Manila s’belles absorb 2nd loss

Team Manila suffered its second straight loss, dropping a 1-0 decision to host Delaware on Wednesday that put its hopes of advancing to the semifinals in jeopardy in the Big League Softball World Series in Sussex County, Delaware.

The defending champions representing the Asia Pacific couldn’t recover from the lone run they gave up in the second inning and fell to 1-2 in Pool B, leaving them in a dire position to qualify for the last four.

It was a rough day for Philippine  teams in the World Series with Sta Cruz, Laguna, also losing for the third straight game, this time to Laurel of Delaware, 9-1, in the Senior Little League World Series, also in Delaware.

Manila, which opened its campaign with a 15-0 win over Canada, before losing to US East team Pennsylvania, will face the US Central team Indiana on Thursday.

A Manila win and a Pennsylvania victory over cellar dweller Canada in another Pool B match will forge a triple tie for second spot, which will be broken via run differential.

Both Manila and Laguna struggled to deal with the solid pitching of their rivals.

“We’re just hoping for the best from here,” said Manila Little League president Che Borromeo, who is also a Manila councilor. “It was a tight game all throughout and the girls did their best.”

Kaitlyn Slater scored the only run against Manila after a line drive from Shelby Wilkins off Hazel Anque, who just came in to replace Agapi Llave.

Queenie Sabobo belted one of her two hits—a double—to centerfield in the sixth inning but she was caught trying to get an extra base at third.

The Manila softbelles’ campaign is backed by ICTSI Foundation and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. Cedelf P. Tupas