Blu Girls bolster bid, clobber Guatemala

THE Philippine Blu Girls, banking on hurler Royevel Palma’s superb performance, crushed Guatemala, 5-0, to notch their second win in the XII Junior Women’s Softball World Championships in Clearwater, Florida Tuesday.

Palma gave up only two hits and shut out the Guatemalans as the Pinay softbelles got back on track after their 0-13 defeat to Chinese-Taipei.

The Blu Girls, whose campaign is sanctioned by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines, headed by president Jean Henri Lhuillier, thus hiked their record to 2-1 in Pool A, including a 10-3 reversal over No. 12 Italy in the opening day.

Reese Gueverra singled in the third to send Mae Langga home to spark the Blu Girls’ charge. Mary Ma- guad then doubled the lead when she pounced on a catcher’s error to reach the plate a few plays later.

The Pinays then pulled away with

Czara Galapon batted in Maguad with a base-hit then Juliet Omul drove in Galapon and Guevarra to make it 5-0 and hand Guatemala its third straight setback.

“The performance of our Jr Blu Girls continues to improve with every game. I’m so happy about how the team has established the Philippines as a formidable force in this tournament. These young players are a testament to the promising future of our country in softball,” said Lhuillier.

The Philippines tries to make it 3-1 as it faces Turkey, winless in four matches, next.