
By Robert Balajadia
The Academy Cougars were up 9-1 against the GW Geckos in 6th inning in a battle of the ISA Softball League’s top teams, but the Geckos proved that no lead is too safe. The home team GW rallied in the final two innings to get as close as 9-8 with the game tying run at third in the bottom of the 7th, but the Cougars would prevail to remain unbeaten Tuesday afternoon.
Things got hectic quickly for Cougars starting pitcher Isabella Dangan with the Geckos shrugging off their slow start in the 6th. A bunt turned single from Savannah Grant got the team fired up and pass ball errors would provide runs to put the Geckos within reach trailing just 9-5 heading into the 7th.
A double-play from Gecko Sophia Cruz at first base would highlight the top of the 7th and relief pitcher Marcelina Pangelinan would earn her fifth strikeout to keep the Cougars from putting any more runs on the board.
Another bunt from Grant would keep the sticks hot for GW, and catcher Rocki Mesa set the field off with a three-run in the park home run to get within 9-8.
GW’s Cruz would then smack a triple, sitting at third with the game tying run. With two outs away, the young Cougar sophomore Dangan felt every ounce of pressure to try and preserve the game.
“I felt a lot of pressure on that mound, but my team really backed me up and I knew they had my back. They told me that I had to have heart. Coach pulled me aside and said to show heart because I’m not the only one working hard out there,” said Dangan on how she dealt with the pressure.
Instead of pulling Dangan, the Cougar coaches showed confidence allowing her to finish the game, which meant a lot to her.
“I felt really good to know that they believed that I could take it. We’re always taught that pressure is a privilege,” added Dangan.
GW’s Pangelinan would get a hit on Dangan’s pitch, but a pop fly to third had Olivia Salas sitting under it for the final out.
The Cougars were hitting strong through the first four innings to grab a 7-0 lead through three, but they knew not to sleep on the Geckos hitters.
“We know that GW is a really good team and they have a lot of sticks, but we used the ‘who wants it more’ mentality to get off to a good start,” said Muna.
Dangan gets the win and Geckos starting pitcher Rhonamae Salvador takes the loss.
The win improves the Cougars to (6-0) and the Geckos fall to (5-2). This sets up a big showdown against the also undefeated Southern Dolphins (6-0) in the regular season finale Thursday at Southern for the leagues top spot.
“We’re not taking any team lightly and we’re just ready to work. It’s going to come down to who shows heart,” added Muna.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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