Senior clouters lead Munti romp

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas, Philippines  â€“ Muntinlupa’s Senior League Baseball team leaned on the sizzling performance of Paulo Salud and its hitters to shellack Tarlac Province, 22-4, and lead an explosive day for the Muntinlupa delegation in the Little League Philippines Series 2013 in various venues yesterday.

Salud belted a two-run home run in the first inning to highlight a four-for-four batting stint spiked by four runs and four RBIs as Muntinlupa nailed their third straight romp in SLB’s Group A preliminaries at Barangay Sala.

With the win, Muntinlupa grabbed a share of the lead with ILLAM, which posted a 7-0 triumph over an overmatched GK Smokey Mountain in the other game at the venue featuring majestic Mt. Makiling as backdrop.

“So far, maganda ang results, consistent ang hitting (The boys are hitting consistently well, which has allowed us to get good results),” said Muntinlupa’s head of SLB Kelly Culubong, whose wards peppered Tarlac’s pitchers with a combined 13 hits.

Muntinlupa also flexed its muscle in Big League Baseball, Little League Baseball, and Junior League Softball with its bets all posting 3-0 (win-loss) marks.

The defending champions in Big League Baseball dumped fancied rival ILLAM, 19-3, to stay on top in the 17-18 age bracket held in Barangay Sala, while Muntinlupa’s Little Leaguers outlasted Marikina, 5-3, in a battle of two unbeaten teams for the lead in the NCR elims over in Barangay Bagumbayan. 

The Junior League Softbelles, for their part, continued the rampage in Group A hostilities in Barangay Altura, waylaying Dasmariñas, 11-3, to  book a trip to the semifinals. 

Favored teams lived up to the billing in the other morning games, led by reigning World Series Big League Softball titlist Manila South.

Despite fielding a contingent of only nine players, the Manilans whitewashed Pasig, 12-0, to sweep the first round of their side of the competition with 3-0.

“We’re the ‘fighting nine.’ We have to patiently work our way to win because we aspire to return to the World Series and defend our crown,” said Manila South coach Ana Santiago in Filipino.

Defending Little League Softball champion ILLAM also flashed its winning form and disposed of Cavite, 12-7, to notch their third straight triumph.

While the competitors in the 97-team tourney were busy strutting their stuff,  Major League Baseball Director of Baseball Development for Asia Rick Dell was looking on with intent.Dell is here to observe Pinoy play and look for talented pitchers to train in the MLB’s Asian base in Beijing later this month.

“Our plan is to get pitchers, 15, 16 year old boys with promise, and bring them to the Major League Baseball development center in China for two to three weeks of training,” he said.

And Dell, a frequent Manila visitor, said he liked what he saw. 

“A lot of kids are playing hard, having fun, and at the same time, showing passion for the sport. I believe the Philippines can be a hotbed of talent. It’s just a matter of making sure the best athletes play baseball and realize the opportunities it offers – getting to college and going professional, especially in the region (Asia) – and getting exposed to the best coaching,” he said.