Guam baseball players take on South Korea team in 2020 Western Pacific Series Baseball

Guam Amateur Baseball Association and Guam Baseball Academy will be hosting the 2020 Western Pacific Series Baseball Championships against South Korea later this week, according to a news release from the groups.

The South Korean Bullets team consists of players 20-28 years of age. Seventeen players and three coaches will visit Guam to test their baseball skills against Guam Amateur Baseball teams.

Games are 3 p.m. Feb. 14; 10 a.m. Feb. 15; and 10 a.m. Feb.16 at Okkodo High School.

Team Bullets is a Club Team with a roster made up of players primarily from Han Yang University, several semi-pro players and several retired pro players from the Korean Professional League. Team Bullets is ranked 15th place among 678 registered club teams.

The Bullets will conduct multiple three-hour practice sessions before their competitive games against Guam teams.

"Team Bullets are combined with all passionate players. Though we did not learn baseball when we were very young, but we always at least practice once per week and practice with the pro players," team member Kihoon Kim stated in the news release. "Team Bullets plays in various leagues in South Korea and has always made the playoffs every year since 2009. Currently Team Bullets has a record of 165 wins and 84 loses. Last year, Team Bullets competed in over 50 games for our season."

Bill Bennett, instructor with Guam Baseball Academy, said the games go beyond serious competition.

"The Western Pacific Series is designed to enhance relationships through friendly, higher-level competition," Bennett said. "At the same time challenge our best Guam baseball athletes against their South Korean peers. Friendly baseball also allows the exchange of cultural experiences, further highlighting the importance of developing opportunities for wholesome, social interactions."

The previous Western Pacific Series Baseball Championships has seen teams from the region compete: 2014 Palau, 2015 Hong Kong, 2016 Philippines, 2018 Japan, 2019 Hong Kong.