Pinoy batters whip Indons in Asia Pacific event

Host Philippines threw its weight around debuting Indonesia for an easy 8-1 victory and a rousing start in the 2010 Asia Pacific Zone Pony Division Championships Sunday at the Sto. Nio Baseball Field in Marikina City.

Francis Gesmundo started out at the mound and quickly made his presence felt by allowing just one hit and a run in three innings before John Kimperly Lopez and Norbin Macayanan took over in the next four innings.

The two pitchers who switched spots at the mound held the Indonesians scoreless and carried the Filipinos to victory.

Indonesia fielded a girl pitcher in Ashilla Safiya and she started out well for her team with three hits and two runs in three innings.

The runs scored against her came from two costly errors in the second inning, giving Philippines a 2-0 lead.

"They played very well. Our pitching and hitting was good and they got the signals very well," said coach Teddy Landicho on his team made up of 10 players from Tanauan City, Batangas and two each from ILLAM and Marikina City.

But the real test for the Philippines comes against a tough Japan side Monday at 9 am. Indonesia takes on defending champion Chinese Taipei in the second game.

"I believe we have a good chance against Japan. The pitchers I used for this game will pitch against Japan and I just hope we will play with the same intensity and minimize our errors," added Landicho.

The champion of this tournament will represent the region to the World Pony Championship this August in Pennsylvania, Washington while the best Southeast Asian nation will represent SEA to the 2011 Pony 13 World Championship in Fullerton, California. - RCJ, GMANews.TV