Illam belles off to woeful start, yield to USA West champ

MANILA, Philippines - Asia Pacific champ ILLAM bowed to USA West titlist South Snohomish, Washington in four innings, 0-11, at the start of the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon Thursday (early yesterday in Manila).

The ILLAM girls surrendered six runs in the first three innings as West seized control and set the stage for the one-sided match in the Pool B opening game.

Makayla Miller kept the Pinay batters off the scoreboard for the entire match, allowing only two hits – Azusa Murano’s grounder to center and Marina Nacion’s bunt to second – while striking out seven to anchor West’s defense. 

On the other hand, West’s batters tagged ILLAM starter Alexandra Romero-Salas and reliever Julia Carsi Cruz a combined six hits, led by Pheobe Schultz, who delivered three RBIs and one run on a 1-for-2 clip and Brooke Jordan, who went perfect in two trips, plated two and scored twice.

ILLAM also committed five errors, some of them helping South Snohomish reach home.

Miller drew first blood when she pounced on a wild pitch to reach the plate in the first inning, then Emily Strong came away with a run off a passed ball to double the lead in the next frame.

West sent home four runners in the third with Ashley Jacobson, Jordan and Maya Erling belting RBI singles to make it 6-0.

The Americans widened the gap some more with a five-run spree in the fourth. Miller scored off a bases-loaded walk after which Schultz blasted a three-run triple to right field and later advanced home on a fielding error to put the finishing touches to the 11-run win.

ILLAM tries to bounce back against debuting Central champ Central Iowa Friday (today in Manila).