Bago City off to rousing start

Bago City got its Little League Softball World Series (WS) campaign off to a winning start after edging out Alberta of Canada, 1-0, on Wednesday in Greenville, North Carolina.

Chear Blancia scored the game’s only run off an error in the bottom of the first inning as Little Leaguers—the third team sent by Bago City in the United States—prevailed over the Canadian squad.

Pitcher Jacey Pajotal struck out 11 batters in a complete-game, six-inning appearance for Bago City, which aims to become the first Filipino and foreign team to win the tournament for ages 11 to 12 years old.

The team is also out to produce a better finish than their counterparts after its Junior League squad placed third in Kirkland, Washington, and the Senior Leaguers making the quarterfinals in Lower Sussex, Delaware.

Blancia drew a walk with two outs in the home half of the opening frame before stealing second to put herself in scoring position.

Khazea Valenzuela grounded to shortstop Lexi McCay, but her throw to first was way high which allowed Blancia to put the Philippines on board.

—Jonas Terrado