Blu Girls finish last, bow to Venezuela

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Blu Girls failed to cash in on their 10 hits and yielded a 4-7 setback to Venezuela to end up last in the seven-nation World Cup of Softball IX at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, California Sunday.

The Blu Girls managed only four runs despite outhitting the Venezuelans by three as they blew their chance of finishing higher in the tournament won by host USA.

Venezuela later played in the battle for fifth spot and blanked Mexico, 4-0, to log a more respectable finish.

The Americans, who swept the round-robin eliminations, copped the crown after dispatching Canada in the finals, 5-2.
Chinese Taipei, meanwhile, emerged as the top Asian finisher as it edged dethroned champion Japan, 3-1, in the bronze-medal match.

Looking to repeat their 3-0 triumph over Venezuela in the elims, the Blu Girls unleashed a solid batting effort led by Lorna Adorable who went 3-for-4 and Fil-Am Garie Blando who was 2-for-3.

But it was the Venezuelans who made the most out of their hits and converted them into runs.

Venezuela punched in five runs in the bottom third to open up a 7-1 cushion and the defense led by Mariangee Bogado (seven strikeouts in a no-relief job) quashed the Pinays’ late-game rally in the next three frames to secure the win.