Pinay clouters thrash Rapids, near WS finals

MANILA, Philippines - Team Manila, representing Asia Pacific, unleashed sizzling batting to thrash Central (Grand Rapids) in an abbreviated six-inning encounter, 12-2, and move a win away from reaching the Big League Softball World Series finals in Kalamazoo, Michigan Monday.

Kristine Joy Lacupa slugged a solo home run in the fifth and the reigning AsPac champions went on to pepper Grand Rapid’s Morgan Groom (11), Morgan Hill (4) and Lauren Weldy (2) with 17 hits to secure their fifth consecutive triumph after a 0-2 start.

Rizza Bernardino stood at the forefront of Team Manila’s defense, yielding only four hits while fanning out five batters she faced in a no-relief job, as the Filipinas caught up with their victims at second (5-2) behind unbeaten West 7-0.

The AsPac team, headed by Manila Little League president Councilor Che Borromeo and coach Ana Santiago, can secure a championship berth with a victory over East (Pennsylvania) in their last elimination game Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Team Manila immediately tagged Grand Rapid’s starter Groom with five hits that they converted to four runs to seize an early 4-0 lead.

The Central clouters managed to trim the deficit to half, 2-4, before the Filipina clouters re-asserted their might en route to victory.

The Pinays slammed in two runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth and four in the sixth for a 10-run margin that eventually led to the application of the mercy rule after Grand Rapids failed to score in the bottom sixth.

Bernardino went two-for-four at bat, drove two runners into the plate and accounted for one run herself for the AsPac titlists. Lacupa (one-for-three) gave Team Manila two runs and two RBIs, while Gene Joy Parilla (three-for-four), made three runs and one RBI, and Mary Joy Floranza (2-for-four) had two RBIs and two runs.