CEBU, Philippines – Halbstarken slammed the International Phillies, 13-7, to emerge as the first Fastball Softball Tournament champion over the weekend at the Aboitiz Sports Field near Makron in Mandaue reclamation area.
Halbstarken advanced into the final round with an easy 16-4 disposition of the Fastball Blue Angels.
The Phillies, for their part, booked the other championship ticket by terminating Team Korea, 12-5.
In the final battle, Halbstarken’s Pio Capati zoomed away for a three-run homer in the first canto.
The Phillies quickly cut the deficit to just a hairline, 2-3, with Mexican-American Eddie Fernandez and Kurt Goodwin scoring in the next inning.
Halbstarken, however, nailed six runs in the next two innings, but Phillies countered with five runs behind the efforts of Dado Ramirez, Deonie Riveral, Robert Murphy, Aaron Lorkovic and Kurt Goodwin.
That proved to be the Phillies’ last hurrah as Ognir Sadaya, Nel Jakosalem, Pio Capati and Barry Burgos put their acts together to vault Halbstarken to crowning glory in the tournament backed up by Phiten and Alaska Milk. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)