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Team Akkari shoots for second softball crown
Team Akarri hopes to keep the Sta. Remedios slow-pitch softball tournament title when it vies anew for the second edition of the fundraising event to be held over the weekend at the Capital Hill Ballfield.
The tournament is a fundraising event for next month’s Sta. Remedios Fiesta in Tanapag.
Akarri, which topped the three-day event two weeks ago, is tipped to again rule the tournament after perennial title contender Natibu begged off to join.
Fourteen teams will try to foil Akarri‘s title bid.
The first game will be played at 6:30pm on Friday night and the matches will continue on Sunday where the Top 2 teams after the elimination round will vie for the tournament crown.
The Ray Saralu-powered Akarri ended Natibu’s undefeated run in the finals to rule the Sept. 5 to 6 tournament, which attracted nine other squads.
Akarri lost to Natibu in the elimination round and had to beat Team Vinnie in the playoffs to book a finals spot. They got back on their tormentors in the finals, 15-9.
Akarri trailed for most part of the match but behind Saralu’s consistent hitting slowly got back in the game they making their move in the top of the fifth to take the lead, 9-8.
A Saralu sacrifice fly RBI highlighted Akarri’s comeback.
After holding Natibu to a single run in the bottom of the fifth, Saralu again stepped up to the plate and with the bases loaded with one out, sent Jerome Delos Santos’ third pitch sailing past the left field fence to enjoy a 13-8 lead.
Akarri, which also scored a 15-9 decision over Team Vinnie behind Saralu’s two homeruns in the semis, did not let the opportunity slip away and played solidly in the last two innings to complete the win.
Natibu swept its way to the finals to enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage, but both teams and the organizers decided not to play the second game due to the heavy downpour that flooded the field. (Jon Perez)
