Fil-Ams beef up Blu Girls in W. Cup

THE PHILIPPINE Blu Girls will be reinforced by a slew of talented United States-based players as they see action in the World Cup of Softball starting Monday in Irvine, California.

Among those called up for national team duty by coach Randy Dizer is Dani Gilmore, a rising star at Oregon State University.

Gilmore’s mother, Concepcion, hails from Manila, making Dani eligible to play for the Blu Girls.

The Blu Girls will face teams from the United States, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela in the single-round tournament that serves as part of the team’s buildup for the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from Sept. 19 Oct. 4.

Gilmore carries solid credentials. She is coming off her finest season for OSU, highlighted by an All-Pac-12 First Team selection after posting a .407 batting average. She also led her team with 38 runs, 11 doubles, eight home runs and 40 RBIs.

Gilmore’s performances will go down in OSU records as one of the best. The Filipino-American standout placed fourth in batting and second in slugging percentage while starting in all the team’s 49 games.

Also invited to the Blu Girls’ camp are Garie Blando, Francesca Foti, and Jaexenne Balilea of University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Alleah Laxamana of University of California-Berkley, and Leia Ruiz of San Diego State University.

The rest of the Blu Girls: Alexandra Zuluaga, Arianne Vallestero, Angelie Ursabia, Lorna Adorable, Kriska Piad, Veronica Belleza, Elma Parohinog, Isabella Ann Mendoza, Luzviminda Embudo, Marlyn Francisco, Whell Gene Camral, Annalie Benjamen, Rizza Bernardino, Julian Tanaka, and Francesca Altomonte.