By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Both the 1st Lourdes Soccorro Escalante Open Summer League and the Negros First 2nd Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. Area 2 Inter-Hacienda Summer League opened last weekend at the Hacienda Lourdes Ballpark in Manapla, where Talisay City opened their Escalante Open campaign with two wins.

Talisay City beat Cadiz City, 9-1; and narrowly defeated Silay City, 12-11.

Meanwhile, the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) Barkadas Team had split results during the opening weekend, losing to Silay City, 10-3; but beating Cadiz City, 13-4.

In the Negros First tournament, Hacienda Rosalia Gaston beat Hacienda Alma, 14-4; Barangay Punta Salong beat Hacienda JTF Fuentes, 15-5; Hacienda Burgos beat Hacienda Lourdes, 8-1; and the Cadiz Sluggers beat Hacienda Dos Hermanos, 10-1.

Former Manapla Mayor Manolet Escalante said he hopes to expand the sport in the municipality.

“Manapla, together with the provincial government, will further develop this venue into a standard diamond that is capable to host national and maybe international events,” he stated. “We want to showcase what Manapla can do.”/JSG, WDJ