Team Manila battles Michigan in Big League World Series opener
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Aug 2010
The first acid test in Team Manila?s quest for the Big League girls softball World Series for the 16-18 age division comes right in the opening day Thursday (Friday in Manila) when the Golden Girls battle host State Michigan at the huge Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Golden Girls, who carry the colors of Asia Pacific in the nine-team cast, will actually be seeking revenge over the Grand Rapid batters when they meet at 3:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m. in Manila). Michigan beat another Manila team for the division championship two years ago by the closest of margin 2-1 count in a marathon 10-inning contest.
?Yes, Friday?s game will be a repeat of that 2008 finale when the hosts defeated us on the strength of a home run in the third extension,? delegation head and Manila Little League Charter president Robert Evangelista, who will be leaving Friday to join the team, said.
?Natatandaan mo? Lamang tayo until the start of the seventh and last frame, 1-0, pero naKa-iskor sila ng isa kaya na-extend a game,? Evangelista, an engineer at the Manila engineering department recalled in reference to the Girls? almost handing the country of the world Series 16-18 championship only to settle for the silver medal.
That second best finish still went into the record as the highest by any non-American team, or Asia, for that matter, since the Big League bracket was introduced in the Little international calendar. Besides the silver medal, the girls, likewise, brought home the International trophy by beating all the non-American teams in the field.
The Golden girls, whose trip in Kalamazoo is supported by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, headed by chairperson Margie Juico, Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala, Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop, Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solution and Alaska Milk, arrived in the competition city Tuesday.
Evangelista and head coach Filomeno ?Boy? Codinera believe though that the result will be different this year. Both, in fact expressed belief that this year?s Golden Girls have what is needed to bring home the bacon.
?Manalo lang sa first at second game, 90 percent na na papasok tayo sa finals,?Codinera predicted in an overseas telephone conversation with this writer, adding that besides Grand Rapids, the other team to watch is the host city, representing the U.S.?s District 2, and the defending champion.
Codinera has reason to be optimistic. While last year, the team only had a pair of pitchers, this year, the Girls have seven hurlers, who, according to Evangelista have equal strength.
?We?ve learned our lesson last year so nagdala na kami ng pitong pitcher na pare-pareho ang lakas na kahit sino ang mag-start o mag-relieve eh siguradong magde-deliver,? Evangelista said referring to mound girls Julie Marie Muyco, Erica Escanuela, Amanda Amelia La?O, Annalie Benjamin, Rizza Bernardino, Melanie Macatangay and Veronica Belleza.
Other members of the team are Isabel Gomez, Nerissa Benjamin, Yrla Rojo, Cindy Carol Banay, Elvie Entrina, Mariz Margaret Garde, and Marlyn Francisco. Ana Karissa Paghubasan is also a member of the Philippine Series and Asia Pacific champion team but could not join the U.S. trip for reasons of her study at the University of Santo Tomas.
Tournament format calls for a one-round elimination among the 10-team participants that also includes Canadian champion Windsor of Ontario, Latin American winner San Juan of Puerto Rico and the four other winners of the U.S. districts ? Laurel of Delaware (East), Dunedin of Florida (Southeast), West Monoe of Luisiana (Southwest) and Antelope Valley of California (West).
The top two teams after the elimination phase dispute the championship.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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