Manila belles cop softball title; ILLAM tops jr league

MANILA, Philippines - Manila swept the big league softball while ILLAM bagged the junior league baseball at the close of the 2012 Little League Philippine Series inside Clark Free Port Zone in Pampanga last week.

The Manila softbelles clobbered their Pasig rivals in the 16-18 division while the ILLAM batters, behind Stuart Hable and Harper Sy’s solid pitching, trounced the Tarlac side, 8-4, in the 11-12 years old division.

Backstopped by players from Adamson, UE, UST, and PUP, the unbeaten Manilans blasted the Pasiguenas with crisp hits to fashion out the win, clinch the title and gain the right to represent the country in the regional Asia-Pacific set in Jakarta in July.

“They gave all their best because they really want to represent the country in the regional tournament. I’m happy for them,” said coach Ana Santiago.

Hable and Sy combined for 11 strikeouts while the rest sprayed their rivals with a series of hits en route to victory to the delight of coaches Edwin Mercado, Egay de los Reyes and Darwin de la Calzada.

The win thus sealed ILLAM’s fourth straight stint in the 11-12 division baseball in Taichung, Chinese Taipei.

“This is the product of hard work and training. We are ready for Taichung,” said Mercado.

Others bound for the regional Asia-Pacific Little League tournament in July are Tanauan, Muntinlupa and Tarlac.