By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

After dropping their opening game of the 2017 Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon in the United States, the Philippine little league softball team, the Bacolod City West Little League, bannered by the Education and Training Center School III, lost their two succeeding games and remain winless in the tournament.
The team, representing the Asia-Pacific region, lost 7-3 to the Central region, represented by the Floyds Knobs Community Club Little League from Floyds Knobs, Indiana; and 9-0 to the Southwest region, represented by Lake Air Little League from Waco, Texas.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Central region managed to score five runs at the bottom of the second, after the Negrense side failed to deliver a run earlier in the inning.
Anne Patricio and Rhea May Quilongquilong managed to get the Asia-Pacific side on the board, scoring two runs in the third inning; however, the Central side responded with an equal number of runs during their at bats, keeping the margin between the two at five runs, with the Indiana-based side heading into the fourth up 7-2.
Patricio went on to pull one back for the Philippines, scoring a run in the top of the fifth, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
The following day, the team faced the Southwest region, who got to scoring immediately, earning two runs in both the first and second innings.
The Texas-based squad followed that up with four runs in the third, and their final run scored in the following inning.
Lake Air Little League pitcher Daniella Ramirez delivered a total six strikeouts. Meanwhile, Mary Joy Alpitche and Angelica Cordero shared pitching duties for the Negrense side.
The Philippines next faces the Latin America region, represented by Softball Femenino de Coamo Little League of Coamo, Puerto Rico./WDJ