Blu Girls shut out Guatemala

MANILA, Philippines -  With Royevel Palma providing  a solid performance on the mound, the Philippine Blu Girls nipped Guatemala, 5-0, for their second win in the XII Junior Women’s Softball World Championships Tuesday in Clearwater, Florida.

Palma pitched the complete game shutout and allowed only two hits as the Pinay softbelles got back on track after their 0-13 setback to Chinese-Taipei and improved to 2-1 overall in Section A.

The Filipinas’ other win came at the expense of Italy, 10-3, on opening day.

Phl touched off scoring against Guatemala in the third when Reese Guevarra singled to send Mae Langga home. Mary Maguad then doubled the lead when she pounced on a catcher’s error to reach the plate a few plays later.

The Blu Girls widened the separation with the Guatemalans with a three-run spree in the fifth stanza.

Czara Galapon batted in Maguad with a base-hit then Juliet Omul drove in Galapon and Guevarra to make it 5-0 and hand Guatemala its third straight setback.

“The performance of our Jr Blu Girls continues to improve with every game. I’m so happy about how the team has established the Philippines as a formidable force in this tournament. These young players are a testament to the promising future of our country in softball,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier.

The Philippines faces Turkey (0-4) next.