Golden Girls scuttle US rivals, stay alive

Kalamazoo, Michigan – Veterans Esmeralda Tayag and Emily Batac put in a heroic performance as the Philippines’ Golden Girls shaded host Grand Rapids of Michigan, 1-0, and remained on course for a finals stint in the Big League (16-18) of the Little League World Series.

It was a big win for the Golden Girls who were on the verge of elimination when they suffered their second loss, a lopsided 3-6 setback at the hands of Puerto Rico but drew strength with the arrival national coach Boy Codiñera.

Codiñera fielded Tayag against the Grand Rapids belles and the 17-year old sophomore student responded by pitching a four-hitter in a no-relief performance.

Batac, on the other hand, spearheaded the flash of brilliance Manila needed right at the top of the first inning by greeting losing pitcher Amanda Vasquez with a double and scoring the winning run besides coming up with a pair of spectacular catches in the ensuing frames.

With one out, Batac also 17 and an education student at UST, blasted Velasquez’s second pitch to deep center, took second on a single by catcher Erlinda Pascual and scored on another base hit by centerfielder Gedda Valencia.