Negros tops Southeast, finishes 7th in Little League Softball World Series

MANILA, Philippines — Asia-Pacific representative Negros ended its campaign in the Little League Softball World Series on a high note, blanking Southeast, 6-0, to finish seventh overall Wednesday at Alpenrose Stadium in Portland.

Mary Joy Alpitche provided a solid performance on both ends as the Bacolod-based squad took the fight away from its opponents from Gray, Tennessee with a stifling defense and searing offensive.

Alpitche held Southeast to only four hits, didn’t concede a run and struck out three while accounting for two RBIs on a 2-for-2 batting clip to complement Kenchie Tan, who went 3-for-4 and batted in two runners and reached home plate once.

The Filipina softbelles drew first blood in the second inning where Trisha Hicayen pounced on a passed ball to open a 1-0 lead. They widened the gap to 4-0 in the fifth with Hicayen driving home Laira Silverio and Alpitche blasting a two-run single. They put the game beyond reach an inning later with a Tan triple that scored Anna Rose Mactbag and Neavia Emborniza.

Negros’ final game in the 12-under division capped a sucessful stint for Phl’s softball teams in the various world series meets. A couple of weeks ago, Tanauan captured the country’s first ever world crown in the Senior League (16-U) division.