Iloilo bows out of Jr League World Series

MANILA, Philippines - Iloilo, representing Asia Pacific, dropped a sorry 3-4 loss to Canada to bow out of contention in the Junior League Softball World Series Tuesday in Kirkland, Washington.

The Ilonggas squandered a 3-2 lead and gave up a run in each of the sixth and seventh inning to absorb their third straight setback in Pool A and kiss their bid for a semifinal stint goodbye with still one match left in their group assignments.

It was Canada’s first win after two consecutive setbacks.

The Canadians drew first blood in the tightly fought contest, scoring off an RBI single by Priya Johal and an error for a 2-0 cushion in the top fifth.

Iloilo evened things up with Sherami Mendador driving in Georgie Adorador and Pearly Joy Lorca with her triple to center field then took the driver’s seat with Ruby Sunico’s RBI.

Canada equalized via Gallant’s run-scoring single in the fifth and finally wrested the upperhand in the seventh with Amelia Trembath punishing Iloilo for its error at short for the marginal run.

Meanwhile, in the Little League Softball World Series over in Portland, AsPac champ Iloilo bowed to Europe-Africa, 4-7, in their consolation battle for ninth.

The softbelles from Prague Little League unloaded four runs in the fifth to seize a 6-1 lead, gaining from Nikola Brdkova’s and Klara Pospechova’s RBI singles.

Iloilo cut it to within a manageable three-run deficit with runs off a sacrifice fly by Royevel Palma and a wild pitch in the bottom fifth but the girls from Prague held on to secure the  win.