Iloilo gals bow to US S’west

MANILA, Philippines - Asia-Pacific champ Iloilo bowed to USA Southwest, 2-4, to finish pool play of the Little League Softball World Series with a 0-4 record Monday in Portland, Oregon (yesterday in Manila).

The Iloilo belles actually drew first blood but Southwest bet Bossier LL from Louisiana turned the tables around with a run in each of the bottom first and second and two runs in the fourth.

Southwest finished with 3-1 in Pool B to join unbeaten USA East (4-0) in the crossover semis. Iloilo, which forfeited its first two games due to late arrival in Portland, wound up last in Pool B and will play Europe-Africa’s Prague LL, the fifth placers over in Pool A, in a consolation battle for ninth spot.

Jaimalyn Joy Ambong gave Iloilo a short-lived lead when she pounced on an error to reach home in the top of the first.

Southwest equalized via Caroline Easom’s RBI double in the bottom first then took the driver’s seat in the third with Hannah Borah stealing home and seized a 4-1 cushion with a two-run binge in the fourth off a fielder’s choice and error.

Ambong blasted a run-scoring single in the fifth to cut the deficit but couldn’t complete the fightback.

Meanwhile, Iloilo’s bet in Junior League Softball World Series over in Kirkland, Washington, also suffered a setback, bowing to Host Washington District 9, 4-7, to slip to 0-2 in Pool A.