Baseball: PHL national squad takes 3-2 win over PHL youth team

A solo home run by Jonash Ponce in the 10th inning lifted the Philippine national baseball team to a pulsating 3-2 win over the Philippine youth team Monday, in the opening of the PSC-POC National Games baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.   Ponce’s game-winning blast came with two outs to complete a comeback from two runs down after the top of the fifth inning.   The PHL batters’ form was noticeably off in their first game in nearly six months since winning the gold medal in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games last November. They are currently preparing for three international competitions this year, including the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in November.   “Kung i-bebase mo ‘yung team performance at program, the players are only 65 percent sa peak. Katatapos palang namin sa strength and conditioning program pero hopefully makabawi kami kasi this is our first regular game after the SEA Games,” said national team coach Egay Delos Reyes.   The national team was caught by surprise by the youth squad after the latter took a 2-0 lead, but Saxon Omandac and Jennald Pareja made key hits to tie the game.   Omandac drilled a single to left field to score Chris Canlas after Canlas reached second base on an error. Rommel Roja reached first base on a fielders’ choice when Omandac was forced out at third, and then he scored on a single by Pareja.   The Philippine team had a golden opportunity in the ninth when PH Youth’s Tsuyoshi Horibata walked three straight batters to load the bases with no outs. But Omandac missed a sign and instead of a fake bunt and swing, bunted for a squeeze which didn’t paid off as third base runner Marvin Malig was easily forced out at the plate. Alpha Turaray, who replaced Horibata on the mound, struck out and flied out Roja and Fongs Rances to end the game.   Turaray, however, could not complete the final out in the 10th as Ponce swung to the fences for a home run that landed on the left field seats. - AMD, GMA News