MANILA, Philippines - The road to the Little League baseball and softball World Series begins in Dumaguete for close to 60 teams from all over the country as they battle it out in the Philippine Series on April 4-12.
With 27 charters expected to take part, the youngsters will vie for national honors in Little League (12-under), Junior League (14-U), and Senior League (16-U) divisions in both baseball and softball plays.
Up for grabs are slots to the Asia-Pacific Series – the final qualifiers for the world tilts.
“All the winners in softball will represent the country in the Asia-Pacific Regional Championship in Singapore,” Little League Philippines district administrator Jolly Gomez said in yesterday’s PSA Forum also graced by Tintin Remollo, who represented his husband, Dumaguete Mayor Ping Remollo, and LL Philippines deputy district admin Chito Gonzalez.
“For baseball, the 12-U will go to the regionals in Korea and the 14-U and 16-U will compete in the regionals in Saipan.”
Fancied bets from ILLAM, Muntinlupa, Iloilo Province, and Tanauan will banner the field that includes squads from as far as Sarangani and South Cotabato and host Negros Oriental.
This will be the first time for Dumaguete to host the Philippine Series. Remollo said they have tapped venues in Barangay Daro, Lamberto Macias Sports Complex and Silliman University.
“Preparations are ongoing. We just hosted the Negros Island Regional meet recently so we already have the facilities (for the games and the participants),” Remollo said.
Remollo, whose sons played baseball from Little League all the way to Big League, stressed that Dumaguete is a sports-loving city with baseball and softball even part of curriculum.
Meanwhile, Gomez said the Philippine championship for the Intermediate division (13-U), will be held in the Palarong Pambansa April 23-29 in Antique.