Razcals claim AsPac Pony baseball crown

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Little Razcals advanced to the World Series as they battled back from a four-run deficit to score a come-from-behind 14-6 victory over Singapore and capture the first-ever Asia Pacific Zone Pony Mustang Baseball Championship in Vietnam yesterday.

Favored to win the four-team tournament after sweeping the three-game eliminations, the Phl 10-under clouters found themselves in a 1-5 hole halfway through the six-inning championship game after failing to hit their marks against the solid pitching of Singapore’s Charles Hogan.

But digging deep into their reservoir of skills and summoning their big fighting heart, the Filipinos turned the game around and made the big plays in the final three frames to complete the remarkable comeback and crown themselves champions.

The victory also made them as the AsPac’s representatives to the Pony Mustang World Series slated Aug. 3-6 in Burleson, Texas.

Using superb base running and effective bunting, the Little Razcals exploded with eight runs in the fourth inning to wrest the lead for good, 9-5, then turned to pitcher Atong Natanauan both on the mound and at bat to seal the win before a good-sized Filipino crowd led by Ambassador Jerril Santos.

Natanauan was later adjudged MVP for his exploits in the tourney held at the chilling Vinh Yen baseball field in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, also the site of the fateful Suzuki Cup football match in which the Phl Azkals upset of the heavily favored Vietnamese booters.

The Phl Little Razcals team of Kiel Agoho, Carl Castaneda, CJ Castillo, Nathan Carpio, Lloyd Cinco, Zian Eleria, Dax Fabella, Javi Limpo, Emman Manaig, Ian Mercado, Enzo Montemayor, Natanauan, Vincent Noprada, Marty Ranada, and Javier Sale won the AsPac meet without a single loss.

The wards of Eric Gesmundo and Christiam Cinco started their campaign with a 13-3 rout of Singapore, waylaid host Vietnam, 26-3, and outclassed Indonesia, 21-16, to sweep the elims and go into the finale spotless.

Philippine Tot Baseball president Rodolfo Tingzon Jr. lauded the Little Razcals for a job well done but instructed them to just take a short rest because they will be up for a much tougher competition against the best of all the regions in the World Series in August.

The triumphant Little Razcals are set to arrive in Manila tonight via Vietnam Airlines.