Team Manila splits doubleheader at softball world series

Asia Pacific’s Team Manila split its doubleheader matches Sunday in the 2011 Big League Girls Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Manila Golden Girls snatched its fifth win of the tournament defeating California-West Region, 7-0, but succumbed to its first loss after a sorry 6-5 defeat at the hands of Alice, Texas-Southwest Region on three RBIs by Heather Muccino that included a home run in the sixth inning. The loss dropped Team Manila to second place with a 5-1 win-loss record but is still within striking distance with top-ranked Kalamazoo, which is undefeated in four games. Michelle Lentija blasted a three-run home run to highlight a five-run fifth inning to go ahead for good after Manila scored a run each in the first and fourth inning. Rizza Bernardino was the winning pitcher after she yielded only two hits in a four-inning start. Annaliza Benjamen preserved the lead allowing four hits in three innings of work. Benjamen, however, failed to keep Manila’s lead in its game against Texas as he allowed two runs in the seventh and final inning. Texas’ Brittany Rasmussen walked and Madison Morris singled before Muccino blasted a long double to right field to push both runners home to claim the win. RBI hits by Francesca Almonte and Clariz Palma but Manila ahead, 5-3, in the fifth inning but Texas cut down the deficit to one run on a solo home run by Muccino. -- Reuben Terrado/OMG, GMA News