Rains delay RP clouters bid for Pan - Pacific fina

Subic – The Philippines blanked Japan, 4-0, in the two innings before monsoon rains halted play, putting on hold the Filipinos’ entry to the finals of the first Pan-Pacific junior baseball championships here yesterday.

Inspired by a stunning 3-2 triumph over the same team in the last elimination round match, the Filipinos drew two RBIs (runs batted in) each from Rico Vinuya and Edgardo Cruz in the bottom of the first frame to gain a 4-0 lead before heavy downpour stopped the game.

Sandy Cirillo pitched a no-hitter in the first inning but lapsed momentarily in the second when he walked Jun Shinai and Doi Tatsuya, who then occupied second and third bases respectively. However, he made up for his miscues by putting out batters Takahashi Yudachi and Takumi Fukuda in the ensuing plays.

As Sainta Sakurai positioned himself to bat, heavy rains struck for the third time. Chief umpire Nestor Llanera decided to suspend play in this meet organized by Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation, Inc. president Rodolfo "Boy" Tingzon, Jr. and sponsored by SBMA, Jollibee, Hang Ten, Matsushita Electric, Subic International Hotel, Victory Liner, Nestle Ice Cream and Pacific Commerce and Travel Services.

Earlier, the Filipino kids shocked the Japanese, 3-2, on Mark Galvez’s RBI single, to ink their second win in three games.

But it was mighty Chinese Taipei which struck the hardest after sweeping its three elimination round games with a crushing 3-0 win over Singapore, which finished with a 0-3 slate.

Their semis duel, however, was also postponed although observers predicted another win for the Taiwanese and a trip to the finals against the winner of the RP-Japan contest at 8 a.m. today.

Meanwhile, Pampanga’s Guagua team completed a three-game sweep with a smashing 11-1 win over Woodrose School in Alabang to clinch the SBMA Chairman’s Cup girl’s softball crown at the Remy Field here.