TEAM Manila’s bid for a second straight Big League Softball World Series title ended Thursday following another late collapse that hastened a 4-6 defeat to Indiana in Sussex County, Delaware.
It was the third consecutive loss for Manila which dropped to 1-3 and wound up fourth in pool play, just ahead of winless Canada.
Fielding a relatively inexperienced team compared to the one that ruled the tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan last year, the Filipinos struggled after taking an early lead.
The Filipinos gave up four runs in the final inning, squandering a four-run advantage which they took up until the fifth frame.
Queenie Sabobo hit a three-run homerun in the second inning for a 4-0 lead and Manila looked like it was ready to rip the game wide open in a bid to establish a superior run differential that would have pushed them to a semifinal spot.
But Manila managed just one hit after the second inning as Indiana reliever Anna Irons held her ground on the mound.
There was also disappointment in the Senior League tournament with Sta. Cruz, Laguna bowing to Victorville American Little League of California, 3-4.
Laguna ended pool play with a 0-4 card. Cedelf P. Tupas