TMS takes home fastpitch softball tiara

The north side is definitely home to the bat-and-ball sport as Tanapag Middle School Lady Tatagas claimed their second softball title in a row—this time in the PSS-NMISA Inaugural Fastpitch Softball 2024-2025 season over a formidable Mount Carmel School Lady Knights team on Saturday at the Dandan Softball Field.

The Lady Tatagas went up against an MCS team that was equally as hungry for the title as the Lady Knights fought and forced their way into a winner-take-all second game, but the sluggers of the north kept their composure and sealed their title with a 14-4 win.

Kyria Ngiraked pitched both games and was rewarded with the championship for her efforts in the final game, where she held down the exhausted Lady Knights. She allowed just four runs and nine hits, while her offense supported her in the fourth inning, scoring eight of their 14 runs, which led to their eventual victory.

Lady Knights ace Miana Dela Cruz put up a good fight until that fateful fourth inning when she couldn't get out of the jam as TMS tacked up the hits and found holes in their defense.

The first game was a rollercoaster ride and a whirlwind, as MCS won by a hair, 11-10, forcing the final game. However, their energy ran out as TMS locked in during the final game and sealed their supremacy in softball—just like their boys' team, which won the slow-pitch season last year and the fast-pitch season this year as well.

TMS was made up of Kayshlie Aguon, Jonielle Pua, Kyria Ngiraked, Rexyann Jose, Chelsea Santos, Jervanny Babauta, Callie Abraham, Ziela Sablan, Kylee Mira, Ivalynn Farnsworth, Anella Pangelinan, Gianna Moses, Rhiana Macalinao, Rayana Kaipat, Memzie Elieisar, and Risa Sablan.

The Lady Knights consisted of Aiyana Pangelinan, Ava Sablan, Cali Cabrera, Heaven Deleon Guerrero, Kennani Villagomez, Mia Guerrero, Miana Dela Cruz, Neia Tagabuel, Orchid Castro, Paige Muna, Ressa Borja, and Victoria Terlaje.

TMS ace Ngiraked said that it felt good to win the championship after losing the first game. She gave a shoutout to MCS coaches and their team for making it that far. She then said of her teammates, “I want to congratulate them for not giving up and for always having faith in each other.”

TMS head coach Neil Camacho said of their back-to-back titles, “Our girls played their hearts out. Coming off from a second loss again to MCS in the regular season, it really got us to really open up our eyes and take this seriously and have our girls have some teamwork in the infield. Coming off from that first loss [in the finals], it was a reality check for us. We wanted to try and secure that win and take home the championship and I guess that’s what really brought our girls to speed things up and work as a team.”

With that, Camacho said, “It’s exciting coming off winning back-to-back champs. Our boys the last two seasons, also won the championship back-to-back… This is a great feeling—it’s unreal.”

When asked if Tanapag is really the home of baseball/softball,TMS co-head coach Felisa Brel Teliu, said, “It is. We have a lot of parents that are baseball players or former baseball players.” Camacho added, “Every school can play any sport—baseball, though it is home at the north side—TMS. We also have good players coming up in [Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School], and just excited to see who plays for our team.”

Teliu then said, “This is a shoutout to all the parents: Parents, make sure your kids stay in sports because this is good for them. Sports give the kids self-discipline and I thank all TMS parents for supporting their kids and skipping their schedules on weekends and school days just so they can come here and support the team. Thank you, parents.”