Manila softbelles beat hosts in World Series

MANILA, Philippines - Team Manila–Philippines crushed the East Hemet Screaming Eagles of California, 8-0, to kick off its bid in the Pony International 18-under girls Softball World Series at the jampacked Diamond Valley Park in Hemet, California Wednesday.

Pitcher Alma Tauli delivered a sterling performance, striking out eight, including five no-run innings and a couple of defensive stops to lead the Manila batters to the lopsided victory.

With two outs, an RBI by second baseman Mary Padasas paved the way for two runs courtesy of right fielder Jojielyn Lim and short stop Angelu Gabriel which jump-started the Big City softbelles’ scoring spree at the bottom of the third inning.   

Four more runs by center fielder Christine Bautista, designated player Shaina Camacho, left fielder Khrisha Cantor, and third pitcher Shirlette Maygay gave Team Manila, whose trip here is backed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), and the Adamson Alumni Association of Southern California led by Lilli Khan and Lucy Sakamoto, a commanding 6-0 lead at the end of the third.

At the top of the fourth inning, Tauli, the 16-year old native of Norzagaray, Bulacan and daughter of a retired security guard and a housekeeper, capped her dazzling performance with three more strike outs that had the Californians winded and awed.

Two runs at the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of Padasas off a hit by Bautista and then Bautista off a catching error gave Manila an 8-0 lead at the end of the fourth.

The East Hemet Screaming Eagles, one of two host teams, came back strong at the top of the fifth but another impressive strike out by Tauli and two fine defensive stops by the Softbelles ended the game via fifth inning regulation.