Softbelles off for World Series

Getting the needed funding and support, the 16-member Team Enervon Philippines leaves for the United States tomorrow, ready to do battle against the rest of the world in the 2003 Softball World Series which gets underway Aug. 11 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

"We are honored and proud to be of big help to this talented team," said Alvin So of Unilab during the sendoff party yesterday in San Juan.

The delegation is led by Audrey Uy, also a volunteer parent from the International Little League Association of Manila (Illam) with Randy Dizer, Franic Diaz of back-to-back UAAP softball champion State U and former Blu Boy Ulysses Mejia composing the coaching staff.

"Last year, dalawang beses kami na-default kaya kami na-relegate sa consolation pool dahil nga sa kakulangan sa pondo," said Mejia, referring to Enervon and minor sponsors Northwest Airlines, Cebuana Lhuillier, Burlington, Splash, Sun Life, Sun Cellular and Pacific Paint and Oil.

Expected to be at the forefront of the country’s bid is southpaw pitcher Dione Macasu . Catcher-shortstop Alexis Causapin and second pitcher Rachel de Guzman are also back to lend Macasu a hand.

Completing the squad are Sodia Francesca Prieto Borromeo, Regina Isabel de Leon Munoz, Lorraine Uy, Samantha Uichico, Maylyn Cerilo, Luisa Maria Isadora Buenvenida Moran, Amelia Cruz, Maica Bunag and Raiya