Top teams unscathed in Li’l League

Tanauan, Marikina, Ilocos Norte and Muntinlupa walloped their respective foes yesterday to remain unscathed in the 11-12 years category of the 2008 Little League Philippines Series at the Alabang Golf and Country Club grounds in Muntinlupa.

Tanauan smashed Makati, 6-0, Marikina slammed Taguig, 14-3, Ilocos Norte demolished Camarines Sur, 21-2, and Muntinlupa blasted Sta. Cruz, 12-1, to boost their stock in this event backed by Brgy. Ayala-Alabang, Oleo Fats, Inc., Mizuno Sports, Milo, Purefoods, Lifeline Rescue Arrows, KPI Elevators and The Philippine STAR.

Other Day 2 winners were Lipa over Bataan (16-3), Talisay over Bacolod West (14-4) and Palayan over Agoncillo (17-6).

Palayan, a known haven for strong baseball and softball players, also made its move in other divisions.

The Nueva Ecija hurlers edged Talisay, 6-4, in Big League Baseball while humiliating Makati, 15-4, in Senior League Softball in this event supported by Little League Philippines, Alabang Country Club Inc., Junior Baseball and Softball Foundation of the Philippines and the Alabang Baseball Softball Clubsports.

International League Association of Manila, a major force in this annual baseball and softball event, blanked Batangas, 7-0, in Big League Baseball.

Bacolod West struck in Senior League Softball, nipping Muntinlupa, 4-3.

In Senior League Baseball action, Tanauan City overcame Camarines Norte, 2-0, while Muntinlupa waylaid Northern Samar, 11-1.

A total of 29 Little League teams were split into five groups with the top two finishers in each bracket advancing the second phase where the 10 qualifiers will be divided again into two groups. From there, the best two teams will then advance to crossover semis set on April 12 with the winners figuring in the one-game finale on April 13.

The rest of the divisions have single-round robin format with the two squads battling it out in the finals also on April 13. A team that swept the elimination round will have a twice-to-beat edge in the finals.

The biggest win of the tournament so far came from Pook Agoncillo of Batangas, which rallied from 2-5 down after five innings by unloading four runs in the last two innings to shock fancied Zamboanga City, 10-6.

It was actually a bright day for the boys from Agonxillo as their second team, needed only four innings sin clobbering Pasig City, 21-7 hours after their townmates had celebrated.

This year’s Series where the winners will be carrying the country’s colors in separate international competitions was officially opened by Little League

district administrator Jolly Gomez and Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, who were joined in the presidential table by other special guests as Gov. Raul Daza of Samar, Councilor Che Borromeo of Manila, former Manila Charter president Robert Evangelista and Hector Navasero, president of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Asspociation.

Nearly a thousand participants, half of which coming from the provinces, were treated to an entertainment show provided by the characters in the nearby Enchanted Kingdom during the dimple opening rites.