By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Three all-girls softball teams from Bago City, Negros Occidental will be seeing action in international tournaments next month.
Bago City Mayor Nicolas Yulo said that the three all girls softball teams will represent the Philippines in international games in the United States.
Yulo revealed this during the launch Monday afternoon of the PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) Baseball and Softball Visayan Region chapter at the Bago City coliseum.
This was attended by PONY International Asia Pacific representative Takeharu Nasu and Japan PONY director Tamami Kodemura, who were accompanied by PONY Philippines Region directors Rey Fuentes and Rodolfo Tingzon Jr.
Tingzon said PONY Baseball and Softball Philippines were “very inspired” by the interest shown by the people of Bago City in the sports of the baseball and softball, which they relayed to their international headquarters in the United States.
He added that because they were impressed by their report, PONY international headquarters reached a decision to open a PONY Visayan Region chapter that will promote the sports of baseball and softball to the youth with ages 4 to 18 years old, and give them the necessary tools to excel in both sports.
Coaches and equipment will be sent to Bago City to continually update coaches in the region, with the latest technology in training and coaching the youth, Tingzon said.
Fuentes said that with the establishment of Visayan Region chapter, they will be fielding all-girls softball teams (12 and 16 under), to the PONY International Softball World Series on July 19 to 24, in McAllen, Texas, USA, while another all girls softball team will once more join the Little League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington DC, USA.
Bago City softball players who will represent Philippines are competing against four US teams, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, China, France and the Czech Republic, he further said
Both Fuentes and Tingzon believe that the chances of softball players from Bago, the first two teams in Visayas to be fielded, is “very strong.”
Nasu and Kodemura also turned over an initial package of baseball and softball equipment during the launching program.
