Manila South trips USA West in duel for fifth

MANILA, Philippines - Asia Pacific bet Manila South trampled USA West, 9-2, to salvage a measure of pride in the consolation rounds of the Big League Softball World Series Friday at Comiskey Park in Sussex County Delaware.

Mary Ann Antolihao pitched a three-hitter and struck out three in a seven-inning job to lead Manila to the easy win over West’s California District 51 All Stars in the battle for fifth.

Angelie Ursabia and Cristy Joy Roa led the Manilans’ offensive, each belting a home run and slamming two RBIs on two-for-four batting.

Roa blasted a two-run homer to start off scoring but Marissa Harmon responded with her own four-bagger as the Californians stayed within striking distance of the 2012 champs.

Manila scored two runs in the second then sent three to the plate in the fourth to pull away, 7-1. Ursabia padded the lead to 9-1 with her home run in the fifth and RBI single in the sixth.

Meanwhile, AsPac champ Smokey Mountain finally broke through in the Senior League Softball World Series, nipping Host District 3, 10-3, in their consolation matchup.

Smokey Mountain pounced on three errors and a wild pitch to score four runs in the fourth and seize an 8-3 cushion against their rivals from Nanticoke, Seaford Delaware.

Hyacinth Abanilla had three RBIs and two runs to lift the debuting Smokey Mountain softbelles, who lost all their four assignments in the group play.