IPONAN A’s top player Arthur Alvarez and his team mates stepped up from the third inning deadlock to beat Alsbals, 8-3 and capture 2017 Alubijid Fast Pitch Softball Open last Sunday at the Alubijid National High School open field.
Iponan A’s leaned on the four homeruns of Salazar, MJ Udasco, Payla and Ronel Abrera. Iponan A surged a 2-0 advantage in the second inning after taking advantage of the errors from Alsbals’ starting pitcher.
The Alsbals however clawed back and tied the game at 2-2 after Rodelo Sabellina hit a home run from Alvarez’s pitch.
But, the 55-year-old Alvarez was just warming up from Sabellina’s surprising hit as he waxed hot in the fourth until the seventh and last inning.
The veteran pitcher, known for striking out batters in perfect games, changed his pitch with hard drop balls. “Alvarez got better with his pitches in the fourth to the last inning and we had trouble hitting them. Hanep si Art,” said Alsbals’ Macoy Gumapo.
While Alvarez got back from his fierce form, his teammates were also getting good hits including homeruns that lifted Iponan A to win the title.
In crossover round semis, Iponan A crushed Alubijid A, 15-1. Alsbals, on the other hand, defeated Iponan A’s sister team Iponan B via 8-1.
