Japan claims Pony title; ILLAM third

Japan avoided what could have been another endgame collapse as it repulsed Chinese Taipei in a pulsating 6-5 victory yesterday to capture the 2006 Asia-Pacific Zone Pony Division Championship before a decent weekend crowd at the Sto. Niño grounds in Marikina City.

Masaya Tai allowed four runs and six hits in six complete innings before Shota Suzuki closed it out by allowing just a run that saved the day for the Japanese, who will go on to represent the region in the Pony Baseball World Series in Washington, Pennsylvania, USA late this year.

Starting pitcher Tsai Tsun Han had a first inning jam as the Japanese hit him with four runs that could have hastened the Taiwanese’s downfall in this event bankrolled by the PSCO, Yellow Cab and Lotte Food Corp. and organized by Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation chief Rodolfo "Boy" Tingzon Jr. and Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando.

Tsai Chih Yu proved a lot steadier at the mound, as he fanned five batters and allowed just a run but the damage was already done, costing the dethroned champions another trip to the World Series.

The win also avenged Japan’s heartbreaking 5-6 loss to Chinese Taipei in the elimination round in a match the former should have won.

In that game, the Japanese went up 5-1 going into the final three innings but the Taiwanese belted five runs all in the fifth inning and hung tough in the final two innings to snatch the win.

This time the Japanese were more prepared.

"Thanks to the beautiful weather, the people who came here and the beautiful games we witnessed, the tournament was really a success," said Tingzon, who was worried early in the day after dark clouds and rains threatened to halt play.

Earlier, the Philippines, represented by batters from the International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM), consoled itself with a third place finish by smothering Russia, which fielded a team from its southern city of Nahodka, 13-1.

It was a repeat of the Filipinos’ 14-3 triumph over the Russians in Wednesday’s opener.

"We really wanted this third place and the boys showed that," said RP assistant coach Rajah Singh.