Wimbo Satwiko

Ali Akbar of the Indonesian Senior League team kicking up some dirt as he slides into third base during his team’s game against the Philippines at the Gelora Bung Karno baseball fields in Jakarta on Wednesday. (Photo: Afriadi Hikmal, JG)

Indonesia’s Little Leaguers Struggle for First Win

Two days into the Little League Baseball Asia-Pacific tournament and Indonesia is still looking for its first victory.

Indonesia’s Big League side lost 10-0 to Guam at the Gelora Bung Karno baseball fields in Jakarta on Wednesday. Its Senior League side fell 13-1 to the Philippines, and the Junior League team lost 7-2 to the Philippines.

Indonesian Big League coach Gilberto Sajogo said he expected a harder game than the first one, an 18-8 loss to Guam.

“We just couldn’t adjust ourselves into the game. Our batting was very bad,” Gilberto said. “But, I’m confident we still have chance to go into the final.”

Guam sprinted ahead, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. A solo home run by Joseph Tomas capped a five-run sixth as the game was called due to the 10-run rule.

Indonesia’s seniors also struggled in avoiding the big inning. After being kept in check for one run in the first three innings, the Philippines broke loose for a nine-run fourth inning and grabbed control of the game.

Three more runs followed in the top of the fifth before Indonesia got on the board. Kogi Putratama’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth drove in Daniel Gerves for the host’s only run of the game.

Tsuyoshi Horibata and Adriane Ros Bernardo each struck out two batters and combined to allow four hits for the Philippines, which bounced back after losing 9-7 to the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

In the Junior League, CNMI came up with its first victory, routing Hong Kong 19-8. The game was briefly halted in the final inning due to questions over the official scorebook.

“It was a good game, despite the scoring mix-up that halted the game. The boys were very ready,” CNMI manager Thelma Mizer said. “I hope we can make it to the World Series as we have prepared for that.”

In the other juniors game, Indonesia suffered its second defeat, losing to the Philippines. Indonesia opened the tournament with an 18-8 loss to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

None of the day’s three Minor League scores were available at press time.

The host nation’s search for a first victory continues today as the Indonesian seniors and juniors face CNMI and the Big Leaguers take on the Philippines. Other games include CNMI vs. Guam in the Big League and Hong Kong vs. Guam in the juniors.

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