Dorado beats Arroyo to even COLICEBA finals

Andrés Santiago pitched a complete game to earn his second win of the COLICEBA finals as the Guapos of Dorado evened the best-of-five series at 2-2 with a 4-2 victory over the Bucaneros of Arroyo on Saturday night. Game 5 is slated for Friday night in Arroyo.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Guapos of Dorado defeated the Bucaneros of Arroyo 4-2 on Saturday at Perucho Cepeda Stadium in Cataño to tie the 2025 Central Amateur Baseball League Confederation (COLICEBA by its acronym in Spanish) final series.

For the second-straight night, the home team prevailed in the best-of-five series, after the visitors won the first two games. The finals are now tied at two games apiece -- Arroyo won Game 3, 2-1, at home on Friday night -- forcing a third weekend of action to determine the island’s Triple A champion.

The Guapos’ Game 4 victory was backed by a dominant performance from Andrés Santiago, who pitched a complete game to earn his second win of the series. He allowed eight hits and two runs, while striking out one batter. Although Dorado only managed three hits in the game, they were enough to secure a crucial victory.

Dorado took the lead for good, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning, when a single by Víctor Claudio drove in Pedro Crespo for the go-ahead run. In the seventh inning, the Guapos extended the lead with two more runs, both scored on bases-loaded walks to Daniel Figueroa and Crespo.

In the top of the ninth, a single by Luis Pintor brought Nelson Molina home to make it 4-2 as the Bucaneros attempted a comeback, but the rally fell short.

Arroyo was the first to score in the game, manufacturing a run in the second inning with a single by Pintor. Dorado responded in the next inning, when a double by Elvin Álamo followed by a sacrifice fly tied the score.

The loss went to left-hander Miguel Fontánez, who pitched six innings, allowing three hits and two runs, with four strikeouts.