Asahi’s Anson Jones connects a single during a game in the 2024 Belau Amateur Softball Association League at the Dandan baseball field.
ASAHI and SUFA have secured their spots in a best-of-three championship series of the 2024 Belau Amateur Softball Association League after eliminating their respective semifinal opponents at the Dandan baseball field on Sunday.
Asahi went on an intense back-and-forth battle with the Man Amigos, before taking over late in the game to emerge victorious, 17-9.
Both teams came out swinging with Asahi grasping the early lead after Paython Rdiall connected a two-run homer in the top of the opening inning. The Man Amigos retaliated with an RBI single by Peter Sablan to stay within reach, 2-1.
In the second inning, Asahi attempted to pull ahead, but was denied the chance as three outs were made with runners on second and third bases. Asahi responded by putting out the Man Amigos’ first three batters.
Asahi then regained the upper hand in the top of the third inning as Rdiall took the spotlight once again with a three-run homer. The Man Amigos then scored five runs highlighted by a three-run homer by Sablan to snatch the lead, 6-5.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Rdiall continued to put on a show with a grand slam while the Man Amigos’ answered with a two-run homer by Eric Palacios as they fell behind once again, 8-9.
Asahi then sealed the deal with a flurry of runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Taylor Germance started the bombardment with a three-run homer followed by a solo homerun by Anson Jones, another three-run homer by Marino Hiroichi and a solo homer by Rdiall, adding eight runs before the Man Amigos could stop the bleeding.
Man Amigos did their best to find an answer but could only squeeze in a single run contributed by Kent Kalen’s RBI double. This was followed by a double-play with Asahi maintaining a comfortable distance, 17-9.
The seventh and final inning was anti-climactic as Asahi was allowed only one hit while the Man Amigos followed suit with a single hit before settling for defeat.
SUFA vs Hagu Lamun
SUFA earned their ticket to the finals by outlasting Hagu Lamun, 16-10.
SUFA drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning with four runs led by Audie Maratita’s two-run homer.
After getting their feet wet, Hagu Lamun unleashed five runs aided by Eric Tudela with a two-RBI double and Tim Wesley and Richard Quitugua with an RBI double and RBI single, respectively.
But SUFA quickly regained the driver’s seat with Jun Salalila and Maratita earning an RBI each while JJ Cabrera joined the highlight reel with a two-run homer to give his team the lead, 8-5.
Hagu Lamun gradually closed the distance as they managed to silence SUFA in the next two innings while slipping in a run in the top of the third and two more in the fourth to even the score. They seized the lead, 9-8, with another solo run in the top of the fifth.
However, SUFA eventually found their second wind and turned the tides with four runs to retain control. They then tightened the lock with four more runs in the sixth inning, 16-9.
Hagu Lamun had one last chance to stay alive but was met with three consecutive flyouts that were easily caught by SUFA’s outfield and infield defenders.
This Sunday, Asahi will face SUFA in game 1 of the championship series at 9 a.m. at the Dandan baseball field.
