The Talofofo Rangers and Piti Pirates made their way to the Leo Palace Resort Baseball Stadium to square off against one another. The two teams battled for possession of third place in the Guam Amateur Baseball League.
In a game that was filled with excitement, seven innings were needed to determine a winner. With the Pirates threatening to make a strong and bold statement in the final inning, the Rangers managed to hold on for the 6-3 victory. The win improves Talofofo’s record to 3-2, while the loss drops the Pirates to 2-3 on the season.
Ranger’s starter Carlo Naputi and Pirates starter Jaz Balajadia would lock into a good pitchers’ duel for most of the game with runs at a premium for both teams. The Rangers were first to strike and posted their first run of the game on the board in the first inning. An RBI double by Conan Dela Cruz drove in teammate Fernando Rabago for the 1-0 lead. Later in the top of the third inning, the Rangers upped their lead to 2-0 after Dela Cruz drove in another run.
The Pirates answered in the bottom half of the third scoring three runs sparked by a Brian Santos steal of home plate to take a 3-2 lead through three innings. The Rangers lit up the sticks in the top of the fourth inning as Parish Reyes got things started with a leadoff double. Several plays later, Dela Cruz hit another RBI-double that sparked a three-run inning to give Talofofo a 5-3 lead.
Talofofo’s Naputi retired the Pirates in order in the fourth and fifth inning before running into trouble in the sixth. Naputi couldn’t find any answer from the mound and found the bases loaded that forced a change for the Rangers in the seventh. Reliever Kagan Rabago would come in to get the third out to end the Pirates’ rally and preserve a 6-3 victory.
Naputi picks up the win for the Rangers, notching seven strikeouts and gave up one hit in five innings of play. Rabago was credited with the one out save as the Rangers take sole possession of third place.
Dela Cruz was on fire going 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs. In the losing effort, Joe Perez had the sole hit for the Pirates.
