PHL softball teams move closer to Little League World Series berths

All four Philippine teams competing in the 2011 Asia-Pacific Softball Regional Tournament moved closer of clinching a spot in the Little League World Series after beating their respective opponents. The Philippines remained flawless against Guam Tuesday in the resumption of the regional qualifier at the University of Saint La Salle field in Bacolod City. The Bacolod City-based junior league team (13 to 14) scored a 12-0 shutout win over Guam, while the Manila big league squad (17 to 18) peppered Guam, 22-0. The Muntinlupa Little Leaguers beat Guam, 8-0, in the major league division (11 to 12). Bacolod opened with a 10-0 lead after the second inning, while Manila made eight runs in the first and added 10 more in the second in the lopsided match. Muntinlupa, meanwhile, scored a run each in all innings except in the second for the victory. With the win by the three teams, the Philippines moved one win away from representing the Asia-Pacific region in the Little League World Series as the regional tournament is a best-of-five affair. The International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM), meanwhile, debuted with a 5-1 win over Guam in the senior league tournament (15 to 16) to take solo spot in the double round-robin tournament. ILLAM is undefeated after two games followed by Guam (1-1) and China (0-1). – Reuben Terrado/JVP, GMA News