By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

The Negros Occidental-based Philippine softball team, representing the Asia-Pacific region, opened their 2017 Senior League Softball World Series campaign winning both games of yesterday’s doubleheader over the Latin America and East regions at the Bruce Layton Field, Lower Sussex, Delaware in the United States.
Negrense pitcher Kaith Ezra Jalandoni led the defense in the first game, allowing only two hits from the team based in Manuabo, Puerto Rico.
Neo May Mahinay and Joy Maguad opened scoring with two runs in the first inning, with Chastene Jover putting the Philippines up 3-0 after the second inning.
Maguad added a run in the fifth and sixth innings, along with Mae Minanga and Mea Tubongbanua making it a total three runs in the sixth.
With the Latin America team unable to score at the top of the seventh, the game ended with a huge 7-0 victory for the Asia-Pacific side.
In their second game, Jalandoni allowed only three hits by the side representing the East region from Haverstraw, New York.
The Philippine side came out on top 5-0, scoring in the second, third, and fourth innings.
Jover and Mahinay both currently lead the team with the most runs, scoring three each. Glory Alonzo, meanwhile, currently carries the best batting average, earning four hits from six at bats.
The Negrense squad next faces the Southwest region, represented by a team from Vidalia, Louisiana./WDJ