CLARK, Philippines – Iloilo erupted with seven runs in the first two innings to crush Australia, 10-0, opening its defense of the Junior League softball crown on a rousing note at the start of the Little League Asia Pacific Regional Championships at the Clark parade grounds in Angeles City, Pampanga on Sunday.
The Ilonggo sluggers scored three runs in the in the first inning, added three more in the next before closing out the overwhelmed Aussies with an additional three runs in the fourth en route to the abbreviated win in the 12-14-year-old girls’ softball division of the week-long competition.
In baseball, Tanauan, Batangas shared the spotlight by clobbering Guam, 9-2, for its first win in the Big League (14-18-year-old) division of the event supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Clark Development Corp., Globe, KFC and Limitless Philippines, Inc.
Later in the afternoon, International Little League Association of Manila survived the fifth-inning comeback of New Zealand to preserve a 6-4 decision in the Senior League (16-year-old-and under) division.
Ushering in the tournament that drew close to 1,000 athletes and officials from 16 countries were simple opening rites graced by US Embassy Economic Counselor Joel Eihrendeich, LL Asia Pacific regional administrator BH Chow of Hongkong and CDC directrors Frankie Villanueva and Rommel Bondoc.
Defending champion Chinese-Taipei whipped Marianas, 9-0, in the Big League (15-18-year-old) opening match while South Korea shut out India, 7-0, in the 50-70 Intermediate (11-13-year-old) division in baseball play.
Hong Kong hammered Dubai, 11-1, and Saudi Arabia, composed mostly of children of American expatriates based in the oil-rich state, trounced the Marianas, 19-4, in a pair of Little League (11-12-year-old) matches.
The Little League Asian Pacific regional champions will qualify for the nine Little League World Series tournaments, highlighted by showcase World Little League finals set Aug. 14 to 24 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. – Rappler.com
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