Team Manila, dedicating its game to flood victims back home, gave rivals from Westchester, California a neat lesson at the Wilson Field of the Vandenberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Coming up with a relentless game, the Asia Pacific representatives swamped the West squad, 14-2, for their first-ever crown in four years last Thursday (Wednesday in the United States) in Big League Softball World Series championship.
The Manileno squad’s five-inning victory marked Manila’s first-ever title conquest after runner-up finishes in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
“This is a special game for us, because before we started, I told the girls, ‘If you want to be a champion, play like a champion.’ This game will be dedicated to the people from the Philippines, who are experiencing a huge flood,” said Team Manila coach Anna Santiago in an online article back in Michigan.
Shortstop Queenie Sabobo led the Filipinas with three RBIs.
They quickly took charge with a seven-run spurt in the first two innings, with three coming in the first behind the efforts of third baseman Michelle Lentija and Sabobo.
Lentija drew first blood with her double, which scored Krisna Paguican. Then, Sabobo followed it up with a single, which sent pitcher Rizza Bernardino and Lentija sprinting back to the home plate.
In the second inning, Paguican singled in Mary Joy Floranza and Charmaine Joy Oria. Bernardino then allowed Paguican to score on a ball, before hitting a homerun.
Manila may have committed a pair of errors, but it did not matter after it came up with 14 hits and continued scoring seven more times, taking 7-0 lead.
The Filipinas made it to the finals after winning seven games, and losing two during the eliminations.
They scored five in the fifth to build a 14-0 lead before the West Region representative from Los Angeles then strung together three hits and spoiled Bernardino’s shutout bid.
Source : Manila Standard
