Tanauan cops Big League baseball title over ILLAM

MANILA, Philippines - Tanauan racked off three hits in the fourth inning yesterday and scored a 3-2 win over the International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM) for the Big League baseball crown in the 2009 Philippine Series.

Amber Plaza tripled to right center to give Tanauan (in Batangas) a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning. The ILLAM All-Stars tried hard to overcome the deficit but could only score a run in the sixth inning.

Tanauan coach Ramil Mercado said his team’s 6-5 loss to ILLAM in the eliminations three days ago was all that was needed fire up his wards, and clinch the title at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.

Mercado said the Tanauan-ILLAM finals in the 16-18 years division was a repeat of the finals in the 14-16 Senior League division last year. It was the same result for Tanauan, his team for the last 15 years.

In Big League softball, Rizal won the crown by beating ILLAM, 3-2, while in Senior League softball ILLAM regained lost pride by stopping Bacolod-West, 7-2, and ending BW’s reign of eight years.

Tanauan shoots for the Junior League (13-14) baseball crown against Muntinlupa today, and also the Senior League baseball title when it takes on ILLAM at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.