ILLAM, Manila crush Li'l League rivals

MANILA, Philippines - Fancied ILLAM and Manila toppled their respective rivals even as Zambales posted its second straight win in the 2012 Little League Philippine Series inside Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga yesterday.

The reigning junior league champion ILLAM All Stars blanked Quezon City, 16-0, in the 11-12 division while the defending big league softball titlist Manila crushed Cavite, 13-3.

“This is a big boost to our title retention campaign,” said ILLAM coach Edwin Mercado.

Tarlac, however, frustrated ILLAM senior league softball team, 12-4, while Bacolod blanked ILLAM junior softball, 7-0.

In other results, Pampanga West and Bulacan beat their respective opponents with the former thumping Ilocos Norte, 6-2, in little league and the latter routing Aurora, 14-1, in major little league baseball.

Tanauan defeated fellow Batangas team Lipa City, 20-13, in 15-16 senior baseball while newcomer Cagayan nipped Lipa City junior league team, 8-7.

Hurler Lester Sollos struck out the last two Lipa batters to preserve the win for Cagayan.

Bicol-based Metro Naga humbled Iloilo, 15-6, in major baseball.

A total of 98 teams from 37 charters are competing in the tournament which features four divisions in baseball and four categories in softball.

The winners in Little League baseball will vie in Chinese Taipei, junior Vietnam, senior and big league Guam while the top finishers in four divisions in softball will compete in Jakarta, Indonesia.