Sporting Gold

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Team Manila captured the Big League Softball World Series title with a crushing 14-2 victory over the United States-West team, Westchester, California, at Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The victory was a fairy tale ending for the Manila girls, who were doubtful starters for the 16-18 age-group tournament a few weeks ago as resources were scarce to pay for their tickets to the United States.

“We’re happy all our hard work paid off,” said pitcher Rizza Bernardino, who held the opposing team to just five hits in five innings in the final.

“It all boiled down to the players’ determination to win,” team manager Rafael “Che” Borromeo, who is the Manila Little League president.

It was the Philippines’ second title in World Series tournaments, which is spread over four age groups and played in different cities in the United States.

The Philippines’ first title came in the girls’ 13-14 age group, or the Junior League division, courtesy of Bacolod City, in Kirkland, Washington, in 2003.

It was also a breath of fresh air for the Philippines, which had failed to make its mark in the London Olympics and which was ravaged by floods the past few days.

Manila coach Ana Santiago said the win was dedicated to the flood victims. “This championship is dedicated to Filipinos who are experiencing tough times because of the flood,” she said.

The team, made up of varsity standouts from Adamson, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, had been worried when it heard about the floods.

Manila had been to the finals in three of the last four years, including last year, but lost all of them. But this was their year, and no team could take this title away from the Filipinas.

Wielding hot bats, the Filipinos peppered the California squad with 14 hits on their way to an abbreviated victory. Owing to the “mercy” rule, matches are stopped if the team is ahead by more than 10 runs after five innings.