2022 Pacific Mini-Games

The 2022 Pacific Mini-Games were the first Pacific Games or Mini-Games to include baseball since the 2011 Pacific Games. Hosted by Saipan from June 16-25, 2022, the baseball portion was played at Francisco “Tan Ko” M. Baseball Field. Host Northern Mariana Islands tried to defend their title. Also competing were Fiji, Guam, Palau and Solomon Islands (the former three having played in 2011, the latter having last appeared in the 2005 South Pacific Mini-Games).

Results[edit]

Northern Mariana Islands 4, Guam 1. 2011 Pacific Games star Josh Jones is back at it, allowing one hit and an unearned run in seven innings while fanning 14 to beat Sean Egenias. Anthony Tenorio and AJ Lizama triple while Franko Nakamura homers to back Jones' pitching, while Javen Pangelinan gets the lone Guam hit.

Palau 21, Solomon Islands 0. Ibakes Helacio and Dusty Etpison combine to fan 11 in a mercy rule four-inning no-hitter. Jeter Inawo homers while Ray Rumong has 3 runs and 3 RBI. Ronald Alley takes the loss.

Palau 13, Northern Mariana Islands 2. Palau routs the hosts to go to 2-0, knocking out starter Lorenzo Sebaklim with five runs and no one retired. Ashton Kinto scores three times, while Kerai Blanc goes 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and O'neil Kopech gets the win. AJ Lizama triples again.
Guam 13, Fiji 3. Fiji makes their debut and falls to Guam, Jathan Muna-Barnes hitting a bases-loaded triple and Jayce Concepcion getting the win.

Northern Mariana Islands 17, Fiji 0. Juan Iguel and Jerald Cabrera each score three times, while Shane Yamada and Franko Nakamura combine on a one-hitter in a five-inning mercy rule rout. Epeli Ratabacaca takes the loss, while Lemeki Biaudamu gets Fiji's only hit.
Guam 12, Solomon Islands 1. Javier Concepcion, Nolan Cruz and Eithan Calvo combine on a two-hitter, with opposing pitcher Hampton Saua and Casper Mamae each connecting for the Solomon Islands. Jathan Muna-Barnes has two runs and two RBI for Guam.

Palau 13, Fiji 3. RF Pipen Teiich Mitsur scores three runs as Enston Florencio gets the win over veteran Tavo Sorovakatini. SS Lemeki Biaudamu scores a pair for Fiji.
Northern Mariana Islands 16, Solomon Islands 0. The hosts again throw a combined one-hitter in a mercy rule win, with four pitchers (Lamarc Iguel, Jacob Babauta, J.P. Sablan and Lorenzo Sabklim) getting the job done. Catcher Patrick Alepuyo goes 3 for 3 with four RBI. SS Michael Raurua has the lone hit for the Solomon Islands, while D. Veaboi takes the loss.

Guam 7, Palau 2. Franklin Ninete Jr. and Guaifon Terlaje combine on a two-hitter to stop a Palauan team that had scored 47 runs in their first 3 games. DH Ashton Tedtaotao had a run and two RBI for Guam despite not getting a hit. For Palau, CF Jeremy Guillermin walked twice and drove in a run while Ray Rumong took the loss.
Fiji 13, Solomon Islands 0. The two winless teams squared off, with Fiji routing the Solomon Islands. Marnoah Sorovakatini throws a five-inning no-hitter, fanning nine and walking one (Jacob Pita) to avoid a perfect game. Hampton Saua took the loss. C Noa Delaivuna goes 3 for 3 and 1B Shameet Kumar has two runs and two RBI.

Guam 6, Palau 3. O’neill Yobech shuts out Guam for five innings as Palau builds a 3-0 lead (SS Ashton Kinto scoring a pair) before Guam rallies. 2B Shon Muna drives in a pair while Paul Pangelinan throws three shutout innings for the victors.
Northern Mariana Islands 23, Fiji 3. 1B Byron Kaipat goes 3 for 3 with 4 runs and 3 RBI to lead the hosts; Shane Yamada gets the win over Anare Baleinabuli. DH Noa Delaivuna goes 3 for 3 for Fiji.

Northern Mariana Islands 2, Palau 0. In the semifinal (with the loser getting the Bronze), the hosts take the same route as 11 years prior, riding the arm of Josh Jones. He fans 17 and allows only two hits (to SS Ashton Kinto and 1B Kerai Blanc) to outduel Ibakes Helacio, who also goes the distance. C Jerald Cabrera reaches base all four times and scores a run for the Northern Marianas. Palau repeats as Bronze Medalist.
Northern Mariana Islands 12, Guam 9. CF Ben Jones Jr. goes 4 for 5 to lead a 17-hit attack and Josh Jones gets the win after pitching the final six innings to give him 15 innings on the day. Jathan Muna-Barnes drives in three for Guam. The Northern Mariana Islands defend their Gold while Guam again gets the Silver.