PHL softbelles lose title bid in Big League World Series

Manila's quest to finally rule the 2011 Big League Softball World Series ended in disappointment after the Asia-Pacific representatives suffered a 9-2 loss to Grand Rapids in Wednesday's finals (Thursday in Manila) at the Vanderberg Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was another sorry loss for the Big City softbelles in the championship game. This is the third time that the team failed to win the title at the expense of Grand Rapids (2008, 2010 and 2011). Manila could not stop Grand Rapids' onslaught as starting pitcher Rizza Bernardino yielded five runs in the sixth inning to give the Michigan natives their second straight title and fourth overall in nine years. Starting pitcher Rizza Bernardino struck out 12 batters in six innings and belted a solo home run in the second but her teammates failed to give her the needed offensive support against Grand Rapids pitcher Morgan Groom, who gave up six hits and struck out seven batters in a complete game outing. Bernardino took the place of top hurler Veronica Belleza, who took a mandated day-off after throwing the maximum number of pitches allowed in their previous game against Latin America on Wednesday. But Bernardino gave up a two-run homer to Sierra Mutschler in the second inning to break a 1-1 deadlock and a two-run double to Kelten Dewey that highlighted the pivotal sixth inning. Kelten Dewey scored Grand Rapids' first run when she crossed home plate on a Bethaney Murphey double. Bernardino tied the game with her solo shot in the second inning. But Manila didn't score after that until the seventh when the game was already out of reach. Danielle Freeman added a run in the fourth with when she reached home plate on a Amanda Kimes single for a 4-2 lead. Stowell had a sacrifice fly in the sixth while Freeman, who reached first base on a Chichiro Bamba catching error, scored on an error by shortstop Carol Banay. Dewey connected on a two-run double while Sara Driesanga ended the inning with another run. Bernardino scored Manila's other run on a Bamba sacrifice fly in the seventh. The game ended when Banay grounded out. The loss spoiled Manila's thrilling 8-7 come-from-behind win over Latin America where they rallied back from five runs down in the final day of eliminations. - Reuben Terrado/JVP, GMA News