Team Manila sweeps first two matches in World Series 18-U

Team Manila-Philippines crushed South Hemet XEL with its power game and needed just three innings to complete a 12-0 rout to launch its title-retention drive in the PONY World Series 18-Under Girls Softball Championships in Hemet, California Wednesday.

Hurler Glory Alonzo, a 17-year-old native of Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, came away with five strike outs and two no-run innings, including a couple of superb defensive stops to power the Manila Batters to the abbreviated victory at the jam-packed Diamond Valley Park at the Valley-Wide Recreation District.

The defending champions actually came out smoking at the top of the first, scoring six runs with first baseman Cleofe Magsayo’s RBI paving the way for short stop Angelu Gabriel and second baseman Mary Joy Maguad.

The Big City softbelles sustained their scoring spree until the top of the third inning. Four more runs by Magsayo, Alonso, centerfielder Khrisha Cantor, highlighted with a onerun homerun by outfielder Alaiza Talisik, gave Team Manila a 12-0 lead capped by three strike outs by ace pitcher Alma Tauli at the end of the third.

In the second double-header against Redlands South California, Tauli, the 17-year-old stunner from Adamson, yielded a homerun to third baseman Maxine Ortega of Redlands at the top of the first inning. But she delivered six straight strike outs and Team Manila countered with three runs, including an RBI by first baseman Cleofe Magsayo off a catching error, scoring shortstop Angelu Gabriel, first baseman Karen Nicole Chavez and pitcher Alexandria Romero-Salas at the bottom second on their way to a 9-2 victory.