Phl IX outslugs Indonesians, faces Singapore

MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippine Razcals team outsteadied Indonesia in a tightly-fought contest, 21-16, to barge into the finals of the Pony Baseball Asia Pacific Zone Mustang Championship yesterday at the Vin Yen baseball field in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam.

After engaging in a neck-and-neck battle with the Indonesians, the Phl Razcals made their move in the last two innings, scoring six runs while holding their rivals to only one en route to their third straight win and a berth in today’s championship match against Singapore.

“What a great match! It was a thrilling, see-saw affair that saw both teams battle to several deadlocks but we prevailed in the end,” said Phl Pony Baseball president and Pony Southeast Asian representative Boy Tingzon, who also lauded the Razcals for rising to the challenge considering that some of them are suffering from low-grade fever, cough and cold due to the freezing weather. 

Following a scoreless first inning, Phl and Indonesia began their nip-and-tuck assault on the scoreboard and found themselves tied at the end of the second stanza, 5-5, and still locked, 15-15, through four completed innings.

But the Razcals proved steadier in the deciding final frames to finish the elims with a clean 3-0 slate and enter the one-game championship a favorite.

Standing between the Razcals and the 10-and-under AsPac crown are the Singaporeans, who wound up with the second-best card at 2-1.

The Singaporeans whipped host Vietnam yesterday, 21-1, to earn the right to face the Filipinos in the you-or-me duel for the title and its corresponding ticket to the Mustang World Series slated August in Texas.

The Pinoy clouters turned back Singapore on opening day, 13-3, but the Singaporeans have since showed improvement, winning their next two assignments, including an 11-2 shocker of contender Indonesia.