Aussies edge Guam nine, claim No. 1
CLARK – Australia secured the top position heading into the finals as it pulled off a 2-1 squeaker over Guam yesterday in the 2016 Asia-Pacific Senior League Baseball Tournament at Clark International Sports Complex at The Villages here.
The Aussies outdueled the Guamanians in a tight finish, scoring the go-ahead at the top of the seventh and holding up on defense to complete a sweep of their four-game assignment in the eliminations.
Guam slipped to 2-1 but maintained its No. 2 standing ahead of idle CNMI (1-2) and the Philippines, which picked up its breakthrough win in three games at the expense of Indonesia, 7-0, going to the last day of elims today.
Over in the Intermediate division, holder Korea and Japan played true to form and disposed of Hong Kong, 13-2, and Indonesia, 11-0, respectively, to post their third consecutive triumphs and set a finals confrontation in the Mister Donut and Philippine Sports Commission-sponsored tourney.
The Koreans and the Japanese first mix it up in a ranking game today before disputing the title tomorrow.
After rolling through the opposition in the first three matches, the Aussies had to dig deep against a Guam side that was looking to secure an outright championship seat.
Guam’s Aaron Jaminila reached the plate off a sacrifice by Reed Seman at the first as Guam drew first blood. Australia drew level in the next with Jayson Arthur on the scoring end and the two fought on even terms up until the seventh.
The Aussies pounced on two fielding errors to get to scoring position and eventually bring home Jack Dunn for the go-ahead. Guam managed to fill the bases with two outs on their offensive end but Australia got the last out to escape unscathed.
Meanwhile, beleaguered host Philippines, represented by ILLAM, finally got things going and picked up a win.
The Filipinos struck with three runs at the third to open scoring against the Indons (0-3) then put the game beyond reach with an erroraided run, an RBI single by Gabby Angeles, and a two-run double by Harper Sy in the next.
ILLAM could actually force a tie with Guam for second if it beats the latter today. Defending champion CNMI could also make it a threeway logjam if it hurdles Indonesia.
In case of a triple tie, organizers said it will be broken by determining the team with the least runs allowed in all the games played.
Guam’s batters have the edge under such scenario since they only gave up seven in the previous victory over CNMI and two in this loss to the streaking Aussies.