ILLAM squads repulse opponents

Showing steely resolve, ILLAM’s Little League Baseball and Big League Baseball teams pulled off pulsating come-from-behind wins   yesterday in the Little League Philippines Series 2013 in Tanauan City.

Looking to retain the title in the 11 to 12 age bracket, ILLAM bucked a poor start to repulse Marikina, 6-3, in the LLB-NCR preliminaries.

Not to be outdone, ILLAM’s Big Leaguers refused to wilt despite a four-run deficit in the last two innings and posted a 12-11 triumph over Lipa Barakitos in Barangay Sala.

Ralpho Balagtas proved to be the hero for the ILLAM Big Leaguers with a decisive double that put them on top to stay.

ILLAM jacked up its record to 3-0 in the Little League division which it opened with back-to-back routs over lightweight foes.

Unfazed by ILLAM’s reputation, the Marikina batters raced to a 2-0 lead and kept them scoreless until the fourth inning when they gave up four hits.

“It was tough out there and we really had to grind it out,” said ILLAM LLB team manager Tony Montemayor, whose squad moved within a win off leader Muntinlupa (4-0).

North Samar beat Naga, 6-0, to also clinch a fourth straight win. Cedelf P. Tupas