PMG DAY 4: BASEBALL DOWNS PALAU IN FRONT OF PACKED CROWD

Amayo Bollinger registers a silver medal in the 200m butterfly in the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, while in front of a packed home crowd at the Nippon Baseball Stadium in Koror, Team Guam came away with a 12-7 win over the host Palau Thursday afternoon in pool play.

SWIMMING

After a tough go in the pool, Guam finally made the podium as Amaya Bollinger garners silver in the 200m butterfly on her 17th birthday.

Bollinger had the fastest time in the prelims at 2:28.57 and even cut her time by 4 seconds in the finals at 2:24.77, but her Tahitian opponent smoked the finals in 2:20..83.

It is just the fourth medal overall for Guam so far.

“Amaya had a really good swim. She had a plan and stuck to it,” said coach and dad Darrick Bollinger. “That can be hard to do in a race when you see the rest of the field pull ahead of you but she did it. In addition to earning the silver medal, she also dropped 4 seconds off of her personal best in the event.”

BASEBALL

After a tough loss to the CNMI in their opening game, Guam has bounced back nicely to win two straight, including a huge victory over Palau in front of a big home crowd Thursday.

John Salas had a huge game, going 4-4 with a homer and 6 RBI. Javier Concepcion went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and Ricky Leon Guerrero and Nolan Cruz added two hits as well, leading Guam to a 14-hit attack.

Sean Balauro was credited with the win on the mound going 3 1/3 innings. Cruz finished the last 3 2/3 in relief and the save.

Guam took a slim 6-5 lead in the 5th inning to win comfortably 12-7 to keep their eye on the prize. Up next is the FSM at 10 am Friday.

SOFTBALL

The women’s team came away with a big 7-1 win over Papua New Guinea in the morning. Guam scored five runs in the 4th inning, sparked by a two-run single by Meagan Maratita and a RBI single by Gianna Sablan.

Guam added two more insurance runs in the bottom 6th. Cougar standout Zaeyah Tajalle tripled to right field and scored on an RBI single by Coco Cruz.

Pinch runner Kadynce Chaco scored Guam’s final run on Tamisha Fejeran’s second RBI of the game.

Maratita went the distance, striking out four and giving up only one run, while defensively, Hazelle Derbai had a diving catch in left field and the Quinata sisters – Colleen and Sam – turned a double play in the infield.

Guam improved in pool play to 2-1 and handed PNG its first loss (2-1). PNG went on to lose to American Samoa 4-3 later in the afternoon. On deck is the FSM Friday at noon.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Our men’s team falls to American Samoa 19-21, 21-15, 15-10, while our women’s team had an easy time with Nauru 21-5, 21-7.

3×3 BASKETBALL

Unfortunate news as the women’s team had to pull out of the competition. Guam sent only three players with a vacant spot. One player had to return to Guam, leaving the squad to forfeit the remaining games.

On the men’s side, they fell to Fiji 21-14 in the late game after beating RMI 18-14 earlier on. They are now 2-3 in pool play.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Nissi Lujan finished 6th out of 9 lifters (69kg). Lujan finished 6th in both the clean & jerk and the snatch.

DAY 5 PREVIEW

Track and field will begin competition on 4th of July at the Palau Track & Field Stadium.

Baseball: Guam vs FSM @ 10 am

Softball: Guam vs FSM @ 1:30 pm

Beach volleyball men: Guam vs Tonga 2 pm

Beach volleyball women: Guam vs Cook Island 5 pm