UAAP: Green Batters finally strike gold, Softbelles surprise in UAAP campaign

After two runner-up finishes against their archrivals, the DLSU Green Batters finally overthrew the Ateneo Blue Eagles in thrilling fashion, clinching an 11-9 victory that allowed them to capture the UAAP Season 78 Baseball Championship at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Field last March 14. With a large Lasallian crowd cheering them on, the Green Batters rallied from an early 8-3 deficit by capitalizing on a huge scoring run in the 7th inning to secure their first championship in 13 years.

Meanwhile, the DLSU Softbelles ended their season with a 4-8 win-loss record, finishing the season in sixth place. With a team composed of six rookies and a handful of veterans leaving, the Softbelles managed to pull out hard-fought victories over favored teams in UP and NU, while also losing close games to the likes of this year’s champions, the Adamson Lady Falcons.

Sluggish start

Before their emphatic championship victory, the Green Batters’ season began with a few bumps along the way. Fueled by the previous season’s shortcomings, it was championship-or-bust for the DLSU Baseball team. With a new crop of talented rookies entering the team, they were poised to make a long run towards the championship.

The Green Batters opened their campaign with a heartbreaking loss to the NU Bulldogs, 8-7. With their rival Blue Eagles in attendance, this was not the start they were looking for. Similarly, the Softbelles also dropped their tournament opener to UE, 10-2.

However, the DLSU Baseball team would win its next seven games, including a resounding 14-7 win against Ateneo. Pitcher Boo Barandiaran wound up with eight strikeouts in the win, half of which came in the crucial final innings. However, he was quick to point out that although the game was important given the implications to the team standings, he asserted that the team must not let up in its intensity coming into the second round.

“We’re in this tournament to win it. We know we can, so we’re really trying our best,” he said after that game.

One of the team’s most outstanding performers along with Barandiaran was rookie Diego Lozano. His electric pitching kept multiple teams off balance and allowed DLSU to win games in which they relatively struggled. According to Lozano, he was “just doing his job and trying to give his team its best chance to win.”

Another adjustment head coach Joseph Orilliana made was implementing the use of a designated hitter (DH). Rookie Ignacio Escano was stuck without a position mainly because of the veteran talent the team already had, but as the DH, the pitchers were then able to concentrate on their work on the mound. Along with the steadiness of lead-off hitter Pao Salud, the offense took off. While these were seemingly minor tweaks to the team’s lineup, the moves paid big dividends in the team’s quest for the title.

Nothing to lose for the Softbelles

On the other hand, the young Softbelles played hard every game with no expectations other than to put in their best effort. After losing their first few games, the Softbelles notched their first win against the Ateneo Lady Batters and followed it up with an inspired win over the UP Lady Maroons, 5-4. After their second win, pitcher Jamaica Arribas mentioned that what changed for the team’s mentality was to enjoy the game, and their skills and strong play will follow.

“Yung spirit nila compared to the last games is already in check,” DLSU Softball head coach Alex Epistular further commented.

The win proved to be a turning point for the Softbelles in the second round, as they would win two more games but would eventually fall to the UE Lady Warriors in their final game.

Meanwhile, Adamson clinched its sixth straight championship of the tournament, winning against the UST Lady Batters in three games.

Green batters bag championship and individual awards

The Green Batters ended the regular season with a 7-3 win-loss record, right behind Ateneo, who finished with a 9-1 record. La Salle’s losses came at the hands of NU and a meaningless, marathon game against their archrivals Ateneo. As both teams squared off for the best-of-three championship series, La Salle would sweep the Blue Batters in a classic series that pitted the two best teams in the past three years. Baradiaran and Lozano were named co-Finals MVPs for their fine pitching performances.

Before the second game of the finals, the UAAP awarded several players for their individual achievements, two of which went to DLSU. Salud was Season 78’s Best Hitter and Tuwi Park was tied with Jerome Yenson of Adamson and Julius Diaz of UST for Most Runs Batted-In (RBI).

At the end of the game, Carlos Muñoz, the graduating team captain, took his final walk to the bases, elated that he won the championship in his final year with the team.

“It feels pretty good [winning the championship]. We worked hard for this, everyone did it for themselves. It wasn’t for me, it wasn’t for the team — we did it for ourselves,” he explained.

“The win was dedicated to the dad of Acuna [who passed away a few days before the start of the championship series],” Lozano added.

Meanwhile, Orilliana was overjoyed with his players’ performance and resilience, winning his first championship as a coach after being a player in the last championship team 13 years ago. However, when asked if there was a difference between winning as a coach and as a player, he mentioned that the former was much more difficult.

“Kapag player ka, yung iniintindihan mo lang ang sarili mo,” he said. “As a coach, kailangan mong alamin ang lahat sa team.”

The future looks bright for both teams as they aim for greater heights next season. With only Muñoz leaving the team, the Green Batters are set to make another run at thechampionship with co-Finals MVPs Barandiaran and Lozano leading the charge for Orilliana. Meanwhile, the Softbelles would build on their experience from the recently concluded season with an intact lineup.