HAGU Lamun, Asahi, Tokahao and SUFA have secured their semifinals spot in the men’s division of the 2022 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball League after ousting their respective opponents Sunday at the Dandan baseball field.
One of the more exciting games was Asahi’s upset victory over the Man Amigos, 11-9.
Right off the bat, Asahi took the lead as Marino Hiroichi, who was third at bat, drew first blood with an RBI single while team mate Edgar Ito slipped past home via fielder’s choice.
The bases continued to fill up, and this time it was Asahi’s Aldrin Dekang who took the spotlight after connecting a single which brought in Hiroichi and Dom Hideo for two RBIs. Another Asahi run was added for a 5-0 spread.
The Man Amigos drew a blank in the bottom of the opening inning, but they managed to give Asahi a taste of their own medicine with three quick outs in the top of the second.
During their second offensive turn, the Man Amigos’ Vinnie Sablan, Jeff Cabrera and Deron Flores recorded an RBI each while another run was allowed due to an error to cut down the deficit, 4-5.
The Man Amigos then silenced Asahi in the next two innings while scoring five more runs. These included a solo homerun from Manny Sablan in the bottom of the third and a two-RBI single from Mark Toves in the fourth as the Man Amigos snatched control, 9-5.
The Man Amigos seemed to have the game in the bag as they only allowed one Asahi run to slip through in the fifth inning.
However, in the top of the final inning, Asahi pulled of the “impossible.”
After the first out, Asahi’s Ito hit an RBI double followed by two more runs contributed by Dom Hideo and Dekang with separate RBIs while Allen Telio administered the coup de grace by scoring a two-RBI single as Asahi took the lead, 11-9.
The Man Amigos tried to stay alive in their final offense attempt but they could only connect two hits before Asahi notched the three outs needed to secure the win and advance to the semifinals.
The other semifinalists are Hagu Lamun which defeated the Redmen 15-5; Tokahao which outlasted Peleliu, 16-11; and SUFA which powered past Momma Charu, 10-6.
Hagu Lamun centerfield Dennis Cruz prepares for the catch during a men’s division game of the 2022 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball League at the Dandan baseball field.
