Guatemalans pin 2nd loss on Blu Boys

STRUGGLING to keep up with the level of competition, the Philippine Blu Boys suffered their second straight loss in the Men’s World Softball Championship, bowing to Guatemala, 0-4, Sunday in Saskatoon, Canada.

Despite an automatic victory after Indonesia withdrew from the tournament, the loss still left the Blu Boys in danger of missing the playoffs of the prestigious 16-team tournament.

“The boys need to double their efforts in their remaining games if we want to advance to the playoff round,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, the president of Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.

The Blu Boys hung tough in the first two innings, before the Guatemalans exploded for three runs in the third to seize control.

Counting their 5-12 loss to the Czech Republic last Friday, the Blu Boys dropped to 1-2. They still have to play New Zealand, Britain, Argentina and Canada.

Other matches: Czech Republic d. Britain, 4-2; Canada d. New Zealand 2-1;  Denmark d. Netherlands, 2-0; Dominican Republic d. Mexico, 4-3; Japan d. US, 5-4; Australia d. Venezuela, 3-1. Cedelf P. Tupas