Lebria leads the way for Sakudi

Liz Lebria collected three individual awards to lead the way for eventual champion Sakudi in the Belau Women’s Slow-pitch Softball League last Sunday at the Dandan ball field.

The GSM Babes almost won the championship but fell short with their upset title bid against regular season undefeated team Sakudi in the Belau Women’s Slow-pitch Softball League last Sunday at the Dandan ball field.
(Jon Perez)

The Sakudi center fielder went on to win the batting crown and most runs scored on her way to claiming the regular season’s most valuable player award.

She batted a combined 3-for-7 in the finals with three singles, four runs, and two RBIs.

Teammate Erin Mendiola was named finals MVP after combining for 5-for-7 with six runs, three singles, a double, and an RBI.

Rachel Salalila and Pina Magofna were the other Sakudi players who won an individual award after clinching the most RBIs and best ERA titles. She had 15 RBIs in the regular season and went 3-for-6 in the two-game finals.

Salalila had a single and an RBI in Game 1 and scored two runs after being walked twice in Sakudi’s 26-0 crushing of the GSM Babes in the deciding match.

Magofna pitched a complete game in Game 2 of the finals where she shut down the Babes. She held the Babes to eight hits, all singles, and one walk while forcing opposing batters to either fly out, grounded out or hit line drives.

The GSM Babes had some consolation after Kuki Pangelinan, Pauline Camacho, and Eddilyn Benjamin also went home with individual trophies based on the regular season statistics.

Pangelinan had the most doubles, Camacho was the home run queen, and Benjamin had the most number of strikeouts.

GSM manager Martin Naputi was named Manager of the Year after guiding the Babes to a finals showdown with the undefeated Sakudi.

Julie Omar of Chagi Norf collected the most triples trophy, while Y-Sei Y-Sei claimed the Sportsmanship award.

Sakudi, aside from claiming the championship, were the pennant winners. They enjoyed a twice-to-beat edge in the finals after sweeping all of their matches in the elimination round.

Sakudi went on to win the women’s crown but not without getting a scare from the GSM Babes in the championship. Their unbeaten season ended with a 10-9 loss in the finals opener but bounced back with a 26-0 crushing in Game 2 to foil the Babes’ upset bid.

Bert Camacho, Thelma Mizer, Maria Aldan, Juljean Ngeskebei, Britta Baechler, Suaad Younis, Carlyn Reyes, and Krissa Deleon Guerrero were the other members of the Paul Salalila- and Ed Mendiola-coached Sakudi.

Erlinda Naputi, Catalina Dela Cruz, Jhaneeka Atalig, Melissa Benjamin, Jennifer Palacios, Naelyn Naputi, Tani Masga, C.J. Litulumar, Ta’an Demapan, Tiah Camacho, Sue Cabrera, Almina Deleon Guerrero, Nicia Cabrera, and Lizann Deleon Guerrero were the other players of the Bill Camacho-coached Babes.