RP Open softball: RTU, Air Force collar fourth straight wins

MANILA, Philippines - Rizal Technological University of Mandaluyong City and defending champion Air Force-Pasay picked up their fourth straight victory to lead their respective groups in the Cebuana Lhuiller National Open softball championships at the Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig City. The RTU Blue Thunders barely flexed their muscles in an abbreviated, three-inning thumping of Floridablanca of Pampanga, 12-1, to remain at the top of the standing in men's Group A. The Airmen, though, had an easier time, walking over another Pampanga squad representing Guagua town, which for an unexplained reason did not show up in the scheduled date. Guagua had earlier handed Taguig City its first win via another default. A murderous six-run binge on the strength of four of their total 10 connections was all coach Noel Bumagat’s boys needed in disposing off the minor challenge of the Floridablanca Warriors, who were only in the game in the first inning when they fought to a 1-1 tie. El Caviteño remained the only unbeaten team in Group B of the men’s division after it routed the Richard Gomez-reinforced Cebu Dolphins, 5-l. Joel Binarao of El Caviteño came up with the series’ first homerun, a two-run four-bagger in the fifth inning that also sent elder brother Orlando Binarao across the plate. Orlando had earlier boarded on base-on-balls. Over at the Sto. Niño field in Marikina City, Ateneo-Air Force ended Adamson-Cavite’s winning run with 4-0 blanking for its third win in as many starts to lead Group A of the women’s play. The Lady Eagles-WACS selection of coach Ulysses Mejia disarmed the ambitious Caviteñas right in the first frame on consecutive hits by Blu Girl Gina Salvador, Isabel Cang and another national team mainstay, Nimpa Baral. They all reached home on a three-base-hit by another Blu Girl, Belen Asok. Also at the Sto. Niño field, University of the Philippines II finally barged into the win column after two unsuccessful tries with a 19-0 mangling of St. Louis University of Baguio in another women's Group A action. RTU-II, likewise, collected its first triumph in Group B of the women’s play via a 6-0 beating of the Cordillera University. – GMANews.TV