Balas, Patriots-Angels dispute softball crown

Apple Tyquiengco pitches for Balas during their semis game against the Ayuyus in the Natibu Sports Association Girls Fast-pitch and Boys Slow-pitch Softball League last Saturday at the Capital Hill Ballfield. (Roby N. Pamintuan)

Balas doubled up the Ayuyus, 20-10, to secure a spot in the finals of the Natibu Sports Association Girls Fast-pitch and Boys Slow-pitch Softball League last Saturday at the Capital Hill Ballfield.

Balas’ impressive performance on both ends of the field gave the team a 14-0 advantage in the first two innings and it never looked back to beat the Ayuyus in the second semis berth.

Apple Tyquiengco led Balas’ strong start, as she hit a grand slam at the bottom of the first inning. The Balas’ starting pitcher brought home with her Maria Igitol, Amy Cabrera, and Tamisha Sablan. Angel Deleon Guerrero, Keona Rogopes, and Cheyenne Sablan also reached for Balas in the first inning.

Balas sustained its momentum in the second inning with Tyquiengco again, anchoring the team’s offense, as she blasted a two-run homer. The next five batters of Balas also made it home for the eventual finalist’s commanding lead, as the Lady Ayuyus had no response early in the game.

Things continued to look bleak for the Ayuyus in the third inning after their first two batters—Juanah Lizama and Esper Santos—struck out. However, to their relief, Nana Camacho managed to cross home plate off Balas’ error. Not to be outdone, Balas countered with Deleon Guerrero and Tamisha Sablan scoring to increase their lead, 16-1.

Balas and the Ayuyus each scored one run in the fourth inning, allowing the former to keep its safe distance before the latter attempted a comeback in the fifth. The Ayuyus produced seven runs with Camacho, Selina Taitano, Joan Weita, Camille Muna, Mymy Welson, Ane Magofna, and Pauline Bondoe scoring to keep their team in the game. However, when it was Balas’ turn at bat, Agulto homered and drove in Rogopes and Cheyenne Sablan to ice the game and pave their path to a finals duel against the Patriots-Angels this Saturday. The Patriots-Angels earlier bagged the first finals berth after blanking the Niners, 26-0.

Balas is the underdog in the title match, as the squad is just a newly organized team. However, the group is counting on its chemistry to give the favored Patriots-Angels a good fight.

“Without [my team] giving their best effort, we wouldn’t make it to the championship,” Tyquiengco said. “At first, when we watched the Ayuyus and Patriots-Angels, we got scared and had butterflies, but now it’s like a regular game for us since we challenged them already.”

“We have to improve our batting and timing the ball, but most importantly our communication,” she added.