HEMET, California – Team Manila–Philippines showed fine form as it dumped quarterfinalist Redlands South California, 11–0, yesterday going into the final day of group competition in the 2017 edition of the PONY International 18-U Girls Softball World Series at the packed out Diamond Valley Park inside the sprawling Valley-Wide Recreation District here.
Standout pitcher Alma Tauli again delivered a stellar performance with six no-run innings, four strike outs and a couple of fine defensive stops as the 16-year old native of the Norzagaray, Bulacan limited Redlands to a few hits to lead the Manila batters to a semi-finals berth.
Second baseman Nichole Padasas started the onslaught with a run off an RBI by designated player Shaina Camacho, who likewise scored a run off a hit by third baseman Madaelene Dumaog at the top of the first inning.
But it was at the top of the third when the Big City softbelles scored four straight runs led by short stop Angelu Gabriel, center fielder Christine Bautista, Dumaog, and right fielder Khrisha Cantor that left Redlands, which earlier won over Coachella Valley Chaos, in shock and awe with a quick 6–0 deficit in favor of the Softbelles.
The Manila Batters, backed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
(ICTSI), scored another run at the top of the fourth courtesy of Gabriel off an RBI by Camacho to make it 7–0.
