By Joshlynn Taimanglo
and R. Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

“Time!” With those words, from the head umpire, the Lady Geckos of the George Washington High School in Mangilao claimed the 2006-2007 Girls’ High School Crown for the first time in many years.
The Geckos beat the Southern High Dolphins 9-8 at Southern’s home field to earn the championship, a first for the Mangilao School dating back over four years. “Sheesh, I can’t remember when we last won, but it sure feels great stated GW Athletic Director Marty Boudreau.” He added, “The girls worked hard, they deserve it and we’re happy.” Prior to the Geckos win yesterday, the Simon Sanchez Sharks had hosted the softball gold for four seasons.
Southern got on the board first scoring three runs. GW would tie it up with three of their own. The teams’ defenses would buckle down and keep the game tied through the second inning. In the third, both teams’ pitchers, Rosann Meeks and GW’s Keishia Taimanglo paced each other with three-up three down performances.
In the top of the fourth, the Dolphins scored five to take the lead 8-3. The Geckos would rally n the bottom fourth and a host of errors including an interference call on Southern’s 3 rd baseman would put GW up for good 9-8 as time expired.
Taimanglo, the winning pitcher was proud of her team’s accomplishment. “It feels great to be this year’s champions. We all did our part today to secure the win and that’s what our team needed.”
Taimanglo added that despite Southern’s strong finish at second best, it only made sense that they would win the championship as they were top-seeded in the regular season.