Kinsei, AdU alumni rule nat'l softball open

MANILA, Philippines - Brunei team Kensei leaned on Most Valuable Player awardee Apolinario Rosales and best pitcher Canadian Jeffrey Farion to post a 5-1 win over Army while Adamson Alumni got back at tormentor University of the East, 3-1, to win the National Softball Open men’s and women’s titles at Clarkfield, Pampanga yesterday.

Rosales, who also got the best slugger and most home runs (5) awards, started Kensei’s run right in the first inning as he scooted home on a hit by Ulysses Mejiia.

Mejia also scored on a hit by Manuel Bacarisas for an early 2-0 lead by Kensei. An RBI by Mejia in the third inning resulted in another run by Rosales. Then Bacarisas singled, stole second and reached home on a hit by Sherwin Tabar for a commanding 4-0 lead by Kensei.

Rosales again scored the final run in the fifth inning from a grounder. Jake Ilao scored the only run for Army – a homerun in the sixth inning.

Adamson University’s Alumni team had a more difficult time against UE, which earlier swept the elimination round.

The Alumni team scored its first run in the first inning as Michelle Lantija sent Sarah Jane Agravante home but UE’s Vanessa Dingal’s second inning double double scored Jelly Mecabalo for the equalizer.

 The score stayed until the sixth inning where the Alumni team scored the final two runs. Marissa dela Cruz singled to score Ching Belleza and she herself reached home on single by Agravante.