Manila, Norzagaray blow World Series title bids

Two Philippine teams suffered heartbreaking losses  in their bid for Softball World Series titles Sunday in the United States.

Team Manila fell into a maze of errors and absorbed a stunning 3-8 loss to Louisiana in the Big League (16-18) World Series semifinals in Lower Sussex, Delaware.

Over in Kirkland, Washington, the team from Norzagaray, Bulacan, took a 2-9 defeat to Florida in the championship game of the Junior League (13-14) division.

Florida, representing the US Southeast, unleashed a five-run binge in the second inning to repeat over Norzagaray, which recovered mightily from an opening-day loss to the same Florida team to get a crack at the crown.

Not even a solid game from Norzagaray’s Jojielyn Lim could turn the tide for the Asia Pacific champions. She chalked up two RBIs, including a home run in the third inning.

The Manila softbelles picked the worst time to have their nerves get in the way of their play. They uncharacteristically committed eight errors that dashed their hopes of reclaiming the title they last won three years ago.

“The girls were rattled with errors early in the game and our pitcher felt the pressure,” said Manila coach Ana Santiago. “The girls tried their best.”

Manila will face Delaware in the third-place game after the hosts got stunned by Antelope Valley California, 2-3, in the other semifinal match.

Louisiana cashed in on an error by Shaira Damasing and pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao for the opening run by fielder Bobbi Smith in the first inning.

Manila, which came into the game with a 3-0 record from Pool A play, was left with a mountain to climb when Louisiana scored six runs in the third inning with four runs coming off errors.

Celestine Palma and Delyrose Covarrubias were the culprits in the four runs scored by Southwest’s right fielder Molly Wilson, Sierra Gasca, shortstop Rebecca Skains and designated hitter Miranda Smart. A two-run home run by Sydney Winters gave Louisiana a 7-0 advantage.

The Big City softbelles, backed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Philippine Airlines, and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), tried to mount a comeback in the fifth inning  with three runs, but Louisiana held its ground.

“We lost to a better team which played very well today,” said Manila Little League Philippines president Rafael “Che” Borromeo. Cedelf P. Tupas