EARLY yesterday morning, Team Guam was scheduled to take on the Philippines in a 2012 Little League Girls Fast Pitch Softball Regional Tournament Senior Division matchup.
Guam was facing elimination and needed to win in order to clinch a spot in the championship game. After seven intense innings of play, Team Guam earned their berth in the title match after picking up the 6-2 victory over the Philippines.
“It was an excellent game played by both teams, each team provided excitement for everyone watching,” said Guam supporter Ely Pocaigue.
First to bat
Guam was first to bat and quickly erased the zero on the scoreboard by posting the game’s first run. After hitting a hard shot to left field, Alexis Aguero made her way to third base for a triple. Before the Philippines could get out of the inning, Aguero would touch home plate to give Guam a 1-0 lead.
Despite the Philippines loading the bases in the bottom of the first, Team Guam’s defense was superb as they recorded the third out of the inning, leaving three Philippines runners stranded. The Guam lead increased to 2-0 in the top of the second inning after Leandra Castro made her way home for the score.
Later in the fifth inning, three straight singles by Colleen Quinata, Lang Rivera and Brittney Blau loaded the bases for Guam to start the inning. Two batters later, Castro smacked a hard shot into the outfield for a two-RBI single that upped the Guam lead to 4-0. In the bottom half, the Philippines cut their deficit in half as they turned Guam errors into two runs produced.
In the top of the seventh, Guam added two more runs to their count to rebuild a four-run (6-2) lead. Castro added her third RBI of the game after hitting a single. Heading into the bottom half of the inning, the Philippines had one last chance to equalize the game or outright win and deny Guam a shot in the finals. However, tough defense by Guam retired the Philippines side facing only three batters.
With the victory, Guam will play for a chance to advance to the Little League World Series. The championship game is scheduled for 8 a.m. (11 a.m. Guam time) and they will take on the Philippines in a rematch.
