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MHS keeps 3-peat bid alive
Jennifer Dela Cruz tossed a two-hitter and Marianas High School kept its three-peat title bid intact with a 26-10 crushing of Saipan Southern High School in the playoffs of the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization girls’ softball league yesterday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan ballfield.
Dela Cruz pitched in no relief allowing the Lady Manta Rays to three earned runs on two hits—a single to Erin Mendiola and a double to Jauliana Borja in the bottom of the third—with 10 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Marianas High School pitcher Jennifer Dela Cruz throws to the plate in their semifinal game against Saipan Southern High School in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization softball league yesterday at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan ballfield. (Jon Perez)
MHS only needed three outs in the bottom of the sixth to seals the first finals berth. The championship is set at 4pm on Friday, May 22, while the consolation match is on Thursday, May 21.
Dela Cruz got the quick two outs when she forced Mendiola to fly out to center fielder Nievanalyn Iguel then struck out Nipi Laniyo on her fifth pitch.
She threw two quick strikes against Borja but lost the Saipan Southern pitcher when she tossed four consecutive balls to put a Lady Mantas runner on base.
Dela Cruz then only needed three pitches against Danielle Mafnas as the SSHS left fielder struck out swinging.
Dela Cruz also went 3-for-4 with a double and made three runs, while Ursula Lizama had two doubles, touched home plate three times, and had five RBIs in a 3-for-5 batting.
Both teams also had their fair share of errors with MHS committing 10, while SSHS had 16 the entire game.
MHS now waits for the winner of today’s other semis pairing between Mt. Carmel School and Kagman High School for its finals opponent on Friday. The loser will face Saipan Southern in the battle for third on Thursday.
