Makati rips Latin Am foe, makes q’finals

Asia-Pacific representative Makati outclassed Latin America, 10- 6, to assure itself of a quarterfinals stint in the Senior League Softball World Series Wednesday in Lower Sussex, Delaware.

With Angelu Gabriel and Charlotte Sales leading the offensive, the Makati belles racked up seven runs in the first two innings to set the tone for their first win in three games in Pool A and advance with a game to spare.

The AsPac champs face host Delaware to end group play Thursday before taking on the top team in Pool A in the Last-8.

Gabriel had a perfect four-for-four outing at bat, slamming in three RBIs and four runs topped off by a two-run homer in the second inning as Sales (34) batted in four runners and reached home once.

With Makati up, 9- 0, Latin America bet Ponce Leones from Puerto Rico unleashed a six-run rally in the top sixth to go within three. Henna Santiago cut Latin America’s comeback by forcing Joanelis Miranda to fly out for the third out.

Aspac added one run in the bottom sixth then Santiago retired the side in top seventh to seal the victory.

Meanwhile, AsPac’s entry in the Junior League Softball World Series – ILLAM – bowed out of the quarterfinals after absorbing its fourth loss in Pool A at the hands of Central, 0-10.

The ILLAM girls surrendered six runs in the fourth to hasten their doom and allow their rivals from Poland, Ohio to pick up their third win in four games.