In the UAAP Season 74 Baseball and Softball tournament, DLSU Coach Alejandro Estipular’s squads could not be in more contrasting situations. Both were trapped in the bottom half of the standing for years.
The Green Batters finally broke free this season, but their female counterparts continued to stay right where they are.
Upsets against reigning champions UST and Adamson University tightened the Green Batters’ foothold of a playoff spot via a stellar 5-2 record, following league-leading Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).
In the distaff side, the DLSU Softbelles carried a dire 0-7 record, with only three games left in the second elimination round.
One step back, two steps forward
Considered one of the tournament’s dark horses, the DLSU Green Batters continued to race for the title with a closely contested defeat against ADMU and two run-over wins against UST and Adamson.
The Green-and-White wielded the upset axe once more against Season 73 Baseball title holder UST with a 7-5 victory, last Feb. 2 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Continuing their first round mastery over the Black-and-Gold, the Taft-based squad pocketed in five of their eight innings.
Stolen bases and passed balls from UST made room for the Batters to reach home seven times.
Their defense was firm as they held their España contenders quiet by conceding five runs in the fifth and ninth innings.
Veteran Green Batter Sebastian Uichico pitched until the ninth inning, while Most Stolen Bases Award recipient Paolo Mallari stepped up into the mount to halt a seemingly-imminent Tigers’ comeback for win number five.
“We had to go hard all nine innings because that UST team is capable of coming back from a deficit,” shared sophomore batter Jay Laurel.
He also pointed out that the biggest result of the 7th match day was not their win over UST, but ADMU’s defeat from Adamson.
“[It] eliminates the chance of ADMU sweeping [the elimination round]. If they did, [there will be] no more playoffs they will be the champions automatically,” Laurel explained.
A 10-run rally in the last three innings of the Jan. 29 contest steered the Green Batters into a stunning payback over last year’s third placers Adamson squad, 14-6.
The Green Batters, however, ended their impressive first round campaign last Jan. 26 with a 4-8 defeat against ADMU.
Mentor Estipular mentioned that the rejuvenated Batter’s roster aims to ace their remaining games and enter the playoffs with high confidence for the fourth over-all baseball championship.
Hanging on for experience
Despite being slammed in seven attempts, the DLSU Softbelles continued their drive for experience in the coming bouts.
Last Jan. 25, the UP Lady Maroons shut out the Ladies in Green, 0-4, extending the losing slump to five to end the first round of eliminations.
Opening the second round against the undefeated Adamson Lady Falcons, the Lady Softbelles vowed the second time in another zero-game after four innings, 0-10.
In their second meeting against last year’s bridesmaids, UE Lady Warriors, last Feb. 1, the Estipular-mentored ladies seemed to be on a good groove scoring first in the opening inning.
Unfortunately for the Taft-based squad, the first point became their only as the Lady Warriors booked four and two in the 3rd and 4th inning, respectively, ending the Softbelles’ chances of their first elusive win.
Softbelles Head Coach Estipular shared that the team’s goal for this year is to compete and gain experience.
He pointed out their lack of bench depth and undermanned team as the factors for the demise of the Softbelles this year. In addition, in the game against UP, defender Robby Recto injured her left leg.
Estipular also revealed that they are recruiting eight all-around players for a good mix of seasoned veterans and prized rookies in the upcoming seasons.
