July 18, 2006

Big Leaguers loaded with experience
By Akash Shringi
For Pacific Daily News

Guam has had at least one team advance to a World Series event since 2000.

And once Guam got there, its teams made some noise. From the Guam Big League all-stars reaching the international semifinals in 2000 to the Guam Little League all-stars winning their pool in 2001 and 2005, there were times when it looked like Guam was going to win it all.

But it never happened.

This summer, however, there could be a change as Guam will send one of its most experienced teams to the 2006 Big League World Series. The tournament begins July 29 in Easley, S.C.
So what is so good about this team, which went 4-0 in the recent Asia-Pacific Big League Regional Tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia?

"I think the experience the team carries to the field will be interesting for the island," Dededo resident John Barcinas said. "There is just so much experience on this team. This team is legit. I think, for the first time, we can actually say Guam has a chance to win the whole thing."

Eight of the 13 Guam Big League all-stars played in the 2001 or 2002 Little League World Series. Seven of them played for Guam's first-ever LLWS team in 2001.

Those seven players are Derwin Aguon, Matt Barcinas, Freddy Cepeda Jr., Alejandro Diaz, Kurt Diaz, Kris Kaneshiro and Aaron Sanchez. Matt Barcinas played for the 2002 team along with Mike Bautista. The other five players on the 2006 BLWS team are Jarrett Barcinas, Mike Cruz, Josh Daga and Southern High School baseball all-stars Jared Alerta and Jesse Alerta. The Alerta brothers guided Southern High to an interscholastic baseball title in the 2005-06 school year.

"People may say we have the best chance of winning the World Series, but really, it's easier said than done," Guam manager Patrick Leon Guerrero said.

Leon Guerrero, 28, will be coaching in the BLWS for the fourth time in six years. He also was the head coach for the Guam team that went 2-2 in last summer's Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine.

"The Big League World Series is a whole different caliber of baseball from the other three divisions," he said. "The games are just more intense. I'm kind of happy that we have only a week to relax on Guam and take care of things. But, honestly, I would've preferred going straight to the World Series after Jakarta. Right now we're fresh. We have no injuries. The boys are focused."

Leon Guerrero also has an experienced coaching staff. His head coach, A.J. Aguon, has coached in the Junior League World Series and SLWS. His other coach, Jacob Cruz, will be coaching in his third BLWS.

"I don't feel any pressure from anyone," Leon Guerrero said. "I think I put the most pressure on the guys because I know what they're capable of doing. We got a lot of support and that's what keeps us going. This is a focused team and they know that. When we travel to tournaments, we're not there to shop and have a good time. We're there to play baseball."

Leon Guerrero said winning the regional is nice, but going far in the BLWS is the goal.

"To me, we haven't accomplished anything yet," he said. "I was already expecting us to win the regional tournament. I mean, Guam has to win the regional. But I'll be satisfied when we start the Big League World Series with a win and from there go far."

Guam is expected to challenge the U.S. East representative on July 29. The team is planning to leave island on July 24.