BANGOR – Kyle Richardson admitted it took him a couple of innings to find his pitching groove Wednesday.

And that was understandable, given that it marked just the second appearance on the mound for the Canadian righthander through a succession of postseason tournaments that advanced the Regina (Saskatchewan) National Little League to the Senior League World Series.

But once he found the strike zone, Richardson proved too much for the Illam Central Little League of Makati City, Philippines, scattering six hits as the Canadian champions defeated the Asia Pacific representatives 5-2 in Pool A play at Mansfield Stadium.

Richardson wasn’t overpowering, striking out two while walking one and hitting two batters.

But he allowed no walks or hit batsmen after the first batter he faced in the top of the third, and Richardson was aided by a defense that committed just one error and turned two double plays.

“I started off a little wild, but as the game went on it got better and the defense made all the plays behind me,” he said. “They definitely deserve all the credit.”

Shortstop Brett Barth paced the Canadians’ eight-hit attack with an RBI triple in the second inning and a two-run single that snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third.

“On the first hit, I just stuck the bat out and it carried pretty well,” said Barth. “On the second one I knew I had to get my bat on the ball to drive home some runs, so I stuck my bat out again and got a piece of it.”

The win lifts Canada to 1-2 heading into its Pool A finale at 10 a.m. today against U.S. South champ Yorktown, Va.

Makati City, the first team to arrive in Bangor before the start of the SLWS last week, was the first to conclude pool play. The Philippines contingent finished with a 1-3 record.

“This was our fourth game in four days, and we were a little tired today,” said Makati City coach Luis Carlos “Arsenic” Laurel, whose team committed five errors. “And you have to give Canada credit, they didn’t give up.”

Makati City had three starters sit out the start of the game due to nagging injuries, but all three – Gian Jimenez, Joe Boy De Mesa and Paolo Maliari – eventually played for the Asia Pacific champs.

Makati City took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Jerwyn Fernandez was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored from there on Matt Reyes’ infield single to shortstop.

The Canadian champs countered with a two-run rally in the bottom of the inning.

Thomas Ringlein drew a leadoff walk and scored when Barth tripled to the left-center field gap past diving Makati City center fielder Paolo Jalaneoni. Barth then scored when Mark Marinos reached on an infield error.

Makati City manufactured a run to tie the game in the top of the third. Jalaneoni walked, stole second and reached third on a groundout by Maliari before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Matt Laurel.

Walks to Richardson and Cameron by Makati City starter Angel Esguerra set up Canada’s third-inning response, with Barth grounding a one-out single up the middle to drive home both pinch-runner Ian Patterson and Cameron.

Canada added an insurance run off Maliari in the sixth. Tom Frasz hit a leadoff double to right, moved to third on a Richardson groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

“We didn’t play a great game, but it was good enough to get the job done,” said Canada manager Barry Richardson, whose team had three runners thrown out on the basepaths. “We did a good job batting and with our pitching and defense, we just made some mental mistakes but we got through them. We’re still waiting for our good game to come, and hopefully it will come [Thursday].”

CANADA 5, ASIA PACIFIC 2

Makati City, Philippines (1-3) Regina, Saskatchewan (1-2)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Conception, 2b 4 0 1 0 Strueby, rf 4 0

Jalaneoni, cf 2 1 0 0 Shulko, 1b 4 0

Gabay, 3b 1 0 0 0 Frasz, 3b 3 1 0

Laurel, ss-3b 1 0 0 1 Richardson, p 1 0

Esguerra, p-3b 2 0 0 0 Patterson, pr 0 0

Brias, 3b 1 0 0 0 Cameron, rf 1 1 0

Bernardo, c 3 0 0 0 Ringlein, cf 2 1 0

Fernandez, rf 2 0 1 0 Barth, ss 3 2

Maliari, rf-p 2 1 1 0 Marinos, 2b 3 1

Horibata, 1b 2 0 0 0 Hebert, c 3 0 0

De Mesa, 1b 1 0 1 0

Reyes, lf 1 0 1 1

Jimenez, lf 2 0 1 0

Totals 24 2 6 2 Totals 24 5 8 3

Philippines 011 000 0-2

Canada 022 010 x-5

E-Gabay 2, Esguerra, Fernandez, Jimenez; Frasz; LOB-Philippines 5, Canada 6; 2B-Fernandez; Frasz; 3B-Barth; DP-Philippines 2, Canada 1; SF-Laurel; SB-Jalaneoni, Mallari; Ringlein, Marinos

Philippines IP H R ER BB SO

Esguerra (L, 0-1) 4 1/3 6 5 5 5 2

Maliari 1 2/3 2 0 0 0 2

Canada IP H R ER BB SO

Richardson (W, 1-0) 7 6 2 2 1 2

HBP-Laurel (by Richardson); Fernandez (by Richardson); WP-Esguerra; T-1:47; ATT-350