RP clouters in hot start, rout Russians

Host Philippines demolished Russia, 14-3, yesterday to serve notice of its bid in the 2006 Asia Pacific Zone Pony Division Championship at the Sto. Niño baseball grounds in Marikina City.

Represented by ILLAM players, the Filipinno clouters dominated their counterparts from Russia’s southern city Nahodka to book their first win in a little over an hour in the event organized by the Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation headed by Rodolfo "Boy" Tingzon Jr.

"It’s a good start," said Tingzon, who has organized international pony and tot baseball events in this riverside city for the second straight year.

Team Philippines, however, will have its hands full when it faces Japan at 10 a.m. The Japanese nearly shocked defending champion Chinese Taipei, dropping a heartbreaking 5-6 setback in the other match.

The winner of this four-day event, sponsored by Lotte Foods Corp., Yellow Cab and PCSO, will represent Asia Pacific in the Pony Baseball World Series in Pennsylvania, Washington late in the year.

The Japanese, behind Shota Suzuki’s superb pitching, actually appeared headed for the big victory after posting a 5-1 lead after the fifth set.

But Suzuki wavered, enabling the Taiwanese to come back by scoring five runs atop the sixth frame before closing pitcher Chen Hao Wu, who replaced Chin Po Wang, preserved the lead and the victory.

Chinese Taipei shoots for its second straight win and the first berth in the one-game finals on Saturday against Russia at 1 p.m.

Earlier, Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando ushered in the event in the ceremonial pitch along with Councilor Vic Sabiniano, Tingzon and Philippine Amateur Baseball Association chief Hector Navasero. — Joey Villar