Blu Girls rip HK, yield to N Korea

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines split its opening matches in the 10th Asian Women’s Softball Championship, blanking Hong Kong, 14-0, but dropping a 0-3 setback to North Korea in Nantou, Taiwan Wednesday.

The Blu Girls showed class in dominating Hong Kong in an abbreviated four-inning shutout at the Ciaoguang softball field.

But they failed to sustain their form against the North Koreans, who peppered starting and losing pitcher Veronica Belleza with four of their total eight hits at the top of the second inning en route to victory.

Against Hong Kong, Belleza combined with reliever Julie Mari Muyco for a no-hit-no-run show with coach Ana Santiago’s nine starters taking the plate right in the opening frame highlighted by a two-base hit each of catcher Lovelyn Maganda and rightfielder Jocel Aguilar.

The Blu Girls scored four runs in the period with Aguilar driving home shortstop Esmeralda Tayag, who had earlier taken first base on an error, and Maganda herself.

Maganda, who now works and plays in Brunei, set up Aguilar’s two-run double by pushing Tayag to third on a similar extra base hit.

The Blu Girls, whose participation here was funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay and Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, completed the rout with a seven-hit, nine-run binge at the bottom of the second. Another marker in the next frame on a pair of connections clinched the win for Team Phl via the mercy rule.

Second base girl Cherrylou Valenzuela singled Maganda across the plate and herself scored on another base-hit by leftfielder Marylin Francisco, capping the Philippines four-run binge.

Aguilar went two-for-two at bat, batting in four runs, the most in the two-day old tournament that will decide Asia’s representation in next year’s World Championship.

The Blu Girls had hits, too, against the North Koreans, but they just couldn’t find the connections. 

The Blu Girls were still playing South Korea at press time.

“Breaks of the game. Nandun naman ang palo at ang daming base runners, pero hindi nakapagpapasok,” Santiago rued after the game. “We have to win at least three of our last four games to at least make it to the next round.”