By Kyle Terwilliger
Variety News Staff

AFTER being in the middle of a first place battle during the middle of the season the Guam Shipyard Cougars saw their playoff chances slip away Friday night. The Cougars who were in a four way tie for first place with a record of 5-2 have now lost four straight games and have played their way out of the playoffs falling to the Guam Greyhounds 11-7 in ten innings of play.
The game would begin in the Greyhounds favor as they jumped out to a quick 2-1 lead after the first inning had been played. The Greyhounds would start things off in the top of the first when JT Tuquero would draw a walk and Joey Taijeron would reach base on a hit by pitch. Rico Castro would then also draw a walk to load the bases in the first.
Greyhounds’ first baseman Pete Concepcion would then get an RBI single which would score Tuquero. Then Alan Sarmiento would ground into the 6-4-3 double play but it would score Taijeron from third base giving the Greyhounds the 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
The Cougars would load the bases in the bottom of the first on two walks and a hit by pitch like that of their counterpart in the top half of the inning. Darryle Masnayon would then receive the RBI after a sacrifice fly to center scoring Pete Castro from third. Both teams would not score a run in the second inning bringing the score to 2-1 after two complete innings of play.
In the top of the third the Greyhounds would score two more runs on a double by Alan Sarmiento which would score both Rico Castro and Pete Concepcion bringing the score to 4-1. The Greyhounds would add to their lead in the top of the fourth on a single by Glen Fernandez to lead off the inning.
Fernandez would then come around to score on an RBI double hit by JT Tuquero bringing the score to 5-1 after four innings of play. In the top of the fifth the Greyhounds would once again add to their lead when Pete Concepcion drew a walk moved to third on consecutive singles hit by Alan Sarmiento and John Salas. Concepcion would then score on a wild pitch bringing the score to 6-1 going after five complete innings.
The Greyhounds would again add another run in the top of the sixth when Rico Castro scored on an error after reaching first on a walk. Now with the score 7-1 going into the bottom of the sixth the Cougars would finally wake up their bats. After going five complete innings giving up only one run on three hits the Greyhounds would lift Peterson Guerrero and put in new pitcher JP Aguon. The Cougars would rally off of Aguon allowing him to only pitch the sixth inning. The Cougars would begin their rally when Gene McDonald reached on an error. Then Felix Camacho would single, and with one out and two on Lynwood Baker hit an RBI single to left to score McDonald.
Felix Camacho would then score on an error, Baker would move to second on that same error. Pete Castro would then draw a walk to put runners at second and first. With two outs and two on Rick Cruz would draw a walk to load the bases.
Greyhounds’ third baseman Jim Quintanilla would then deliver big with a 3 RBI double to score Baker, Castro, and Cruz. Darryle Masnayon would then fly out to end the Cougars rally, but the damage was done with the Cougars scoring five runs on three hits knocking JP Aguon out of the game with the score 7-6. Both teams would not score in the seventh or the eighth inning keeping the score at 7-6 going into the ninth inning.
Cougars’ relief pitcher Darryle Masnayon would work his way out of a jam in the top of the ninth inning keeping the Greyhounds scoreless after loading the bases, giving the Cougars a chance to tie or win going in the bottom of the ninth. The Cougars would respond in the bottom of the ninth. Rick Cruz would single to begin the inning. After a Jim Quintanilla fly out, Darryle Masnayon would also single.
Gene McDonald would then draw the walk off of the Greyhounds’ closer Tony Yatar. Then with one out and the bases loaded Felix Camacho would single to center bringing in Rick Cruz to tie the ball game at seven a piece. Roman Aguero would then come to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out with the chance to win the game.
The Cougars would attempt a safety squeeze to win but the Greyhounds would play it perfectly and would turn the 1-2-3 double play to end the ninth inning with the score tied at seven runs a piece. The Greyhounds would then score four runs on three hits in the top of the tenth inning.
Pete Concepcion would reach first on an error then Alan Sarmiento would rack up his fourth hit of the game as he singled to right. John Salas would then single in Concepcion for his first RBI of the night. Abel Salas would then reach on a fielder’s choice as the Cougars got Sarmiento out at third. Then with one out and two on Glen Fernandez would triple to right center bringing in both John and Abel Salas. Dale Alvarez would then hit a sacrifice fly to center which would score Fernandez.
JT Tuquero would then ground out to end the top of the tenth inning. The Cougars would not have a response in the bottom of the tenth as Gerald Santos would ground into a double play to end the game. With the win the Greyhounds move to 9-2 on the season. With their fourth straight loss the Cougars fall to 5-6 on the season and will not make the playoffs.