Green Batters, Softbelles hope to swing La Salle to Final Four

The most recent comeback in the World of Sports would be the 2013 World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox. Coming from a 69 win season in 2012, they went atop their division and won the Fall Classic, a great improvement to say the least.

The DLSU Green Batters and DLSU Softbelles, La Salle’s baseball and softball teams, are in the same pickle as the 2012 Red Sox. Will they be able to come out on top this season?

Last year, La Salle’s baseball team struggled, having a win loss record of 3-7 in ten games of play. Coming in at fifth place behind the UP Fighting Maroons and ahead of the AdU Soaring Falcons. The team’s three wins came against the Diliman-based squad, splitting the two matches that they played in the eliminations and the Adamson side, which the Green and White swept in two games last season.

The Green Batters did, however, suffered some setbacks with regards to the team. Third Baseman Miguel Olmos shares, “Hindi madali nung season na yun kasi madaming malakas na team, tas yung team namin parang kulang sa position players”. Despite all of this, the team looks to improve and get into the Top Four this season.

This upcoming UAAP campaign will show many changes in the lineup of the team.  Last year’s team captain Jay Laurel together with Mikey Reyes and Miles Que are to hang up their gloves and cleats. However, the team was able to restock with fresh, young talent to fill in the holes that have been a problem since last season and those left by the exiting players.

“Mas malakas kami sa tingin ko ngayon  kasi nafill up na yung spot sa kulang namin na position player last year. Mas solid yung team,” shares Olmos.

The Softbelles suffered the same fate as the Green Batters as they failed to qualify for the semifinal round as well. The team finished with just two wins in ten games after a quick start to the season, but their campaign was not necessarily a failure as they improved from a winless season in UAAP 74.

This year, the team looks to continue improving and they hope to finally barge into the semifinals. Third baseman Vanessa Borbon talks about how they spent their offseason and she shares, “Mas naging focus kami sa goal naming [championship]. Di katulad last time na naglalaro lang kami, but now may heart na, full support na  kami sa isa’t isa, wala na doubt kung ano mangyari. Lahat na ng best namin ilalabas na namin. Kasi kami as a team naglalaban laban din kung ano pa ang pwede naming ilabas [skill-wise].”

“Magpapakita kami ng sobra na talaga. Lahat na ibibigay namin. Pipilitin na namin kunin yung gold para sa La Salle kasi sobrang nagpapagod kami para sa school at para mapakita namin kung ano pa ang pwede naming ipakita pa.”