Clark-Manila belles retain softball plum

MANILA, Philippines - Clark Freeport Zone-Manila blanked archrival Pasig, 10-0, to retain the big league softball title via sweep even as Alabang and Tarlac reached the crossover semis of the 2012 Little League Philippine Series in Clark, Pampanga yesterday.

The unbeaten Manilans, powered by players from Adamson, UE and UST, peppered the Pasig hurlers with crisp hits to fashion out the one-sided victory, their third straight, and clinch a berth in the regional Asia Pacific tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I was confident we can do it again because we prepared hard for this tournament,” said Clark Freeport Zone-Manila coach Ana Santiago.

“Now our focus next is the Asia Pacific. We have to work hard on our preparation because we are facing stronger rivals in the region,” said Santiago.

Team manager Councilor Che Borromeo also expressed her elation over the team’s victory.

“Before we motored to Clark I was confident we can do it again because the players are all in high spirit and the morale is high,” said Borromeo.

Alabang clobbered ILLAM, 13-3, capped by Carlos Muñoz’s three-run homerun in the big league baseball while Tarlac shocked highly favored Bacolod, 2-1, in little league softball.