The all-Filipina softball team Fate, survived the threat of being dropped from bracket A of the Hong Kong Softball Association’s tournament by scoring a resounding win over local rivals Phoenix, 14-4, on Aug 24 at the Tin Kwong Road field.
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| Members of the all-Filipina softball team Fate in post-game celebration. |
The game started with a homerun by batter Ynez Badajos of away team, Fate. The former varsity player and Philippine national team member struck the ball to the left outfield, allowing her to sail continuously to the home base unhampered.
Ma. Eva Mendez then added another home.
When Phoenix took over the base, Chan Mei Mei made a home, ending the inning on a score of 2-1 in favor of Fate.
In the second inning, a throwing error by local pitcher Qu Zhe allowed Editha Hidalgo to take a free walk to first base.
Badajos then slammed another long outfield ball to the left, which gave her a chance to dash to third base, while Hidalgo hit home base.
Don Gaborno then batted, and ran to first base. Next to bat was Mendez, who slammed the ball to the left outfield, allowing her to run up to second base. The two other base runners, Badajos and Gaborno, managed to reach home base without being stopped.
Later, Mendez ran up to home base when Lyka Algonez scored another hit, which allowed her to reach second base. But she got stuck there when the next batter, Sherlyn Gamata, got caught.
Taking the bat for Phoenix, Chan Pui Sho managed to smash the ball and run to second base.
Later, she sailed to home base when Pang Hoi Man hit a long outfield ball. Pang got as far as third base, but was caught out on home base by Algonez who quickly tagged her before the local could step on the plate.
One more home was added to the locals’s score by Tsui Wing Shuen, before the inning ended at 6-3, still in Fate’s favor.
In the third inning, Romela Osabel added another point to Fate’s score.
The Filipinas tightened their defense from then on, but Phoenix did likewise.
This resulted in both sides failing to add to their scores in the fourth inning, but in the fifth, Osabel managed to break away to score a run for Fate.
This was countered by Tsang Lai Shan who notched another point for Phoenix in the sixth, which ended at 8-4, with Fate still in the lead.
The final inning saw Fate seal victory with a a cavalcade of six runs, courtesy of; Badajos, Myra Japitana, Gaborno, Eunice Locop, Osabel and Cherry Octaviano.
Meanwhile, Fate scored another victory when its B team beat local rivals True Light, 13-3, on Sept. 4, at the Shek Kip Mei field.
In the first inning, Fate claimed three homes via Katherine Gerpacio, Ma. Eva Mendez and Don Gaborno.
True Light bounced back a bit in the second inning, with a home from Lam Hoi Tung.
But Fate regained momentum in the third inning, with a score each from Gerpacio, Mendez, Gaborno and Rose Espano.
The locals retaliated with two homes by Tam Hiu Nam and Ching Wah, to end the inning at 7-3.
But Fate could not be denied their victory. The team successfully scored three more runs from Ynez Badajos, Gerpacio, Mendez, Gaborno, Ma. Luz Mandia and Maribel Sitchon, to end the game at 13-3.
The twin victories left Fate happy and thankful to all its players and supporters. Team captain Gaborno thanked all players for their cooperation and determination to win their games, despite the odds, as well as their supporters who always come by to cheer them on, win or lose.
