MANILA – Bago City, representing the Philippines, settled for a fourth place finish in the Little League Softball World Series, which ended on Tuesday at the Greenville, North Carolina.
The Negrenses failed to secure a podium finish in the week-long competition after being held to only one hit by Chesterfield, Virginia, 9-0, in the battle-for-third place game.
Ace pitcher Jacey Pajotal, who threw a one-hitter against New England to lead the Filipinas into the semifinals, allowed four runs in the second and third innings to suffer the loss.
Overall, the Negrenses finished the tournament for players 10 to 12 years old with three wins against three losses.
Pajotal and Chear Blancia starred in Bago City’s first two wins against Alberta, Canada (1-0), and Bolonga, Italy (4-1).
The Filipinas absorbed their first loss at the hands of Delmar, 2-0, and were relegated to the loser’s bracket.
The Asia-Pacific representatives reached the semifinals following a 1-0 victory over Milford, Connecticut before suffering an 11-0 thrashing from Delmar in the Final Four.
During their Little League World Series campaign, Bago City was given the Girls With Game Team Sportsmanship Award by tournament organizers.
Presented for the first time during the 2021 edition, the award recognizes a team that shows what it means to be “Girls with Game” both on and off the field.
“On behalf of all of us at the Little League Softball World Series, we are honored to present the 2022 Girls with Game Team Sportsmanship Award to Negros Occidental Little League,” said Ashlea Nash, Little League Director of Softball Development.
“Since the moment they arrived, the players of Negros Occidental Little League have shown the excitement and sportsmanship that makes the Little League World Series experience so meaningful and have proven what it means to be Girls with Game,” she added./PN
