Thailand Wins SEA Games Gold

Thailand scored four runs over the first three innings and then held on to defeat the Philippines 5-4 to win the gold medal at the 24th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games at the Queen Sirikit Sports Center baseball field in Thailand.

The Philippines, who trounced the Thais 11-0 two years ago in Manila to win the gold, was stymied this time by Thailand starter Krissada Heebthong who went the distance while allowing nine hits.

Thai hitters registered 11 hits against three Filipino pitchers including Jon Jon Robles, Charlie Labrador, and Darwin de la Calzada to register their second key win against the Philippines. Thailand beat their SE Asian neighbors 8-1 last year as the Asian Games in Doha.

In a sloppy contest that featured a combined 11 defensive miscues by both squads, the Philippines scored four runs in the final four innings to make things interesting. But Heebthong, who was also on the mound in the Asian Games in 2006, stopped the Filipinos late-inning heroics to claim the gold medal for the host Thais.