By Kyle Terwilliger
Variety News Staff

Tuesday night would see the AK Islanders take on the Pepsi Giants in Budweiser Baseball League action to see just how the playoff seeding would play out. After splitting the season series one to one, the winner of this match-up would take third and would get to face the second seeded Bank of Guam Athletics instead of the first seeded Guam Greyhounds.
The Islanders would send Terrell Russell to the mound to face Pepsi’s Derwin Aguon. Russell came into the game with a 3.36 ERA in the second half of the season. Aguon would come into the game with a 1.80 ERA in the second half, setting the stage for a great pitchers duel.
The game would begin in a pitchers duel as Aguon began the game getting the Islanders in the top of the first three up, three down. Russell would allow a base hit by Jarrett Barcinas, Barcinas would be the only base runner Russell allowed in the first.
The second inning would not see any runs scored as both Aguon and Russell got out of the inning without giving up a run. Aguon would continue his dominance in the top of the third as he retired the first three batters he faced.
In the bottom half of the inning Pepsi would give Aguon some run support. After a ground out by Ray Aguon, Keith Hattig would draw a walk followed by a single to left by Jarrett Barcinas moving Hattig to third.
With one out and runners on the corners Matt Muna would record the RBI as Hattig scored and Barcinas was thrown out at second, Muna would reach on the fielder’s choice. Jared Palomo would then double, scoring Muna. Palomo would then score when Jesse Vince Duenas doubled to right-center. Russell would then get out of the inning without further damage. Derwin Aguon would give up a single to Dominic Cruz in the top of the fourth but would then retire Pat Alvarez, Ray Quintanilla and Tommy Morrison in order to strand Cruz on first.
The Islanders would bring in Gerald Bautista in the fourth inning. Bautista would come into the game with a second half ERA of 2.67.
Bautista would retire the Giants in order in the bottom half of the fourth bringing the score to 3-0 in the Giants favor after four complete innings. Neither team would score in the fifth or sixth inni ng keeping the score 3-0.
In the top of the seventh the Islanders would prove that Derwin Aguon is human by scoring a run on an RBI single by Scott Deloera.
The single would score Paul Untalan who reached on a walk. The Giants would respond in the bottom half of the inning scoring four runs off of Bautista on four hits as they batted through their lineup.
Benji Pangelinan would lead off the inning with a single. Matt Muna would then reach on an error.
Jared Palomo would hit a ground ball to third base, and third baseman Paul Untalan would take Pangelinan for the first out. With runners on first and second Jesse Vince Duenas would reach on an error by Shon Muna.
With the bases loaded and one out Ernie Surber would deliver a two run single to right field scoring both Matt Muna and Jared Palomo.
Jesse Vince Duenas would then score on an RBI single by Kurt Diaz. Surber would then come around on an RBI single hit by Ray Aguon.
After seven complete innings the Giants had extended their lead to 7-1. Derwin Aguon would keep the Islanders from scoring in the top of the inning.
The Islanders would lift Bautista in favor of Derrick San Miguel, who would get the Giants one, two, and three in the bottom of the eighth.
Down by six the Islanders would attempt a comeback off of Derwin Aguon. Aguon would get Paul Untalan to ground out to third base to begin the ninth inning. Jimmy Mafnas would then draw a walk off of Aguon; Scott Deloera, who had delivered the only RBI for the Islanders, would single to move Mafnas to second. Both runners would advance when Matt Muna misplayed the ball in right field. With runners on second and third and one out the Islanders would have the top of their lineup come up to bat. Derwin Aguon would settle down and strikeout Shon Muna, Aguon would then get Dominic Cruz to fly to centerfield to end the game. Aguon would pitch a complete game giving up only one run on six hits and striking out three.
With the loss the Islanders must now play again on Friday as they will face the number one seeded Guam Greyhounds.
The Islanders are expected to put Tommy Morrison on the mound to face off against the Greyhounds probable pitcher Peterson Guerrero.
In the second playoff game the Bank of Guam Athletics will host the Pepsi Giants on Sunday. The Giants are expected to put Ernie Surber up against the Athletics probable Steve Alcantra. Both games will begin at 7:00pm at Paseo Stadium.