Razcals start buildup for World Series, nip Barakitos

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Little Razcals fashioned out a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Barakitos (Majors A 11-12 years old division) in the Lipa Baseball League at the Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa baseball field last Sunday.

The game served as the kickoff of the Razcals’ buildup for the World Series in Texas in August after they topped the Pony Baseball Asia Pacific Zone Mustang Division (9-10 years old) in Vietnam recently.

The Razcals are suiting up as a guest team in the older division of the two-month long tournament that also includes a tournament for the Junior (13-14 years) and Senior (15-16 years old) age group divisions. 

Lipa City Mayor Meynardo Sabili and Little League Philippines officer Atty. Jolly Gomez graced the opener of the event organized by the Lipa Barakitos Baseball.

According to Razcals’ team head, Rodolfo Tingzon Jr., the tournament will provide invaluable training for the Razcals since they are playing against players three years older than them. 

The World Series is slated Aug. 3-6 in Burleson, Texas.

Tingzon said since the number of regular season games of the Philippines’ opponents in the World Series would be around 30-40 matches, the Lipa league will provide the necessary exposure the Razcals would need for the event. 

A series of tournaments has also been lined up for the Razcals this summer.

Outmuscled by the Barakitos, the Razcals hung tough and leaned on their superb defensive play. The Barakitos led by three runs early on and threatened to break the game wide open on several occasions but the Razcals kept coming back to stay within striking distance. 

Then diminutive outfielder Lloyd Cinco hit a homerun to left field in the sixth and last inning for the Razcals’ game winning run.