ILLAM scores breakthru win in Little League World Series

MANILA, Philippines - Asia-Pacific champion ILLAM broke into the win column after demolishing Canada in four innings, 13-2, Saturday in the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon (early yesterday in Manila).

The ILLAM softbelles exploded with eight runs in the third inning to clear the way for their first victory after a 0-2 start in Pool B. Canada, which is represented by Layritz LL from Victoria, British Columbia, suffered its third straight setback.

Alexandria Romero-Salas pitched a two-hitter and fanned out six batters to anchor defense and complemented it with a two-RBI, one-run effort in a 1-for-4 stint at bat.

Alia Tuprio, Olivia Banzon and Martine Francisco also plated two apiece in the Aspac titlist’s breakthrough win.

Canada actually drew first blood on Ella Skiings’ run in the top of the first before the Filipinas wrested control and put the game beyond reach.

ILLAM pounced on back-to-back wild pitch by Canada starter Alisson Bobroske to seize a 2-1 margin in the bottom first then turned the heat up against the erratic Canadians in the third.

Romero-Salas’ single to centerfield that scored Marina Nacion and Ricio Macasaet then Regina Mediola and Romero-Salas dashed home off a passed ball to make it a 6-1 contest. Three more miscues by the Canadians enabled the Pinays to send Julia Carsi Cruz, Azusa Murano and Tuprio to the plate then Laticia Puno walked home as ILLAM grabbed an insurmountable 10-1 lead.

The ILLAM softbelles face Southeast champ Rowan LL from Salisbury, North Carolina as they cap their pool assignments Sunday (today in Manila).