RP clouters cop HK baseball title

HONG KONG — The Philippines played true to form Thursday as it blanked the Chinese Youth team from Tianjin, 8-0, and clinched the Zhu Jiang Cup Invitational International baseball tournament at the Yuen Long Baseball Stadium here.

Ernesto Binarao allowed just three hits, had five strike outs and no base-on-balls in seven superb innings while his teammates peppered Chinese pitcher Gao Bo Xuan with 13 hits en route to eight runs.

The Philippines formalized its entry into the final with a 15-0 demolition of the Shen Zhen University in the morning. The Chinese Youth team, on the other hand, ripped Chinese Taipei at the close of the elimination round.

After a scoreless first inning, the Filipinos erupted with five runs in the second on a leadoff single to right field by Ric Jimenez. It was followed by singles by Marlon Caspillo, Junnifer Pinero, Roel Empacis, Ferdinand Recto and Ruben Angeles.

In the fourth inning, Empacis had another single, followed by another from Recto before Angeles hit a three-run homer for the final score.

Angeles was named tournament MVP while Binarao was named best pitcher. Ely Baradas was also named best