Philippines makes PONY golden double

MANILA, Philippines — Host Philippines completed a golden double in the PONY Asia Pacific Zone Mustang-9 and Mustang-10 Baseball Championships as its representatives Tanauan and Manila Wildcats overpowered their respective Indonesian foes in abbreviated outings yesterday at Tanauan Sports Academy en route to punching tickets to the World Series.

Cheered on by the home crowd, Tanauan made short work of the Indonesians, 23-2, to easily retain the Mustang 9 division crown while Manila exacted revenge over last year’s winner Indonesia, 20-1, to put Phl back on top in the Mustang-10 hostilities.

Tanauan continued Phl’s winning tradition in the 9-year-old age group and booked itself a trip to the PONY International Mustang-9 World Series set July 27-30 in Walnut, California.

Manila gave Phl its sixth overall crown in the 10-year-old play and progressed to Mustang-10 World Series scheduled Aug. 3-6 in Youngsville, Louisiana.

The triumphant campaign in the tourney hosted by PONY Philippines headed by Tot Baseball president Boy Tingzon and co-hosted by Tanauan Mayor Tony Halili showcased the Filipinos’ improved pitching and batting.

“Both teams showed that we now have developed more pitchers and better hitters,” said Tingzon, who however, urged the champs and other Filipino teams to double their efforts if they want to have a chance against zonal rulers from the North, East, West and South Zones of the USA and the Mexican, Caribbean and European Zones in the World Series.