ILLAM faces Puerto Rico in World Series semis

MANILA, Philippines -The International Little League Association of Manila took a 13-1 loss against the team from Elyria, Ohio yesterday but will have the chance to redeem itself in today’s semifinals of the 2009 Junior Softball World Series at the Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington.

The ILLAM Juniors went into the game against Elyria undefeated after three games. But they just couldn’t handle the situation, trailed early on, and never got the chance to turn the game around. The Filipinos closed out their elimination round schedule with 3-1 record.

The ILLAM Juniors, representing Asia-Pacific and the first RP team to make it to the Junior League semis in the last three years, are in the semis against Maunabo, Puerto Rico, which is representing Latin America. Maunabo will carry a 3-1 slate following a 10-0 victory over Canada.

Elyria, of US Central, is the only unbeaten team so far at 4-0, and will take on Tampa, Florida (3-1) of the US Southeast in the semis. The final will be played Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

If they advance to the finals, the ILLAM Juniors will have a chance to duplicate the feat of the Bacolod Little League squad, which won the championship in 2003.

In the Senior Baseball World Series at the Shawn Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, Maine, the ILLAM squad took a day off after closing out its elims schedule with a scary 5-4 win over Canada for a 3-1 record. Up next for the team from Makati City is Texas East, also 3-1.

In the other semis pairing, undefeated North Carolina (4-0) takes on Aruba (3-1). Aruba is coming off a 14-1 victory over New Jersey while Texas East geared up for its semis showdown with ILLAM with a close 9-8 win over Wisconsin. – Abac Cordero