Iloilo ‘walks’ to World Series

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines – Philippine Series champion Iloilo pounced on the erratic pitching of its rival and claimed a berth in the 2013 Little League Softball World Series after hammering out a 10-0 regulation win over Indonesia in their battle for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East crown on a rainy Wednesday at the Clark Parade Grounds here.

Going hit-less but gaining from the 16 base-on-balls issued by Indon pitcher Chantique Milenissa in the third game of their best-of-five duel for the regional diadem, Iloilo secured the clincher after three-and-a-half innings and completed a first-ever appearance in the worlds. The Phl belles had set the tone for their domination of the Indons with a 23-0 rout in the first game and a 10-6 verdict in the second.

“We knew we can dominate them but I told the girls not to be complacent, that the game is not over until the last out,” said Iloilo manager Rey Fuentes, who, personally, will be returning trip to the World Series 10 years after steering Bacolod to the Junior League Softball plum.

Iloilo’s softbelles reached the LLS World Series slated Aug. 8-14 in Portland, Oregon just two years since starting their Little League program.

“I think we have a chance because we have four pitchers and our top two pitchers, Royeve Palma and Kate Mabelin, are both good. Based on my previous experience in the World Series, it’s just a matter of managing their assignments and making sure they won’t get burned out. Plus our batting is okay,” said Rey Fuentes, who is being assisted by Rogie Donguines and Porferio Posadas.

Phl IX finished off Indonesia despite getting outhit, 1-0. Dhea Alvira managed to tag Palma with a base-hit but the Indons couldn’t proceed from there. 

It turned out the home side didn’t need a hit at all. Seven walks from Chantique in the first inning and the Pinays got four easy runs. Two innings later, Phl received seven walks, this time converting them into six runs for a 10-run lead. In contrast, Palma struck out six batters to lead Iloilo’s defense.

The host’s softball teams, led by reigning Big League Softball World Series titlist Manila South, continued their hot form in other fronts.

Manila lit up the scoreboard and blasted four home runs to smother hapless Indonesia in five innings, 33-1. It was Manila’s second straight win in the three-nation, double round-robin battle for the APME diadem, and as such, needs to just repeat over Indonesia and Guam on Friday and Saturday to return to the world tilt.

Phl champs Iloilo Province (Junior League Softball) and Sta. Cruz, Laguna (Senior League Softball) likewise dispatched their respective Indonesian foes in a pair of four-inning routs, 30-3, and 18-3, respectively. The Phl Little Leaguers and Senior Leaguers are also two victories away from advancing to the worlds.

Over in baseball, Phl Series titlist ILLAM turned back Hong Kong, 4-2, to pick up its second straight W in the Senior League while Phl’s Tanauan Little Leaguers bounced back after two losses in Pool A with a 14-9 nipping of United Arab Emirates. Not as successful was Phl-Muntinlupa, which absorbed a 1-14 setback at the hands of powerhouse Chinese-Taipei to drop to 1-2 in Big League Baseball play.

The APME is sponsored by Clark Development Corp., Philippine Sports Commission and KFC.