Dorado is a win away from its first COLICEBA championship

With Sunday’s 2-1 win, the Guapos of Dorado will look to close out the best-of-seven COLICEBA championship series in six games this Friday night in Arroyo against the Bucaneros.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Guapos of Dorado defeated the Bucaneros of Arroyo 2-1 on Sunday at José “Cheo” Cruz Stadium in Arroyo, putting them on the verge of winning the Central Amateur Baseball League Confederation (COLICEBA by its acronym in Spanish) championship.

With the Game 5 win, Dorado will look to close out the best-of-seven series on the road this Friday night.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning, Dorado’s Kevin Millet singled off Arroyo left-hander Orlando Díaz to drive in Ian Laureano for what would prove to be the winning run.

Díaz made his third appearance in the series and took the loss after allowing the deciding run, having relieved starter Yadiel Rolón, who went eight innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out five.

Guapos starter Brayan Robles went seven innings and was perfect through the first five and a third, keeping the Arroyo offense under control. The win went to reliever Josué Serrano, who pitched a flawless eighth inning, while the save went to Pedro Rodríguez, who closed out the game dramatically.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Bucaneros had two runners on base with no outs, but Rodríguez prevailed and secured the victory with a strikeout of Tony Bryan Méndez.

The first run of the game was scored by Dorado in the top of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly by César Morillo. Arroyo tied it up in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly by Méndez.

The series continues with Game 6 (not Game 5 as reported in error in Monday’s Star) this Friday at 8 p.m. at Perucho Cepeda Stadium in Cataño, where Dorado will seek its first league title. The Bucaneros will look to win and force a seventh and deciding game on Saturday in Arroyo.