RP Girls make finals, sink West Monroe

MANILA, Philippines - Team Manila overwhelmed West Monroe of Louisiana, 6-1, Tuesday to complete a stirring comeback from two early setbacks and into the gold medal round in the 2010 Big League Softball World Series at the Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Julie Marie Muyco twirled a no-hit, no-run, no-error three-inning start as the Golden Girls posted their sixth straight victory since dropping their first two games in the elims to Grand Rapids of the host State Michigan, 1-2, last Aug. 5 and to Dunedin of Florida, 4-7, both of the US, the following day.     

The win thus assured the team of at least matching RP’s runner-up finish in 2008 but the Golden Girls will go all-out against Grand Rapids, representing the US Central District, in the winner-take-all match Wednesday.

Grand Rapids swept the qualifying phase of the tournament for 14-18 years old, including a 4-0 rout of Latin American champion San Juan Puerto Rico last Tuesday.

Team Manila, whose campaign is backed by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay and Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solution, finished with a 6-2 slate.

The championship actually serves as the third meeting of Team Manila and Grand Rapids in three years with the latter nipping the Golden Girls, 2-1, in the 2008 finals.

“That actually is what we’re seeking here, a revenge of that title defeat in 2008,” said Ana Santiago, one of the assistants of head coach Filomeno “Boy” Codiñera, said after beating the US Southwest qualifier.