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From Al’s Fastball: USA defeats Guatemala 5-1 at Pan American Softball Championships
Hermosillo, Mexico—With its fourth consecutive win, theUSA Softball Men’s National Team improved to 5-2 with a 5-1 win over Guatemalaon Thursday morning at the 2006 Pan American Softball Championships. TravisPrice (Santa Ana, Calif.won his second game for the U.S.by holding Guatemalato just one run on seven hits.
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings until the U.S.exploded for four runs in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, OmarMoraga (Tucson, Ariz.) walked and scored on a Frank DeGroathome run to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. But the guys in Red, White and Blue werenot finished with their rally as Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.followed with a solo home run to push the lead to 3-0. After reaching base on afielder’s choice, Sonny Perkins (St. MichaelsAriz.) scored the final run of the inning on adouble by Luis Joglar (Fairview NJ).
Guatemalascored their only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to alead off home run by right fielder Gerardo Dacaret.
In the seventh inning, the U.S. added an insurance run byexecuting a perfect suicide squeeze. With one out, Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.) singled, movedto second on a base hit by Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.on to third on a double steal. ChadFerguson (Battle CreekMich.) was called on to pinch hit for KyleMagnusson (Salt Lake City, Utah) and was given the sign to lay down abunt for a suicide squeeze. The play worked perfectly as Miller raced home and Ferguson was out on thesacrifice.
In 6 2/3 innings of work, Price allowed just one run on seven hits andhad eight strikeouts. He was pulled with one out remaining in the bottom of theseventh inning after walking his first batter of the game. Tony Peeples (San Miguel, Calif.entered the game and struck out the last batter to secure the win.
The U.S. returns to action tonight against host Mexico at 7 p.m.Pacific time before wrapping up pool play on Friday at 9 p.m. Pacific againstPuerto Rico.