Philippine Big Leaguers whitewash Guamanians

MANILA—The Philippines launched its campaign in the 2011 Asia Pacific Big League (16-18) Baseball Championship in style yesterday, blanking Guam, 7-0, at the Rizal Memorial field.

In what its coach described as a “perfect game,” Charles Catangui and Mark Ong delivered three runs each, while the pitching quartet of Kevin Ramos, Vincent Ching, MJ Gante and Tsuyoshi Horibata gave up just two hits to frustrate the Guamanians at the start of the three-team tournament.

The Philippines, represented by the International Little League Association of Manila, peppered Guam with seven hits.

“We played a perfect game,” said Illam coach Edgar delos Reyes, whose squad boasts of World Series veterans.

“Our hitters led by Charles and Mark were on target, and we also displayed solid pitching. Our defense also was solid as we didn’t commit a single error.”

But Guam exacted some measure of revenge by nipping the Philippine team in the Senior League (14-16) division, 4-3.

Represented by a squad from Tanauan City, Batangas, the Filipinos failed to finish the job after taking a 2-1 lead in the second inning, yielding three runs in the fourth and fifth frames.

Illam picked up three runs in the third inning after Catangui blasted a single to deep left field to score Horibata and Ong.

Another single from Catangui in the fifth inning scored Ong, who later smashed a three-run double  in the next inning.

Three teams are seeing action in the Big League division with CNMI Saipan completing the roster. Indonesia is the third team in the Senior League tournament, which will determine the Asia-Pacific representative to the World Series in Bangor, Maine, from Aug. 14 to 20.

The Big League champion will advance to the World Series in Eastley, South Carolina from July 27 to Aug. 3.