Bacolod off to big start in LL

CABANATUAN CITY – Christine Jade Declines hurled a three-hitter in powering Bacolod City past Sta. Cruz of Laguna, 10-2, in Little League softball at the start of the Little League Philippine Series 2002 yesterday at the Nueva Ecija National High School grounds here.

The 12-year-old Declines, a veteran of last year’s World Series in Kirkland, Washington, actually allowed only four Lagunenas on -- one on base-on-balls -- as she shone on both sides of the field to establish the Bacolodnons as the top favorite in the girls’ 11-12 year-old group.

Besides standing 10 feet tall on the mound, the Bacolod pitching wonder, likewise, went four-for-four at bat in driving in six runs of her team’s total output.

International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) completed a double in two separate venues as it served notice of its determined bid to dominate boys’ baseball, a feat it nearly accomplished last year in Malolos, Bulacan.

The ILLAM boys’ Little Leaguers upended Mamburao of Mindoro Occidental, 21-10, in a regulation four-inning outing in what could be a stern warning to the 11-12 class defending champion Bulacan that the latter’s reign is in peril.

Over at the nearby Talavera High School park, the ILLAM Junior Leaguers opened defense of their 13-14 crown with an easier 19-1 decision of Canlubang, also in four innings.

Also in the same Talavera town venue, La Carlota of Negros Occidental nosed out Pampanga, 2-1, in the Big League boys’ baseball matchup.

In the far away Palayan City High School field, host Nueva Ecija proved its worth as worthy contender in the Big League (16-18) girls’ softball category with another lopsided 11-2 spanking of Tuguegarao.

Albay, meanwhile, shut out Navotas, 6-0, to join the Little League boys’ early winner in a game played at the Malate Elementary School grounds, also in Palayan City.

The fiesta atmosphere prevailing over the entire Nueva Ecija province continues today with another heavy 31-game schedule in all four designated playing sites.

Of these calendared games in Day 2 of hostilities, interest will be focused on the encounter between defending champion Team Manila and Bulacan dubbed as a preview of the expected title collision between the two top contenders in the Big League girls’ softball.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s Golden Girls, coached by softball association president Filomeno "Boy" Codiñera, romped off with the championship without lifting a bat as three was no other team entered in the Series’ last edition, a privilege the Big City clouters do not enjoy this year.

Another interesting matchup will be that between ILLAM and host Nueva Ecija in what could determine the former’s capabilities to retain one of two titles it won in Malolos and the chance of the Novo Ecijanos in thwarting the Big League baseball’s champs bid.

The eight-day baseball/softball festival, hosted by Gov. Tomas Joson III and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission with the help of Pop Cola and Absolute Mineral Water opened shop yesterday with an elaborate rites at the Talavera National High School gym.

The colorful and meaningful ceremony with PSC chair Eric Buhain as guest of honor and speaker served as a call to the some 1,000 participants and guests as well as the entire citizenry to join hands in helping the government’s efforts in attaining everlasting peace and unity among the Filipino people.