Dolphins subdue Bulls, gain semis

Series II champion Cebu struck back at Batangas, scoring an abbreviated 11-1 victory yesterday to clinch the first of two outright semifinal berths in Baseball Philippines’ Series IV at the Rizal Baseball Stadium.

Jeff Ardio yielded five hits and one run while outfielders Jonash Ponce and Carlo Conge batted in two runs apiece for the Dolphins, who chalked up their seventh win in nine games for an outright berth in the semis.

The Bulls, the Series III champions who foiled the Dolphins’ march to the semis with a 4-3 victory last Saturday, slid to 3-5 for fourth.

Dumaguete, the Series III losing finalist, relied on superb fielding as it edged Manila, 2-0, to snap out of a four-game skid and remain in the semis race with its third win in six outings.

The Unibikers used a solid defense as they stranded seven Manila batters to eke out the shutout win.

Manila, which hammered out a 9-4 triumph over Dumaguete Saturday, fell to its seventh setback against three wins.

Darwin dela Calzada and Eduard Flores took turns at the mound and gave up seven hits which the Sharks failed to cash in while centerfielder Saxon Omandac scored in the bottom fifth to break a scoreless tie.

Dela Calzada, pinch-hitting for Andro Cuyugan, then sent Davao City native catcher Edmer del Soccoro safely home with a single to right centerfield in the eighth.

Mizuno, Gatorade, Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Welcoat Paints, Industrial Enterprises, Inc., Harbour Centre, The Heritage Park and Agility Logistics are the tournament’s chief backers with Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PABA, Sports Radio and Makisig Sports as partners.