By Jonas Terrado
Tanauan City of Batangas leaned on the stellar pitching of Royevel Palma to defeat Waco, Texas, 7-0, Sunday afternoon (early Monday Manila time) to capture the Senior League Softball World Series at the Bruce Layton Field in Sussex County, Delaware.
Palma also gave up two hits in a complete-game effort as Tanauan earned the distinction as the first team from the Asia Pacific to win the tournament for players aged 13 to 16 years old while ending the country’s six-year title drought in the Little League system.
Team Manila ruled the Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2012.
Marika Joana Manaig drove in three runs off three hits for Tanauan, including two that sparked a four-run third inning when she singled off Waco starter Kennedy Parker with one out.
Tanauan finished second in Pool A with a 3-1 record, its only loss came against host Sussex County with an 8-4 result.
The Batanguenas downed Southeast champion Fort Myers, Florida, 3-1, in the quarterfinals when Kyla Sophia Aala broke a 1-all tie in the fourth with a run-scoring single before blanking East winner Worchester, Massachusetts, 8-0, in the semis.
Other members of the victorious Tanauan side are Kathy and Kate Nueva, Mae Langga, Dane Ashley Martinez, Christine Ghea Plaza, Trisha Mae Contreras, April Joyce Rosita, Neelyn Patojal, Jamm’n Joyce Rasco, Diane Pasco, Angel Kay Bedano and Princess Pamela Olfato.
BLU GIRLS WIN
Meantime, the Philippine Blu Girls recovered from stinging shutout losses to fancied Mexico and Puerto Rico, rallying from behind to nip No. 8 the Netherlands and stayed in the hunt in the XVI WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship in Chiba, Japan Sunday.
The 15th-ranked Blu Girls’ scored twice on top of the sixth to complete their stirring fightback with Chelsea Suitos, who earlier hit a homer in the fourth, delivering the marginal run after an RBI single by Francesca Altomonte.
