THREE Thomasian softbelles helped the Manila Little League to a third-place finish in the 2015 Little League World Series Big League Division last Aug. 2 to 9 in Lower Sussex County, Delaware.
Manila Little Leaguers improved on their fifth place finish last year after a narrow 3-2 victory against 2014 champions Millsboro Delaware for bronze.
The squad finished with a 4-1 win-loss record, winning its first three games against California District 51, Morganton Little League, and Indiana District 11 before losing to eventual champions Louisiana in the semifinals.
Little League veteran Anne Antolihao ended her stint with the team as the starting pitcher after replacing mainstays Veronica Belleza and Annalie Benjamin who played their last games the previous year.
“Ang World Series ay isang magandang experience para sa akin kasi makakalaban mo ‘yung [teams ng] iba’t ibang lugar sa mundo. Hindi ‘yung puro Pinoy lang nakakalaro mo,” Antolihao said.
Southeast Asian Games champion and sophomore Celestine Palma, who manned the catcher position, proved to be a force to reckon with after blasting three huge homeruns in the tournament.
Two-time national team member Cristy Roa also showcased impressive hits and solid defensive stops to secure wins for the Philippine team.
“Very overwhelmed at sobrang masaya. Even though magkakaibang schools kami, we still managed to cooperate [with each other]. Malaking boost sa confidence kasi nga it’s international and nagawa naman namin ang dapat ipakita sa coaches namin,” Palma said.
The Manila Little League team is composed of softbelles from other UAAP schools such as Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila University, National University and University of the East.
