Norzagaray storms to Final Four

Hurler Alma Tauli stood at the forefront of defense and offense as Asia-Pacific champ Norzagaray Bulacan blasted Latin America, 10-3, to barge into the semis of the Junior League Softball World Series Wednesday at Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington.

Tauli struck out three batters and conceded seven hits in a no-relief job on the rubber and slammed in three RBIs and three runs in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate to power Bulacan to the quarterfinal victory against the team from Olmeca LL, Mexico.

Bulacan, which finished No. 2 in Pool A, will gun for a finals berth against Pool B topnotcher USA West in the semis on Friday (today in Manila).

USA West, represented by Sunny Side LL from Tucson, Arizona, squeaked past USA Central, 16-4, in their quarterfinal duel.

Tauli got the ball rolling for the Pinay softbelles in the first inning when she drove in Jojielyn Lim with a double to left field. Tauli herself reached the plate off an error by Mexican right fielder Sophia Ceballos Herrera to make it 2-0.

Gisielle Villarubia whacked a runscoring single to left and later dashed home off a fielder’s choice to hike Bulacan’s lead to four runs.

Tauli continued her hot batting in the second frame and belted a two-run double to left to spark a five-run binge that widened the gap for good, 8-0.

Madaelene Dumaog (one RBI, one run on two-of-three hitting) and Jovelyn Policarpio (one RBI, two runs on 2-of-4 accuracy) also shone for Bulacan, which tagged Mexican hurlers Carolina Zamudio-Gomez and Xiadani Noria Martinez with a combined 11 hits.