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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Blu Girls down New Zealand, Italy for a playoff spot in Women's Softball World Cup

Blu Girls down New Zealand, Italy for a playoff spot in Women's Softball World Cup

Published Jul 26, 2023 04:58 am
The Philippine Blu Girls pulled off a pair of gritty victories over New Zealand, 5-3, and Italy, 6-5, on Tuesday, July 25, for a playoff spot in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage in Castions di Strada, Italy.

*The Philippine Blu Girls celebrate their win in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage in Italy. (Photo from WBSC)

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The couple of triumphs, which were both delayed by inclement weather, sealed the Blu Girls the fourth and last spot in playoff round and would clash with the host Italians again for a chance at snatching one of the two spots to World Cup Finals. If the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed nation, which dropped its first three matches, beat Italy, which finished at No. 3 with a 3-2 record, again in their playoff Wednesday, July 26, it will battle the loser of the Canada-Japan showdown for that ticket to the World Cup Finals. The Canadians and the Japanese finished tied on top of the group with 4-1 cards. Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President Jean Henri Lhuillier lauded the team’s performance against their favored rivals. “No matter the odds against the stronger squads of Canada, Japan and Venezuela, the infallible spirit of the team was unbreakable. They came back, showed immense resilience and we could not be any prouder,” Lhuillier said. Trailing at 5-4 going into the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Angelu Gabriel reached on fielder’s choice and Nicole Hammoude scored on Italian catcher Marta Gasparotto’s error that sealed the Blu Girls’ epic walk off win. The Philippines-Italy game was halted during the bottom of the fourth inning with the score knotted at 1-1 due to thunderstorms. When it resumed, the Italians, who would have sealed top spot had they won, went to work with McKenzie Barbara smashing a double into left field that allowed Laura Vigna and Erika Piancestelli to scamper home. It was followed by Anita Bartoli scoring a run, thanks to a crisp single by Andrea Filler to center that gave the hosts a 4-1 lead atop the fifth inning. It was short-lived though as Hammoude countered with a powerful shot to right center field that sent Chezka Altamonte and Mary Maguad safely home that cut the Blu Girls’ deficit to 4-3. After a change of pitcher by Italy, Alaiza Talisik batted in a single to center that produced a run from Hammoude that tied the count again at 4-all. The Italians retaliated with a sacrificial fly ball to left by Erika Piancastelli that allowed Giulia Koutsoyanopoulos to score a run that gave them back the lead at 5-4. It proved to be the last as the Blu Girls pulled off a miraculous fight back in the final inning to snatch the win.

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