Pinays shut out Aussies in LL softball

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Philippines flexed its muscle right in the opening of the Little League Asia Pacific Regional Championships, ripping Australia, 10-0, in the Little League Softball hostilities at the Clark parade grounds yesterday.

Represented by Iloilo Province, the Pinay softbelles pounded on the overmatched Aussies and belted seven runs in the first two innings to set the tone for the abbreviated victory.

The Ilonggas moved two wins closer to finishing off the Australians in the best-of-five affair in majors softball and book a return trip to the world series.

The hosts also scored in Big League Baseball with representative Tanauan City demolishing Guam, 9-2.

Chinese-Taipei, the reigning Big League titlist, shut out Marianas, 9-0.

In intermediate 50/70, South Korea tripped India, 7-0, while Little League Baseball saw Hong Kong rout Dubai, 11-1, and Saudi Arabia, a team bannered by kids of American expats, drub the Marianas, 19-4.

The weeklong tournament, featuring nearly 1,000 clouters from 16 nations, opened in simple rites graced by US Embassy Economic Counselor Joel Eihrendeich, LL Asia Pacific regional administrator BH Chow of Hong Kong and CDC directors Frankie Villanueva and Rommel Bondoc.

“We would like to welcome everyone to the Little League Asia Pacific Regional Championships that has drawn an even bigger field as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Little League program that is now being played by a million children worldwide,” said PSC commissioner and Little League Phils. administrator Jolly Gomez in his welcome remarks.

The world series-qualifying event is supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Clark Development Corp. , Globe, KFC and Limitless Philippines, Inc.