Bulacan Little League Softball girls rank second best in the Softball World Series

CITY OF MALOLOS – Passion for excellence and living the dream to represent the Asia-Pacific Region in the Softball World Series fueled the Bulakenya softball athletes’ desire to win and finished as 1st runner up in the Junior League Softball World Series 2015 held in Everest Park, Kirkland, Washington, USA last August 2-8, 2015.

The Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado commended the achievement of the Bulakenya athletes from the town of Norzagaray in Bulacan and rewarded them with plaques of recognition and a check amounting to P70,000 during the flag raising ceremony held at the Hiyas Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city this morning.

“Yung mapili kayo para katawanin ang Bulacan sa isang kumpetisyong pambansa, isang malaking karangalan na para sa atin, ‘yung katawanin ang bansa sa world series, lalo pang malaking karangalan pero ‘yung mag-uwi kayo ng titulo being the 1st runner up, ito’y sobrang biyaya na at ipinagmamalaki kayo ng inyong lalawigan,” Alvarado said.

The 10 participating teams were divided into two pools, A and B. The Asia-Pacific team lost their first two games on August 2 and 3 against Southeast (Florida) and Washington District 9 respectively. On their third and fourth qualifying games, they won against Canada and Central on August 4 and 5.

Their win against Mexican team with the score 10-3 pushed them to the semis where they faced the team from Arizona and battled their way to the championship with a 6-4 score.

During the championship, they once again faced the team from Florida and finished 1st runner up.

Meanwhile, Provincial Youth, Sports, Employment and Development Office Head Elizabeth Alonzo shared the team’s journey to the top.

“These girls came from modest families, living in relocation areas. They do not have enough resources to buy new equipment or uniforms, they even practiced on flooded fields, but they were excited and enthusiastic. Itong mga batang ito, they were very friendly, sports, and humble players, nag-uwi sila hindi lang ng karangalan kundi ng maraming aral na natutunan mula sa iba pang mga manlalaro,” Alonzo said.

The delegation was supported and assisted by the Philippine Sports Commission, the PGB, municipalities of Norzagaray and Santa Maria, Bulacan Sports Council, Department of Education-Bulacan, Iglesia Ni Cristo-Seattle, Washington headed by District Minister Ferdinand de Dios and the Filipino communities in Washington, USA.