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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Blu Girls yield to Italy, end Women's Softball World Cup bid

Blu Girls yield to Italy, end Women's Softball World Cup bid

Published Jul 27, 2023 05:16 am
The Philippine Blu Girls couldn’t replicate its sensational showing the day before and succumbed to host Italy in a rain-delayed 6-5 result Wednesday, July 26, that ended its WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals bid in Castions di Strada, Italy.

*The Philippine Blu Girls finish fourth in the tournament.  (Photo from WBSC)

*

It was a heartbreaker of a defeat for the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls, who failed to capitalize on their scoring chances and fell to the same host team they beat via the same score in Group C elimination round matches. A win would have sent the country into another game against Canada, which fell to Japan, 7-1, for the last spot in the World Cup Finals. Instead, it went outright to Canada as Italy was already assured entry since it would host the World Cup Finals next year. Despite the defeat, it was still a proud performance for the Ana Santiago-mentored squad as it managed to snatch the last spot to the playoff round and eventually wound up fourth in its group. Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) President Jean Henri Lhuillier still lauded the squad despite the outcome. “While this may not be the outcome that we were hoping for, I am still immensely proud of the Blu Girls. They never flinched despite being grouped together with higher-ranking teams like Japan, Canada, Itqly and Venezuela," Lhuillier said. "I believe that our girls will bounce back from this and come back stronger than ever in the next World Cup. Of  course I, with the support of the FIlipino people, will be supporting the girls for what’s to come and prepare them for their future battles," he added. Just like in their last game, it was a nip-and-tuck duel between the combatants with the Blu Girls gaining the early 1-0 edge atop the first inning and the Italians snatching a 3-1 upperhand on a three-run homer to center field by Giulia Koutsoyanopulos at the bottom second. A grounder to left field by Elsie dela Torre sent Guilia Longhi and Chezka Altamonte home to knot the count at 3-all on top of the third. It was a deadlock that proved to be momentary as Koutsoyanopulos struck again with another hit to left field that scored two runs and gave the host nation back the edge, 5-3, before the game was halted due to a deluge and thunderstorms. When play resumed, Altamonte blasted a hit into deep center and right field for two more RBIs that tied the score again at 5-all atop the fourth. McKenzie Barbara sent Alessandra Rotondo home with a sacrificial fly that gave Italy a 6-5 advantage at the bottom of the same inning. It proved to be the match-clinching run as the Blu Girls couldn’t score from there.

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