COUGARS, BULLDOGS ADVANCE TO SOFTBALL FINALS

The Academy Cougars have booked their ticket to defend their championship game after taking down the JFK Islanders 12-6 in Saturday’s semifinals of the ISA Girls Softball League.

Academy will face the Okkodo Bulldogs after Okkodo edged the GW Geckos 4-3 in the other semis. This is the first championship game in school history for the Bulldogs.

The championship game is slated for next Saturday at 1 pm at the Okkodo Field.

RECAP OF AOLG/JFK GAME

Junior pitcher Sadie Guerrero gave up five hits and three runs over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters.

Academy drew 11 walks and stole 18 bases combined.

Mariana Terlaje, Zaeyah Tajalle, Aniyah Benavente, Tera Mann, and Tisha Mann each drove in one run for Cougars. Tera Mann went 2-for-5 at the plate to lead Cougars in hits.

“Our girls knew that we would have to earn our way to the championship. JFK is a great team with great coaches, but our girls were ready,” said Academy head coach Marissa Maratita-Matanane. “They trusted each other and wanted to win for each other. The job is not done, we still have things to work on but I’m proud of how we are stepping into this next weekend.”

The Cougars finished the regular season undefeated, while the #2 Bulldogs had only one loss (to Academy).