Let’s hear it for our gold winning Women’s Softball and Women’s Volleyball teams at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
Yesterday, our volleyball team defeated Tahiti 3-2. Tahiti on the first set 25-21, our girls fought back winning the second set 25-20, retained their lead in the third set 25-16, then handed the fourth set to Tahiti 20-25.
Meanwhile, our women’s softball team was too good for Guam, winning gold by a final score of 13-5.
Stand out players who dominated the stats in Palau were:
- Sefaatauemana Risati —most wins, most completed games, most games started, most innings pitched, most strike outs and most groundouts.
- Courtney Jane Schuster Masunu — most runs
- Grace Tuiteleleapaga — best Batting Average and Most RBI
- Marcel McMoore Collins — most putouts
- Tauavepeaoumamalu Risati — most home runs and best slugging percentage
- Theresa Malauulu — most hits and most doubles.
This is the first time that American Samoa has won gold in women’s softball and women’s volleyball at the Pacific Games.
It was a proud moment when “Amerika Samoa” was played at the awards ceremony twice yesterday.
With yesterday’s victories, American Samoa’s gold medal haul increased to six. The other four gold medals were won by wrestlers Amo Loe, Latana Sopa, Zelan Falealii, and Atonio Miller.
The total medal tally for Team American Samoa is 15: six gold, five silver, and four bronze medals.
There’s been no information from ASNOC on when the team is returning, but according to a post on the American Samoa Softball Association Facebook page, the gold-winning softball and volleyball teams are returning home on Thursday night. Supporters and aiga are encouraged to bring banners, posters, and an ula to honor our champions.
Malo lava!
