East features all-around play Vasquez leads South Vineland by Guam in makeup game

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BANGOR – Sacrifices, stolen bases, singles, doubles, triples and even the tournament’s first home run. The U.S. East representative in the Senior League World Series did just about everything on the base paths for a victory in a Pool B game Thursday morning.

That, plus a fine pitching effort from John Vasquez, helped South Vineland (N.J.) Little League roll to a 13-3 victory over Guam at Mansfield Stadium.

The game, which had been postponed from Monday night and then Tuesday morning because of weather, ended in the bottom of the fifth because of the 10-run mercy rule.

“We needed that, seriously,” Vasquez said. “We needed to come out and [get a big win].”

Both Guam and South Vineland were to play games later in the final day of pool play. South Vineland was 2-1 after Thursday morning’s game, while Guam went to 0-3.

The South Vineland players pounded out 15 hits, including five for extra bases. Pinch hitter Bobby Sensalone knocked a 1-2 fastball over the 330-yard sign in right. The third-inning homer drove in Tito Guadalupe, who had smacked a two-run single earlier, as South Vineland scored six runs that inning.

“It was a fastball down and in, and [Sensalone] hits that pitch very well,” said South Vineland coach Abe Heredia.

Sean Olsen had an RBI double later in the inning. He went 3-for-4 and knocked in four RBIs.

South Vineland had three sacrifice hits and five stolen bases, including two from Jonathan DiJamico.

Vasquez scattered five hits and gave up three runs. He fanned three and he and reliever Albert Rivera didn’t give up a walk.

“Before this, I was in a slump with pitching and I couldn’t throw anything,” Vasquez said. “Today I was like, just throw strikes, don’t try to throw hard or overpower anybody. It worked. And the defense backed me up.”

Guam didn’t commit any errors in South Vineland’s big third inning, but with three in the game overall the Asia Pacific champs were questioning their defensive effort.

“Errors is what’s causing the other team to score,” said Guam skipper Chris Leon Guerrero. “It’s like, once one error comes around you have other people making errors, and that’s what threw my pitchers off. They have no confidence in the infield.”

Guam’s Mike Cruz had an RBI single in the fifth to score Mateo Matanane (single), and pinch hitter Desi Godoy drove in a run on a groundout in the third.

US EAST 13, ASIA PACIFIC 3

(Thursday Afternoon, 5 innings)

ASIA PACIFIC (0-3) US EAST (2-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

M. Cruz, cf 2 0 1 1 Ortiz, ss 2 2 0

De La Rosa, ss 2 0 0 0 DiJamco, 2b 2 0

Godoy, ph 1 0 0 1 Lopez, ph 1 0 0

Naputi, 3b 2 0 1 0 Olson, c 4 1 4

Sablan, lf 1 0 0 0 Elbeuf, rf 3 1 0

Gebhard, 1b 2 0 0 0 Rivera, rf/p 0 0 0

Arce, 1b 0 0 0 0 Rodriguez, cf 4 2 1

Benavente, lf/3b 2 0 0 0 Flores, 1b 3 0

Quinata, c 2 0 0 0 Martinez, lf 2 0 1

Chaco, rf 2 1 1 0 Sanchez, lf 0 0 0

Alcantara, rf 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe, 3b 3 2

Matanane, p 1 1 1 0 Vasquez, p/rf 2 2 0

Manibusan, p 1 0 0 0 Sansalone, ph 1 1 2

EJ Cruz, 2b 1 1 1 0

Totals 19 3 5 2 Totals 27 13 15 10

a-

Asia Pacific 001 02 ? 3

US East 046 03 ? 13

E? De la Rosa; Naputi; Quinata; Olson; LOB? Asia Pacific 3; US East 7; 2B? Olson; Elbeuf; Rodriguez; 3B? Chaco; HR? Sansalone; SB? Ortiz; DiJamco 2; Elbeuf; Flores

Asia Pacific IP H R ER BB SO

Matanae 2 1/3 9 9 5 1 1

Manibusan 2 1/3 6 4 4 3 0

US East IP H R ER BB SO

Vasquez 4 1/3 5 3 2 0 3

Rivera 2/3 0 0 0 0 1

HBP? Ma