By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Blue Boys bowed to the Czech Republic, 4-2, to miss their chance of earning a World Cup berth in the 18th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group A stage in Hermosillo, Mexico over the weekend.
Still reeling from a close 3-2 loss to Venezuela earlier in the day, the Blu Boys couldn’t hold their charge as the Czechs banked on homers from Mikulas Klas and Tomas Klein, as well as Michael Holobradek, who pitched a complete game.
The Blu Boys finished pool play at the bottom standings with a 1-4 record while the Czechs settled for fifth with a 2-3 mark.
Had the Filipinos won one of the two matches for the day or both, they would have advanced to the next round where they could have sneaked into the repechage phase, where they winner will clinch the second and last slot to next year’s World Cup set in Canada.
Instead, Australia and Mexico, who finished with identical 2-3 records, edged Czechia via tiebreak and claimed those two spots behind Venezuela (5-0) and Dominican Republic (4-1).
Francis Generoso drove in the first run for the Blu Boys in the top of the fourth inning, but the Czechs answered back to gain a 2-1 lead.
A costly mistake by right fielder Francis Generoso, who dropped a two-out fly ball, allowed Czech Republic to score a run for a 3-1 edge at the bottom of the fourth, then followed it up with a solo shot over the center field fence from Klas for a commanding 4-1 edge at the bottom of the fifth.
Justine Rosales hit a triple to right field, and one out later scored on a grounder to shortstop Mark Sarmiento to cut Czech Republic’s lead to 4-2, but it turned out to be the Blu Boys’ last stand.
Despite the defeat, Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President Jean Henril Lhuillier lauded the team’s efforts that highlighted a stunning victory over fancied hosts Mexico the other day.
“While today’s result isn’t what we hoped for, it will serve as fuel for our next attempt at the World Cup,” said Lhuillier.
