RP Little League Series: Bacolod, Rizal clouters seize lead

MANILA, Philippines – Bacolod City-West and Rizal Province stormed to the early leadership in the senior league (14-16) and big league (16-18) softball division, respectively, in the first day of the 2009 Little League Philippine Series in Manila. Bacolod City-West whitewashed Pasig, 15-0, then trampled the International Little League of Manila (ILLAM), 14-1, in senior league action to take a leading 2-0 mark at the Rizal Memorial field. The clouters from Bacolod City-West are out to retain their crown and return as Asia-Pacific representatives in the Senior League Softball World Series in Lower Sussex, Delaware. For its part, Rizal Province beat Bacolod City, 10-0, and Caloocan, 14-1, to pace the big league softball tournament with a 2-0 slate. Rizal aims to dethrone Manila, which was upset by Laguna, 3-0, in their first outing. Meanwhile, Valenzuela edged Makati 11-10, in a senior league softball game that was only settled when Valenzuela’s Brendalyn Listano crossed home plate on a passed ball in the ninth. In big league baseball, ILLAM opened its title-retention bid with a smashing 14-8 win over Makati at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. ILLAM’s senior league baseball counterparts also had an auspicious debut, beating Muntinlupa, 9-4, at the University of Santo Tomas field. In major league (11-12) baseball at Smokey Mountain field, last year’s runner-up Muntinlupa downed Mt. Province, 6-0; Nueva Ecija beat Batangas City, 12-1; Cavite drubbed Makati, 25-0; and Marikina won over Pook Agoncillo, 9-4. In junior league (13-14) baseball at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines field, Muntinlupa outclassed Tanauan, 16-6; Bacolod City-East beat Batangas City, 14-1; Marikina won over Antipolo, 7-5; and Agoncillo beat Batangas via default. –GMANews.TV