RTU wins Nat?l Open Softball
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 May 2010
BAGUIO CITY ? Lefty Leo Barredo worked a full seven-inning three hitter and gifted powerhouse Rizal Technological University its second National Open men?s softball championship at the expense of the Cavite Province-Philippine Navy All Stars, 4-2, yesterday at the Baguio City Athletic Bowl here.
The second year physical education student at the Mandaluyong City-based institution, who at a young age 21 has already earned the distinction as the ninth best pitcher in last year?s World Men?s Softball championship held in Saskatoon in Canada, had the Caviteno batters at his mercy, allowing only two men of the four who boarded to cross the plate in a two-hour contest.
Barredo struckout six while stranding two on bases in a performance that was complemented by his Blu Thunder teammates, who rained losing pitcher Vic Enriquez, a fellow-Philippine Blu Boy, with six connections.
A two-run single by RP Blu Boy Jerome Bacarisas that produced two runs at the top of the third set the Blue Thunder?s title victory, a repeat of their 1998 conquest, in place as coach Noel Bumagat?s boys completed their hairline triumph with a marker each in the fourth and fifth periods.
The win was the Blue Thunders? seventh straight, while protecting their unbeaten records the past two years when they emerged triumphant in the recent State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association, Commission on Higher Education meets and the Softball Pilipinas first semi-pro tilt, all this year and the 2009 Association of Southeast Asian Nations championship in Brunei and the Philippine Olympic Festival.
University of Santo Tomas thwarted RTU?s attempt of a sweep of both the men?s and women?s divisions of the annual affair sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Pera Padala, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Phiten, Just Jewels and Le Soleil de Boracay, by ruling the distaff side at the expense of Lady thunders, 3-1, over at the nearby Melvin Jones Park.
It took the Golden Tigresses, the reigning UAAP champions, though four and-a-half innings to shake off the Lady Thunders? gallant stand when shortstop and veteran RP Blu Girl Esmeralda Tayag singled in Melanie Laserna that broke a scoreless stalemate at the bottom of the fifth frame.
A two-run, two-hit attack in the next session highlighted by winning pitcher Corazon Sobere?s one-base drive finally decided the issue as Aiza dela Torre, who actually started for coach Sandy Barredo and re-entered in the seventh and last inning surrendered only a solitary run in her second stint at the mound./
Sobere?s blast drove in Lani Sarmiento, who also tagged losing hurler Veronica Belleza with a single earlier in the period, and Nelia Lara, who took first on an error.
UST?s win their second in the Open, counting similar title conquest in 2006, when Dela Torre was still starting to make name and Tayag already an established superstar.
Had the Lady Thunders survived the Tigresses, they could have repeated the 1998 feat fashioned out by both the RTU men?s and women?s teams.
?Give it to the boys, they really played hard and focused throughout the tournament,? Bumagat who had guided RTU top at least seven championshipos, said in Filipino.? They really wanted to win the Open unbeaten. ?
?Malakas talaga ang kalaban. Pero lumaban naman ang mga bata. Ni wala ngang naniniwala na papasok kamai sa finals,? Cavite coach Boy Vanta, for his part said. ?Hindi na nakakahiya kay Gov. (ayong) maliksi at kay (delegation head) Dr. Emmanuel Santiaguel.?
MS of Marikina City took third by blasting Bulacan State University, 10-2, in only five innings.
UP-Mama Sita?s combine brought home the bronze medal in the distaff side with a repeat 8-5 victory over Adamson University.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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