By Patrick Lujan
In a bizarre ISA Baseball League season that saw delays on top of delays, the GW Geckos sprinted into the four-team playoffs, taking out the Southern Dolphins 16-6 Saturday afternoon.
The winner of the matchup was to gain a semifinals slot as the 4th seed. GW’s win puts them against the #1 ranked Notre Dame Royals on Wednesday with the other semis featuring the #2 Tiyan Titans vs. the #3 FD Friars.
The season itself had a scheduling delay plus umpire shortages and some rain delays. All these left the Geckos having to fit all seven of their games into a two-week period.
“We had to get the guys ready for some double headers and we just asked them to play fundamental baseball,” Geckos manager Joey Blas said about the short sprint in games played.
Senior Eden Sablan had a solid game, pitching 4+ innings and striking out seven while adding three hits on offfense.
Saturday’s game
With a playoff berth on the line for both teams, GW jumped ahead with five runs in the first inning and never looked back. Leadoff hitter Keoni Raguindin sparked the charge with a triple out of the gate before the Geckos tacked on the runs on walks, errors and fielder’s choice.
The Dolphins cut the lead to 5-3 with three runs in the second inning before GW senior reliever Eden Sablan took control the rest of the way. Despite allowing three runs in 4+ innings of work, Sablan struck out seven and added three hits on offense.
The Geckos added four runs in the third inning highlighted by an Avian Gumataotao opposite field RBI single.
Southern mounted a two-out rally in the 4th as Greg Sablan hit a two-run double to cut the lead to 9-5.
GW wrapped up their scoring spree in the 6th inning with run-scoring hits by Aiden Quichocho, Raguindin and Gumataotao.
Continuation Game
The Geckos resumed their tied game with the Tiyan Titans about a half hour later. That game was picked up where things left off tied at 8-8 from Dec. 13.
Though there was no bearing on the standings, the Titans pulled off the win 9-8.
Semifinals Set
Two days after Christmas, the top four teams will hit the field for a chance to advance to the championship game.
The #1 seed Royals were able to confirm the use of the Paseo Stadium as their ‘home’ game against the #4 Geckos with a first pitch time slated for 3 pm.
Tiyan (#2) will be the home team against the #3 Friars at the GW Field at 4 pm.
“The sticks are coming around now and we’re playing good defense, too,” GW manager Blas said about heading into the big matchup against the Royals on Wednesday.
FINAL STANDINGS
Notre Dame 7-0
Tiyan 6-1
FD 5-2
GW 3-3-1
Southern 2-4-1
Sanchez 2-3-2
Guam High 1-6
Okkodo 0-7
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