Philippine representatives in the Senior League Softball World Series. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
A team from Bago City, Negros Occidental, posted contrasting wins on Wednesday (Manila time) to begin its title bid in the Senior League Softball World Series in Lower Sussex, Delaware.
Bago City, representing the Asia-Pacific region, edged Latin America’s Willemstad, Curacao, 3-2, before needing six innings to beat Camden Wyoming, Delaware, 10-0, of the East region.
The team is aiming to extend the Philippine reign in the Senior League tournament for female softball players ages 13 to 16 years old.
Tanauan City, Batangas, ruled the 2018 edition after defeating Delaware in the championship game. No tournament was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a 2-0 record, Bago City is tied with District 9 of Texas in Pool A. The two teams will meet Thursday (Manila time).
The top four teams advance to the crossover quarterfinals where they’ll face their counterparts from Pool A.
Bago City leaned on a three-run first inning before holding off Curacao’s rally behind a 16-strikeout performance from pitcher Mary Alpitche, who spent all seven innings on the mound.
A bunt by Keichi Tan allowed leadoff Jhaycel Roldan, who earlier walked, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch, to score the first run, beating the throw at the plate.
Magdalene Nangan also touched home plate on the same play after a miscommunication between Curacao catcher Abigail Isabella and pitcher Magenta Bernardina.
Alpitche also performed well with her bat later in the day against Camden Wyoming, producing three RBIs (runs batted in) as Bago City scored eight in the first three innings