Blu Boys halt Mexican nine

SASKATOON, Canada – The Philippines picked up its second straight win in the XII World Men’s Softball Championships, beating Mexico, 7-4, for a share of the Pool A lead here Saturday.

Rookie Leo Barredo held his own against the Mexican batters, twirling a solid four-hit, four-inning start. The Blu Boys also peppered Mexico’s three hurlers with a barrage of hits, including four of their total 12 right in the first inning, where the RP bets produced five runs.

Third baseman Apol Rosales, rightfielder Orlando Binarao, shortstop Jasper Cabrera and centerfielder Manolito Binarao sparked the run by scoring right at the top of the opening frame against starter and losing pitcher Lorenzo Melendez.

Barredo baffled the Mexicans, ranked 12th in the world by the International Softball Federation, with a variety of pitches, frustrating the first nine Mexicans he had faced to reach the bases.

He took a rest at the start of the fourth but came back in the next inning after Marlon Pagkaliwagan, another rookie, yielded a number of hits to the Mexicans, who scored four runs to close in at 4-6.

“We need to give exposure to our rookie pitchers to prepare them for tougher games ahead,” said coach Zacky Bacarisas, after steering the Blu Boys to what could be their strongest start since finishing fourth here in 1968 and fifth in 1972.

Catcher Isidro Abello went 3-for-3 at the plate, followed by first baseman Darius Bacarisas, 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in and designated hitter Oscar Bradshaw, who also had a 2-for-4 clip.

That 2-0 start, including their 4-3 win over Great Britain Friday, allowed the Blu Boys to tie defending champion New Zealand and fourth-seeded Japan at the top of the standing in the eight-team Pool A.

The five-peat seeking Kiwis demolished the Englishmen, 14-0, in a regulation five-inning contest, while the Japanese, fifth in this tournament four years ago, routed Botswana, 9-4.

Amateur Softball Association-Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier, whose group of companies – Cebuana Lhuillier, Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay and Phiten –backed the Philippines’ campaign here, hopes the back-to-back victories will further boost the Blu Boys’ confidence.

But they will also need a lot of luck when the Philippines takes on New Zealand, world champions from 1996 up to the present time, Sunday.

The Blu Boys, however, can afford to lose to the Kiwis and still make it to the Final 8 provided they win two of their remaining five assignments.

“We can match up with Botswana and Denmark because we’ve seen them play. We can even surprise the US,” said ASA-Phil operations manager Jun Veloso and delegation head Kiko Diaz.

The United States blanked Denmark, 7-0, in the other Pool A match after absorbing a stinging 0-15 loss to New Zealand Friday.

Canada shares the Pool B lead with Australia following its 9-2, five-inning drubbing of The Czech Republic. The Aussies matched the hosts’ 2-0 start with a 10-2 rout of Puerto Rico.

Other results Saturday saw Venezuela blank Argentina, 11-0, also in five; and South Africa beat Indonesia, 7-0.