All-Filipina Fate is one game away from being HK's softball champion

By Emz Frial

The all-Filipina softball team Fate is one step away to victory in the Hong Kong Softball Association’s regular league. The team now leads the current season’s tournament with 10 wins and no loss.

Fate won its 10th game on Jul 22 at Shek Kip Mei field against locals Deborah, 22-3, in a game that lasted five innings.

All smiles: Fate and Deborah players pose for a picture after the game

First to bat was Myra Japitana who blasted an outfield ball that allowed her to get to second base. Then Eunice Locop batted and was safe to first base. Third batter Maribel Sitchon smashed the ball to the outfield, then ran up to the second base, while Japitana and Locop all reached home.

Later Sitchon also ran to home base when Don Gaborno hit a short infield ball. Gaborno also reached home safely, which all added up to four points for Fate.

When the locals took their turn to bat, only four players managed to stand on the batters’ box. The first of their batters was caught on a flyball by short stop Editha Hidalgo, while the second and fourth batters were called standing out.

The score remained at 4-0 in Fate’s favor at the end of the inning.

In the second inning Fate added three more to its score, courtesy of Japitana, Locop and Gaborno.  Again, the Filipinas’ tight defense made it difficult for the locals to step on the bases.

The first batter on the other side was caught on a flyball by center fielder Sitchon,  while the next two batters were both caught on the first base. 

The second inning ended with scores at 7-nil, again in Fate’s favor.

Deborah bounced back with a vengeance in the third inning, scoring three points while preventing Fate from reaching home base. Those who scored for the local team were Chiu Ka Yee,  Ngai Sze Hing and Hui  Ka Wai. 

That brought the score to 7-3 for Fate, at the end of the inning.

But Fate’s luck was not over yet. The team scored a bounty of 8 points in the fourth inning, raising their score to 15. The locals were again blanked. Those who scored for Fate were ; Hidalgo,  Jonalyn Cupag,  Percy Jayme, Juliet Fernandez, May Ledesma, Japitana, Locop and Sitchon. 

With the scores at 15-3 for Fate at the end of the fourth inning, the writing was clearly on the wall.

But there was still no stopping Fate. By the end of the fifth and final inning, the locals had added 7 more points, making the final score 22-3 in their favor.

Team captain Gaborno was understandably pleased and thankful for the overwhelming win, and again credited it to the cooperation and unity among the players.

Fate is set to play its last game of the season on Jul 29 at Tin Kwong Road field, against Red Castle Infinity.