THE Lady Blue Jays, who are the defending champions, and the Hot Shots are off to a strong start in the ladies division of the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball League after defeating their respective opponents during Sunday’s opening games at the Dandan baseball field.
Formerly known as the Queens of Diamonds, the Lady Blue Jays powered past Lady Sufa, 19-5, in five innings.
The action started in the second inning with Lady Sufa drawing first blood.
Sheena Maratita and Jaylina Borja ignited the run as they filled the bases with a double each and were brought home moments later by Joella Togawa and Tonya Borja for a total of four runs made.
But thanks to Lady Sufa’s errors, the Lady Blue Jays slipped past with three runs to stay within reach, 3-4.
Lady Sufa failed to score in the third inning while the Lady Blue Jays rode the momentum and seized scoring opportunities with four consecutive runs before the first out.
Lady Blue Jays’ Destiny Pangelinan then connected a two-RBI single followed by Kiana Camacho’s in-the-park homerun, bringing in two runners home for two RBIs of her own as their team took a comfortable 12-4 advantage.
Lady Sufa tried to stay in the fight with a solo run contributed by Annalyn Olupumar’s sacrifice fly ball. However, in the bottom of the fourth inning, seven more runs were made by the Lady Blue Jays.
Lady Sufa had one more chance to keep the game going when they filled the bases, but Lady Blue Jays pitcher Bert Camacho struck out the third Lady Sufa batter to end the game early via the mercy rule, 19-5.
Hot Shots vs Lady Legals
Also tasting victory on Sunday were the Hot Shots who outlasted the Lady Legals, 13-9.
The Lady Legals opened the first inning with a single run made off an error, but they were nowhere to be seen for nearly the remainder of the game.
As for the Hot Shots, they quickly recovered in the top of the second inning, establishing control with eight runs scored, highlighted by Lem Ogumoro and Rosie Saralu’s two-RBI triple for an 8-1 lead.
Both teams remained quiet in the next few innings, but in the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Legals managed to capitalize off a handful of defensive errors and regained control by scoring eight runs, 9-8.
Fortunately for the Hot Shots, they managed to notch five runs in the top of the seventh and final inning to defeat the Lady Legals, 13-9.
Lady Blue Jay’s Kiana Camacho throws infield for the out during a ladies division game of the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball League at the Dandan baseball field on Sunday.
Lady Sufa centerfielder Tonya Borja reaches out to catch the grounder during a ladies division game of the 2023 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball League at the Dandan baseball field on Sunday.
