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CAMP HENRY, South Korea — The Taegu ACE couldn’t avoid a third straight loss to open the Taegu Hammer League season despite a solid offense.

Taegu Friends, a Korean team, scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to rally for a 15-14 triumph Sunday over ACE, comprised of soldiers, DOD civilians, contractors, dependents and Korean civilians.

ACE’s season total fell to 0-3, the worst start ever by a predominantly American GI team since such squads began playing in Taegu-area amateur baseball leagues in 1997. ACE has been outscored 47-30 over a four-week period.

“Once again, pitching was ACE’s downfall,” said coach Pedro Arocho. “We could not get the final out.”

On the other hand, Arocho said, he was pleased with the offense. “Our bats were on fire,” he said of a team that racked up 12 hits and eight walks.

Jacob Ramos walked five times and scored five times and S.H. Lee belted a three-run home run to pace the attack as every player in the ACE lineup had at least one hit.

“I do see signs of our team coming together,” Arocho said. “Hopefully, we will solve our pitching woes in the coming weeks.”

Friends leads the league at 3-0 and has outscored its opponents 53-28.

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