Team Manila bags Girls Softball Big League World Series Crown
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Aug 2012
MANILA (PNA) -- Manila of the Philippines, the team no one wanted to help, blasted West of Los Angeles, 14-2, in only five innings and gifted the country its first girls Softball Big League World Series championship for age 16-18 Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at the main field huge Vanderbilt Ballpark in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Golden Girls, who arrived at the tournament site with only 10 players after three of its members were left behind for lack of funds, capped an seven-straight winning run, including six in the elimination round to finally bring home the bacon, denied them three times in the last four years.
Against a team not coming from the host State for the first time since 2008, the Golden Girls of coach Ana Santiago, eight of them coming from the UAAP champion Adamson University, played with ease relative and lesser pressure as they virtually wrapped up the crown as early as the top of opening frame where they rained the enemies with three runs the enemies from the City Angels never relay threatened.
Nineteen-year-old Rizza Bernardino, the right-handed wonder from Sta. Cruz, Laguna, had the Los Angeles batters in the palm of her hands limiting the Americans to a mere five hits while she and her teammates peppered three rival pitchers with 14.
Such display of hitting prowess produced Team Manila four more runs in the second period, one each in the third and four in the fourth before pouring everything on their hapless opponents with five in the fifth forcing organizers from proceeding with the regular seven-inning contest.
Shortstop Queeny Sabobo batted in three runs in two-of-three trips to the plate underscoring the Golden girls? superiority with their bats where all nine of batters Santiago fielded in connecting at least once.
Four other Manilenyas each sent home two each of their teammates ? Bernardino herself, leftfielder Mary Joy Floranza of Polytechnic University of the Philippines on two-of-four at bat, second base girl Krisna Paguican (2-of-4), and rightfielder Kristina Lacupa, of the University of Santo Tomas (1-of-3).
Third base girl Michelle Lentija and catcher Glesyl Opjer had one RBI each ?Sa wakas, nakuha rin. Mabuti na lang hindi ang host ang nakalaban sa championship,? Santiago, who also engineered the Philippines Blu Girls gold medal triumphs in the 2007 and 2011 Southeast Asian Games sighed with relief reminiscing her sad experience thrice in 2008, 2010 and last year where Manila ended up bridesmaid, losing the title to host Central of Michigan State.
Manila?s 2008 and 2010 runner up finishes were fashioned out under Manila Charter presidents, engineer Robert Evangelista and Filomeno ?Boy Codinera, respectively. Manila Councilor Che Borromeo was responsible for the 2011silver medal feat as well as this year?s title victory.
?Akala ko nga mahihirapan na naman, expecially noong hindi makasama ang tatlong player dahil walang pera,? she said. ?Its? good nakasunod, kung hindi pilay talaga kasi lalabas isa lang ang substitute. Siyam na player ang kailangan para maka-kumpleto ng team sa isang laro, di ba??
Except for Sabobo, everybody in team Manila?s murderous row succeeded in crossing the plate as the Golden Girls further complemented their offensive threat with superior base-running.
Team Manila?s triumphant march to the championship was the second for the country in the World Series for the eight-division, eight-age Little League International boys baseball and girls softball programs.
IN 2003, the girls softball team of Bacolod City in the Junior League (13-14) category, likewise, romped off with the World Series diadem in their division in the championship held in Kirkland, Washington.
Five of Santiago?s starters are mainstays of UAAP titlist Adamson Lady Falcons ? Bernardino, Paguican, Lentija, Sabobo and Opjer.
Centerfielder Gene Joy Parilla, Lacupa and catcher Charmaine Joy Oria are from UST.
Rounding out the lineup are Maria Luna Amparo of UST AND Adamson?s Mary Jane Fabellar, Andrea Mae Gonzales and Baby Jane Raro.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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