After a tumultuous first round, which ended with an emphatic victory over UP, the Ateneo Blue Batters went on a three game winning streak, proving that they were legitimate contenders.
But, they had to look beyond statistics and records for answers.
“I wanted them to play for their team and not just for themselves,” said Coach Emerson Baracdoc in a mix of English and Filipino, who claims that for such as a talented team, internal issues were barriers to a successful season.
Aside from delivering on the field, a championship was a lot to ask from a rookie-laden team—though full of potential, they were still undeniably young. Yet, the adversity and challenges they faced in the first round is what ultimately brought them to this point.
“We’re a young team and the first round has made our team more united,” said pitcher Iñigo Olivares.
Truth be told, Coach Emerson was right. As those questions of team unity were answered, results on the baseball field followed.
Against Adamson, a team that had beaten them via the mercy rule in the first round, the Blue Batters went on a tear, edging the defending champions, 12-9. Their next win came against rivals De La Salle, 9-8.
The match of the season was upon the Blue Batters when they faced an undefeated UST last January 16. Not only was their win streak on the line, but if UST swept their games, there would be no Final Four. The España side would be champions, and the Blue Batters’ UAAP standing would depend on their round robin results.
But on that early morning, the sun did not shine on the Blue Batters. They dropped a close heartbreaker to the Tigers in a tight 6-5 defeat. The loss, however, did not take away the fire that had reignited them in the second round.
“Our coach was proud of how we played, he said no one was to blame for the loss,” said Olivares.
Following the loss to UST, their season was no longer in their hands. Even if they won all of their remaining games, the Blue Batters’ surge looked to be too late; the Tigers were on the verge of a sweep.
Early in the season, UST were not pitted as favorites. But as defending champion Adamson proved to be in the midst of a re-building stage, UST surprised everyone with their unbeaten streak of games.
Questions then lingered if the Ateneo team had failed the expectations brought upon them. After going winless in last year’s campaign, this season was supposed to be a season of redemption. With highly rated recruits, the team was aiming for a shot at a championship.
While they have yet to reach the top with the fourth place finish, they still managed to surpass last season’s standing; this, despite being one of the youngest teams in the league. Whatever grade they get and whatever critics have to say, one cannot help but be excited for the future of the Blue Batters.
As the sun set last January 27, on the last regulation game of the UAAP Baseball tournament, very little evidence was left of UST’s end of season jubilation. Championship glory and a bitter defeat concluded another chapter in UAAP history—a season that will be remembered for UST’s unprecedented sweep, NU’s rise to prominence and the fall of traditional baseball power, Adamson. But this is just the beginning for the Ateneo Blue Batters, who are waiting to make their own mark on history.
Lady Batters
The first round was anything but smooth for the Lady Batters. Suffering from defeats at the hands of Adamson, UST via mercy rule, UE, DLSU, and barely pulling away with a 2-1 victory over UP, they found themselves trenched within a deep hole entering the second round.
Come 2011, the Lady Batters still rested on their laurels. Their bats remained silent and offensive struggle continued to be a theme in their games.
Producing solid hits, getting on base and in scoring positions have been the stumbling blocks on this otherwise solid squad. Although their defense has held strong and at times has even been tenacious, they succumbed to multiple fielding errors that have cost them the game.
However, when the Lady Batters did shine, they did so as a team, and the numbers show.
In their two wins, the Lady batters have held their opponents to no more than one run scored. Just like the previous year, the Lady Batters ended with a fifth place finish.
It’s no lie that the potential and talent is present with this team, and although this season may be a statistical loss, nothing improves a team and its athletes any more than experience.
“Our hitting wasn’t at its best this year and unlike our opponents, our hits would come when there wouldn’t be any runners on base,” senior Ina Yulo said of their struggles. The Lady Batter however was quick to quell the negativity. “The season really forced us to be disciplined and committed and we grew as players and people,”
