Jr Blu Girls ends up 10th

THE Philippine Junior Blu Girls split their final matches, repeating over Dominican Republic, 2-0, before bowing to Mexico, 3-5, again to finish 10th in a field of 16 in the 2017 WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship in Clearwater, Florida.

The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls shut out the Dominicans behind the heroics of pitcher Sierra Lange, who allowed only three hits to strike out the opponents.

Juliet Omul, Mary Maguad and Erika Fernandez also combined for two runs in the fifth and sixth.

The Blu Girls, however, yielding to Mexico in their next game, suffering back-to-back losses in the last two days.

“The Junior Blu Girls did an excellent job in this tournament, finishing strong against some of the best teams in the world. Our players delivered and I know that, with the experience they gained from this competition, they will do even better in future matches,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier.

He also expressed hopes that the team can still improve their skills in time for upcoming competitions.

Yeraldin Carrion earned the win for Mexico, pitching a one-hitter and giving up one run and walking one in a closeout job over two innings. Royevel Palma, who gave up two hits and three runs in the last 3.2 innings, took the loss.

Suzana Brookshire proved unstoppable for the Pinay defenders as she posted a perfect four-for-four clip spiked by two home runs and three RBIs. Diana Arcega also homered and accounted for one RBI.

Erika Olfato and Juliet Omul batted in two and one, respectively, for Phl IX.

The Junior Blu Girls actually enjoyed a 2-0 margin after the first inning before Mexico equalized with a run each in the second and sixth The Mexicans took the driver’s seat in the top eighth, 3-2, but the Filipinas drew level at 3-all to force the ninth frame.