KOROR, Palau — Palau stormed past Guam with a commanding 8–1 win in the gold medal game of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games baseball tournament, capping off a dramatic final with a dominant seventh-inning performance and strong pitching in front of a jubilant home crowd.
Guam struck first, taking a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back hits, but Palau quickly countered. In the top of the second, Palau’s bats came alive with two timely hits that brought in a pair of runs, putting the visitors ahead 2–1.
After a short opening outing from starter Avery Amos, who allowed one run on two hits in less than an inning, reliever Joshua Mathew took the mound and never looked back. Mathew pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, surrendering just five hits and one walk while striking out three, effectively shutting down Guam’s offense for the rest of the game.
Palau added an insurance run in the fourth to go up 3–1. The game remained tense through the middle innings, with both teams stranding runners and missing scoring chances. But it was the top of the seventh inning that proved decisive.
After a Palauan runner reached base on an error, Guam made a pitching change, replacing starter Peter Frank Concepcion with Franklin John Ninete Jr. The momentum shifted instantly. A series of well-placed hits, an infield blooper, and a critical defensive miscue allowed Palau to plate five runs with only one out. Arren Jacob Yatar was brought in to halt the rally, and although he recorded the final two outs, the damage was done — Palau held a commanding 8–1 lead.
Guam attempted to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with a stand-up double and a walk. But the rally was cut short when Palau catcher Pipen Mitsur threw out a runner attempting to steal third, sealing the win and triggering celebrations in the stands.
Mitsur led Palau’s offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and delivering the game-ending defensive play. Seth Seklii chipped in with a hit, an RBI, and a run scored, while Olkeriil Ise drove in two runs. Ray Rumong and Jeter Inawo added timely hits, and aggressive base running from the entire lineup kept Guam’s defense under pressure throughout.
Despite committing three errors, Palau’s defense held firm when it mattered most. Guam, meanwhile, struggled to regain their early rhythm. Ricardo Leon Guerrero II and Nolan Cruz each had two hits to lead Guam’s offense, but the team was unable to capitalize beyond the first inning.
Guam’s four-man pitching rotation—featuring Balauro, Concepcion, Ninete, and Yatar—surrendered a total of eight runs on seven hits and seven walks, with the decisive seventh inning proving their undoing.
A Brief History of Baseball at the Pacific Games
Baseball made its debut at the South Pacific Games—now the Pacific Games—in 1999 and remained part of the official program until 2011. Guam won gold in the inaugural edition (1999) and again in 2003, while Palau captured the title in 2007 in Samoa. The Northern Mariana Islands took the top spot in 2011 in New Caledonia, after which baseball was dropped from the Pacific Games lineup.
However, the sport continued through the Pacific Mini Games. In the 2005 Mini Games, hosted in Palau, Guam claimed gold, Palau took silver, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) earned bronze. At the 2022 edition in Saipan, the Northern Mariana Islands won gold, followed by Guam with silver, Palau with bronze, and Fiji in fourth.
With their victory in the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, Palau reclaimed the top position, adding a second gold to their record and solidifying their status as a regional baseball powerhouse. Guam settled for silver, the Northern Mariana Islands took bronze, and FSM placed fourth. (By: Felix Biscoff)