Powerful clouters outpitch, outhit Malaysians

A baseball minnow in Asia but a giant shark on the Southeast Asian level.

That in a nutshell was what the Philippines proved insofar as its status in baseball is concerned during the initial staging of the sport in the Southeast Asian Games at the Rizal Ballpark yesterday.

In a contest that looked like a duel between a professional team and a band of novices, the RP clouters massacred the Malaysian side, 38-0, in an abbreviated four-and-a-half-inning game for a rousing start in the five-team tourney.

"The team was in good condition and they were eager to play that’s why they couldn’t be stopped from hitting," said RP coach Edgar delos Reyes.

Actually, the RP team made a splendid showing on both sides of the field, belting out 24 hits against four Malaysian pitchers and Filipino hurlers Joseph Orillana and Roy Baclay pitched perfect game, combining for a no-hit, no-run job in the mound.

Andro Cuyugan and Erick Francisco both went 3-of-3 at bat with the former hammering a grand slam in the second inning to lead the amazing RP onslaught.

Cuyugan, Francisco and Virgilio Roxas each accounted for a homerun with Cuyugan and Francisco also submitting a two-base hit as did Ricky Jimenez, Alejandro Velasquez and Niño Pastor.

Roel Empacis, Chris Canlas and Jonas Ponce had their share on offense with a three-base hit each.

So overpowered were the Malaysians that they reached first base just once on a fielding error by Cuyugan–the only flaw in the RP IX’s impressive performance. Orillano struck out seven batters while Baclay fanned out one.

The Philippines, the heavy favorite to win the title, goes for a second straight win versus Indonesia at 10:30 a.m. today.

"Hopefully, our team also performs well in our remaining games to entertain the crowd," said baseball president Hector Navasero.