Bats, balls and batting gloves lay on the ground.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
CLARK FREEPORT—A five-year chase for a World Series spot finally ended in glorious fashion Sunday for this year’s batch of Senior League baseball players from International Little League Association of Manila.
Foiled in the Little League and Junior League divisions the past four years, the ILLAM batters made sure there was no disappointment this time by nipping Saipan, 7-6, in a thrilling finale of the Asia Pacific and Middle East Championship watched by a big Sunday crowd at Clark Parade Grounds.
The Philippine Series champions showed steely resolve in recovering from a two-run deficit before Ponz Balagtas’ grounder with the bases loaded at the bottom of the seventh cleared the way for pinch runner Rafael Esguerra to slide home for the winning run.
Closer Boo Barandiaran, who came in for Diego Lozano, also sparkled under pressure, holding Saipan to three scoreless innings to help ILLAM cap the comeback in the 15-16 division title duel.
“It was a rollercoaster ride for us and I’m so happy for the boys,” said ILLAM manager Arsenic Laurel, whose team will represent the region in the World Series in Bangor, Maine, on Aug. 11 to 19.
“They just never gave up.”
“It just feels great because it took us so long to achieve this,” said Barandiaran, who was part of the teams that couldn’t get past the As-Pac qualifying in the lower age divisions since 2009.
The victory gave the Philippines its fifth title in the weeklong event, counting the victories in all four divisions of softball. Iloilo Province topped Little League and Junior League softball, while Laguna and Manila ruled the Senior League and Big League, respectively.
Little League Philippines district administrator Jolly Gomez said the PH contingent matched expectations with five titles in nine categories.
“The thing I’m proud about is that all the (PH) teams were very competitive,” said Gomez, also a PSC commissioner. “It’s a testament to how Little League Philippines has grown since 2000.”
ILLAM actually got off to a solid start with four runs in the first inning thanks to hits from Tony Ozaeta, Barandiaran and Miguel Habana who scored on a catcher’s error.
Unbeaten heading into the finals, Saipan gamely fought back with three runs in the second frame highlighted by Jerald Cabrera’s two-run home run. An erratic third and fourth inning by ILLAM saw Saipan gain a 6-4 advantage, before the Filipinos fought back with Habana scoring Lozano and Balagtas’ double sending home Esguerra to make it 6-all.
Barandiaran and Ozaeta belted hits to start the bottom of the seventh inning, before Saipan pitcher Darnel Jones issued a walk to Habana, loading the bases and setting the stage for Balagtas and Esguerra’s heroics.
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei topped Big League and Junior League baseball while Japan ruled the inaugural 50/70 event where Muntinlupa finished third.
The weeklong event was sponsored by Clark Devopment Corp, Philippine Sports Commission and KFC.