Smokey Mountain no longer down in the dumps

MANILA, Philippines - GK Smokey Mountain belles finally nailed the berth in the World Series of Softball in Lower Sussex, Delaware, a dream they have nourished since they set foot on their own “Field of Dreams” in the dump site of Tondo.

The Smokey Mountain softbelles rallied past Guam in a thrilling encounter, 11-10, to clinch a 3-1 triumph in their best-of-five duel for the Asia Pacific Senior League Softball crown yesterday at the Clark Parade Grounds.

Their conquest in the 13-16 division completed a sweep for the host nation in the four softball events.

Iloilo, coached by Jerryfin Gerocje and Angelyn Debulgado,  earlier copped the majors and juniors plums while Manila South captured the Big League tiara, earning their return trips to the world series.

Smokey Mountain, a team made up mostly of players whose families live near the dump site, trailed early, 3-7, but summoned the resiliency to claw back into the game, score the title-clincher and qualify for the SLS World Series slated Aug. 3-9 in Delaware.

Mary Joy Tabanes blasted a two-run homer in the third to spark the Pinays’ furious fightback. Grace Malalon and Ella Martinez completed the come-from-behind squeaker for the hosts, with the former stealing home and the latter pouncing on a fielding error to post the game-winner in the seventh.

“Winning the championship was a bonus after all the hard work we have put in,” coach Manny Llave, whose wards train at the Smokey Mountain diamond.

Llave is PE teacher at Antonio Villegas High School who is running a program for the poor youth in the community, using softball and baseball to help his players secure athletic scholarships. Two of them, Tabanes and Martinez will be incoming freshmen at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.  

Smokey Mountain split its first two matches with Guam, winning the first encounter, 11-0, but losing the second, 1-3, then hacked out a pivotal 11-0 triumph Wednesday to close in on the diadem.

In Senior League Baseball play, Philippine representative International Little League Association of Manila (7-4) nipped Guam, 7-4, to forge a three-way tie for first with their victims and CNMI in Pool A.

Tanauan dominated ILLAM, 12-7, to notch its third win in four outings in Minor League Baseball.