The Abanse Negrense Negros Occidental Softball Team was recently named the champions in the Little League and Senior League categories, and first runner-up for the Junior League category at the Little League Philippine Series – National Finals held at Tanauan City, Batangas on April 7 to 13. The all-girls softball team bested the top teams from various regions and provinces all over the country.
In the Little League (Major SB) category, the Negros Occidental Softball Team took home the championship title after defeating a strong contender, Tanauan City, with a score of 4 – 1 in a total of seven innings. Agoncillo, on the other hand, landed at third place after beating Tarlac with a score of 13 – 2.
Team Negros, however, failed to clinch the champion trophy in the Junior League category against the Smokey Mountain Team. The latter took a good lead scoring 4 – 0 during the first inning, but the Negros Team fought hard to regain their momentum to score 4 points at the end of the fifth.
Unfortunately, the team succumbed to their opponent with a final score of 4 – 5, in favor of Smokey Mountain, landing Team Negros as the first runner-up in this category while the host city, Tanauan, earned the third place rank after defeating Ilocos Norte with a final score of 9 – 8.
It was an intense battle between two Negros Occidental teams in the Senior League championship category, where the Abanse Negrense Softball Team faced the Bago City Team. During the early going, Bago City took the lead with a score of 2 – 0 in the fifth inning. Team Negros, however, turned the tables at the end of the tenth, taking the scoreboard to 3 – 2, and earning the title of champions in the Senior League Category.
Medina Misamis Oriental Team, on the other hand, took the third place after taking a 2-point lead against Tanauan City in the Battle for Third game with a final score of 6 – 2.
With their recent victories, the Abanse Negrense Negros Occidental Softball Team (Majors and Seniors) have qualified to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Asia Pacific Regional Tournament in July.
The team was led by Provincial Sports Coordinator and Executive Assistant IV – Sports Anthony Carlo Agustin, who met with De La Salle University Lady Batters Head Coach Jasper Cabrera and Raoul S. Recto during the tournament.
The Little League Philippine Series is the largest softball and baseball tournament in the country. The participation of the Negros Occidental all-girls Softball Team in the Little League tournaments was made possible through the continuous efforts and support of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who spearheads the sports programs of the province.*
