with son Athan, the first title the father-and-son duo have won together.
“This one is definitely one of the sweetest since I got to share it with my son,” said Tony.
His most memorable title had all the dramatics. The Braves were on the brink of elimination but came back from behind to beat AK in the bottom of the 9th inning to secure a four-peat in 2012.
“Every title has it’s own kind of aura, but being down one run in the 9th and coming back to win was special. That series had everything and hearts were broken in the process; good baseball,” said Yatar.
Tony’s accomplishments expand well over two decades since winning his first title in 1997 as a part of the UOG team that overcame a power house Pepsi team during baseball’s peak on Guam. He added two more titles under UOG in ’99 and 2003 before rounding three titles with Greyhound in ’04, ’06, and ’07.
Then, he and the Braves of the BBL ran off five straight titles from 2009-13, setting a new precedent for a Guam baseball dynasty. His latest, which seems to be a trend for Yatar, came in consecutive fashion winning the GML Championship from 2018-19.
There hasn’t been a secret to the success of Yatar’s constant winning, just a positive mentality and a readiness to play their best ball against Guam’s best baseball players.
“There’s no dirty antics, the guys on the other side are our brothers too. We wish each other luck and I approach the game the same way. I look at it the same way mentally as I did when I first started and the mental part of the game is a huge part of it,” said Yatar.
New Role
Tony has been all around the diamond, but the veteran’s role has changed since his early years. 1st base and pitching have always been a strong point for Yatar, though his recent playing years have him taking on the role of ‘the closer’.
Once the Paseo Stadium speakers start blaring Semisonic’s “Closing Time”, you know Tony is coming out the bullpen ready to put the game away.
“We were just sitting around after practice and I was trying to find a good song to come out to when announcer Mark Colby asked us for our walk-out music. I chose that one because the song is about closing up shop and I felt the same – we gotta close this and the hell outta here,” laughed Yatar.
Yatar’s arm still looks just as dangerous as it did a decade ago and that’s mostly because he keeps up a good workout routine and stays in good shape. But even he know’s his limitations.
“The arm is still strong, but I can’t last 9 innings anymore. My teammate Paul [Pangelinan] is going to start noticing he can’t last 9 innings anymore soon too since he’s getting up there in age. I blew some saves this year, but that’s part of the game,” said Yatar.
Yatar has also proven to be solid at bat going 3-of-9 in the Championship Series against the Expos with two runs and an RBI.
Tony was also a part of the GISA team that won the Tournament of Champions in Florida.
Same faces, different crowds
Guam’s baseball community is still strong but there’s no secret that there are more empty seats at Paseo than there are fans, even in a Championship Game. Yatar reminisced on baseball in the 90’s where there had to be two leagues, the amateurs and the GML, because the sport was just that big. He wasn’t even guaranteed a spot on the UOG team with how competitive making a roster was back then.
“25 guys would show up for practice and that’s what I was prone to. It was a dog-eat-dog world back then and if you don’t show up for practice then you don’t play. That’s where most of the veterans work ethic comes from,” said Tony.
With such a low turnout in the GML (FKA BBL) over the past decade, Yatar feels more could be done to promote the sport.
“The marketing hasn’t been that well and we need to make it a priority. Paseo is the Meka, when I started playing, all the walls had sponsors and adds but the walls are empty now and you don’t see anything. There has to be better ways to promote the league,” said Tony.
Editors Note
Tony and son Athan were on their way to the gym during the conversation of this feature and stated that ‘the grind never stops’.


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs