National University Nazareth School entered the win column in emphatic fashion, while Ateneo de Manila University walked it off in the UAAP Season 88 High School Baseball Tournament, Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Bullpups put on an offensive clinic en route to a 27-6 blowout victory in six innings over the PAREF Southridge Admirals, while the Blue Eagles executed to a tee in the 10th frame to outlast the De La Salle Zobel Junior Green Batters, 8-7.
Ahead 16-5 and needing to establish a 15-run lead at the end of the sixth inning to activate the mercy rule, the Bullpups went over the top and unleashed a back-breaking rally.
NUNS scored 11 runs in the top of the sixth on eight hits, a hit batter, a walk, and two errors by Southridge across 16 plate appearances to extend the lead to 27-5.
Left-handed pitcher Dave Suico then finished the job in the bottom of the inning, taking care of the final three outs to enforce the mercy rule.
“We just have to gain experience lang talaga kasi bagong team lang naman itong pinut up namin sa NUNS. Siguro, the more games we will have, mag-iimprove nang mag-iimprove ‘yung mga bata,” said Bullpups head coach Romar Landicho on his six-month-old squad.
“Same as our program in NU. Kung anong mentality namin, kung paano kami maglaro sa college, yun din ang ginagawa namin sa high school para maging continuous ang development ng players,” he added, as they aim to follow in the footsteps of the Bulldogs, the reigning champions of the collegiate division.
Chester Mateo went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in four runs, while Jericho Catchero also collected four hits and brought home five in the NUNS onslaught. Orlando Cedillo chipped in four hits and two runs batted in (RBI).
Starting pitcher Justin Lauriquez tossed 3 and 2/3 innings while allowing just three runs and also contributed offensively, finishing with three hits and a walk.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Enzo De Guzman played hero for Ateneo, lining a single to shallow center field to seal the 8-7 walk-off victory.
With two automatic runners on base in extra innings, Tres Saguisag laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first to load the bases with no outs.
De Guzman then stepped to the plate and delivered the game-winning hit, evening Ateneo’s record at 1-1 and tying NUNS for joint second place.
“Nag-work ‘yung mga training namin. Kahit natalo kami nung nakaraan, naging aral ‘yun sa boys at natuwa ako kasi sumunod talaga sila, kung anong ibigay naming signal, ‘yun ang ginawa nila. Ang lakas ng loob, ipinaglaban talaga nila ang Ateneo,” said head coach Pepe Jose as the Blue Eagles bounced back from a 12-13 opening-day loss to the Admirals.
However, for the game to remain tied entering the bottom of the 10th, relief pitcher Miguel Cruzat and the Blue Eagles’ defense first had to escape trouble with two automatic runners on base in the top half of the inning.
Ateneo retired Juancho Gatmaitan and Leohj Palanog on routine flyouts before Isaac Ferrer reached to load the bases. Alfonso Alcantara then lifted a flyball to center field, where it was cleanly handled to end the Junior Green Batters’ threat.
De La Salle Zobel earlier fought back from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run seventh inning to take a 7-5 lead, but Tommy Oblea tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth with a two-RBI single to left-center that brought home Saguisag and De Guzman.
Cruzat, who started the game at second base, steadied the ship for Ateneo in the final 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits and one run.
First Game:
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUNS | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 | x | x | x | 27 | 21 | 3 | ||
| SRG | 4 | 1 | 1 | x | x | x | 6 | 3 | 2 |
Second Game:
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLSZ | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||
| Ateneo | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
