COUGARS WRAP UP PERFECT SOFTBALL SEASON

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Academy Cougars held off the Okkodo Bulldogs 20-19 to win back-to-back championships in the ISA Softball League. It was a dramatic ending at the Okkodo field with the Cougars holding off a late Bulldog rally to cap off their 2025 undefeated season with another ISA championship.

The Cougars were up 20-13 heading into the seventh inning, and the Bulldogs nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback with six runs in their final at-bat.

Academy’s Aniyah Benavente led the Cougars with three hits and four runs-batted-in (RBIs). “This was a different Okkodo team that we faced,” said Benavente. “They came out swinging and caught us off guard. It was definitely a challenge and shout out to them for playing a great game.”

The Cougar bats were on fire early in the contest with Mariana Terlaje and Mylie Butters recording inside the park home runs. Leadoff hitter Zaeyah Tajalle had a pair of hits and scored three runs for the Cougars as they held on to 16-6 lead after just three innings of play.

The Bulldogs were down, but not out. Okkodo scored six runs in the fourth inning with Christina Welley starting the rally with a single. Okkodo’s Taylor Camacho followed up with another hit to score Welley.

Okkodo pitcher Makayla Gilbert recorded a bases loaded single to score two more runs, and the Bulldogs were trailing 16-12. After a rain delay, Academy starting pitcher Sadie Guerrero ends the inning with a strikeout.

The Cougars answer with the Butters inside the park homerun, followed by a two run RBI triple by Benavente to the left center field. The Cougars go up 19-12 after five innings.

Both teams put up runs, and the score was 20-13 entering the final inning.

The Bulldogs start the inning with a triple by Scarlet Naputi. Naputi later scored off an errant throw. After a pair of walks, Gilbert stepped to the plate and brought home Zoie Sablan and Lillie Cruz with a two-run double to left field.

Academy was clinging to 20-16 lead, and the crowd on both sides start encouraging their team. Eralyn Miller recorded a single for the Bulldogs and drove in another run to cut the lead to 20-17. Gilbert scored off a sacrifice fly, and Welley scored off a fielder’s choice to cut the lead to 20-19 with two outs.

Cougar relief pitcher Tyra-Lei Duenas got ahead on the count with runners on second and third base. Duenas calmly delivered a pitch in the strike zone and got the final out of the game with the Okkodo batter swinging. Duenas got the save, and Guerrero recorded another win for the Cougars on the mound.

The victory is the fourth championship for Academy in the last six years. The Cougars finish the season with an 8-0 record, while this was the first softball championship appearance in Okkodo’s school history.

“Pressure is a privilege. When it came down to that last inning, we felt the pressure,” said Tajalle. Tajelle said she was proud of her team for performing well under pressure.

“In the end, it showed who wanted it more: we worked hard all season for this, and we left it all out on the field,” said Tajalle.

“I’m an affiliate from ND. This team welcomed me with open arms, and we are a family. Our goal was to make it to championship, and we did. Winning the championship is a bonus for us,” said Tajalle.

“I’ll admit we got a little complacent being the top seed,” said Benavente. “But we trusted in the work we put in to get here and trusted each other,” said Benavente.

“It was a battle, and we had to work really hard to win the championship. I’m really proud of the team for all the work we put in there,” said Benavente. 

In the consolation third place game, the GW Geckos defeated the JFK Islanders 11-1.