Batangas, Cebu off to big start in Baseball IV

Former champions Cebu and Batangas hammered out contrasting victories yesterday to seize an early share of the lead in the Baseball Philippines Series IV at the Rizal Stadium.

The Dolphins, the Series II champions, overpowered the Forward Taguig Patriots, 14-9, while the Bulls, the Series III titlists, rallied to turn back the Dumaguete Unibikers, 6-4, to notch their first win.

Cebu stormed Taguig’s bullpen with 18 hits, including six in the six-run seventh inning that blew the game wide open in the event organized by Community Sports, Inc.

The Bulls pounced on losing pitchers Christian de Leon and Saxon Omandac in a four-run seventh inning.

Hurler Jay Laurel held sway at the mound to help the Bulls pull off the come-from-behind win.

“Our hitting was okay but they also helped us with their errors late in the game,” said Batangas manager Randy Dizer, who steered his team to a three-game win over Dumaguete for the Series III title.

Mizuno, Gatorade, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Welcoat Paints, Industrial Enterprises, Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park and Agility Logistics are sponsoring the event with Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PABA, Sports Radio and Makisig Sports as partners.

Vladimir Eguia, who had a perfect game in Game One of the Series III finals, yielded eight hits while Laurel allowed one that led to a run by Darwin dela Calzada.

Cebu catcher Fulgencio Rances joined the homerun parade at the bottom of the sixth to highlight the Dolphins’ big show of force.

“We really hit well. That was the key,” said Cebu manager Isaac Bacarisas in Filipino. – Joey Villar