Manila softbelles still in title hunt despite split

Opting to rest its top pitcher for a more important outing, Team Manila split its two matches Saturday, but stayed in the hunt for a finals berth in the 2011 Big League (16-18) World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

With Veronica Belleza taking a break in preparation for the showdown with unbeaten Kalamazoo on Sunday, the Manila softbelles absorbed a controversial 5-6 loss to US Southeast team from Clearwater, Florida.

It was the first defeat in six matches for the Manilans, who were unsettled by what team officials branded as questionable calls of illegal pitching.

Cushioning the blow of the loss was the Nationals’ 7-0 blanking of US West representative Southern California early Saturday.

Michelle Lentija starred in the victory against California, banging in two home runs, including a three-run shot in the fifth inning, to raise her HR tally to three for the tournament.

But the Manila softbelles found themselves on the ropes against Florida.

Named starter against Florida, Lentija looked shaky, giving up a three-run home run to Heather Muccino right in the first inning.

Belleza kept the Manila girls in the game with her batting, but coach Randy Dizer said the calls of illegal pitches on Rissa Bernardino and Analie Benjamen hurt their chances.

With the Manila girls nursing a 5-4 advantage in the bottom of the seventh inning, Benjamen, who replaced Bernardino after she pitched a maximum 10 innings for the day, walked two batters on what the umpire ruled as two illegal pitches.

Muccino stepped up the plate and hit a double to bring home two runners and complete the win for Florida, which also complained about the use of illegal bats. The protest was junked.

“The girls had exactly the same pitching form in their previous wins and all of a sudden there are five illegal pitch calls on the same players,” said Dizer, who shares coaching chores with Ana Santiago.

“These teams are getting technical with protest on bats. Let’s just let the girls play and win it on the field,” he added.

Team manager Che Borromeo said the team is still on track to claim seven wins that would assure them of a place in the finals.

Manila team officials are expected to meet with tournament organizer Bud Vanderberg and Little League representative Sara Thompson to raise the issue against the officiating before the game against Kalamazoo.