Munti takes thriller vs Tanauan

Muntinlupa City overcame a seven-run deficit to turn back Tanauan City for a thrilling 12-11 victory to seize an early lead in Group A in the second round of Little League baseball play in the 2008 Little League Philippine Series at the Alabang Country Club grounds yesterday.

Justin Mihalik hit a fastball over the left field fence for the clincher as the hosts, who swept Group D in five games, notched their first win in the 10-team, two-group second round in this meet which offers a berth to the Asia-Pacific World Series Regional Qualifier slated July 18-25 in Hong Kong.

For a while, Tanauan, which advanced after a five-match sweep of Group A, appeared headed for the victory after uncorking a seven-run barrage at the bottom of the first inning. But Muntinlupa countered with a nine-run binge in the next inning to wrest a 9-7 lead.

The Muntinlupa clouters padded this to 11-7 following a two-run spree in fourth inning before the Tanauan batters came through with a four-run flurry in the bottom fourth to tie the count at 11.

International Little League Association of Manila likewise inched closer to the crossover semifinals after it trounced Talisay City, 11-8, to pace Group B that includes Lipa City, Pook Agoncillo and Bulacan.

Muntinlupa now heads Group A with a win ahead of fellow qualifiers Ilocos Norte, Marikina City and Palayan of Nueva Ecija in this tournament backed by Novuland Phil., Inc., Integrated Waste Management, Inc., China State Construction, The Philippine STAR, Pepsi, Gatorade, Max’s Restaurant, Krispy Kreme, Enchanted Kingdom and Muntinlupa City.

Brgy. Ayala-Alabang, Oleo Fats, Inc., Mizuno Sports, Milo, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Lifeline Rescue Arrows and KPI Elevators are backing the annual meet with Little League Philippines, Alabang Country Club Inc., Junior Baseball and Softball Foundation of the Philippines, Alabang Baseball Softball Club Sports and www.muntinulpalittleleague.org as partners.

In big league softball, Bacolod East leaned on a two-hitter by Rosie Parcia and a run by Ronalyn Demi off an error atop the sixth inning as it shocked defending champion ILLAM, 2-1, to grab the lead with a 3-1 (win-loss) slate.

Parcia yielded only a run on two hits while striking out six batters in six completed innings in a superb pitching stint.

Third baseman Alex Zuluaga scored ILLAM’s only run, a solo homer she rocketed passed the centerfield fence in the bottom of the first inning. But the reigning titlists had no answer to Parcia’s superb pitching as they fell to their second straight loss after posting two straight wins, including a 4-0 first round rout over Bacolod East.

In other results, ILLAM dominated Talisay, 9-1, in big league baseball; Bacolod West blanked Palayan, 12-0, in senior league softball; Tanauan slammed Batangas, 7-0, and Camarines Norte overpowered Cavite, 13-3, in senior league baseball and Bacolod zapped Cavite, 17-0, in junior league softball.