Stealing base. Slugger Matt Laurel mans the bases against NU. Photo by Joseph S. Angan
THE DREAM season of the Ateneo Blue Batters ended in the final match of the best-of-three series for the crown, a tough one point loss against National University (NU) last season.
From being a non-contender to a top caliber team, the Batters have already exceeded expectations by securing a second-place finish in the UAAP Season 74 Baseball Championships. “We still made history,” said first-time UAAP player Matt Laurel after their upsetting 4-5 loss against NU.
Indeed, Laurel’s description of what the Blue Batters have achieved this year is fitting—historic.
Historic season
The Blue Batters made history by securing their first trip to the finals this March.
According to UAAP Baseball history, Ateneo has yet to win a championship title since joining the league in 1978. The closest the blue and white have achieved is a third-place finish in Season 71.
In the next two seasons that followed, however, Ateneo took a dip in the standings. The Blue Batters went through a process of rehabilitating their squad, finishing sixth and fourth, respectively.
Although the Batters fell short of the championship title, such a stellar season could only mean that better things are yet to come.
Best-of-three
Game One of the best-of-three series belonged to Ateneo. Coach Emer Barandoc’s boys pounced on NU, ending the scrimmage on February 23.
In the first inning, Laurel scored a three-run home run, giving Ateneo a three-point advantage. Ateneo’s remarkable defense persisted until the eighth inning, when NU scored their first and only four runs in the game. Ateneo retaliated by answering with four runs of their own in the ninth inning. Pitcher Adriane Bernardo led the boys, contributing three runs to the final score.
Gaining the upper hand in the championship series, Ateneo was suddenly bared down by the pressure to close out the season. Game Two showcased a seemingly unfocused Katipunan squad which committed errors left and right. Defense seemed to have collapsed for the Batters as they let NU end the game with five consecutive runs.
Ateneo also struggled offensively as only two of the 14 batters who left home plate were able to run back. Rookie Paco Tantuico was able to hit a single home run in the bottom of the fourth, whilst a single run-batted-in (RBI) from batchmate Charles Catangui would send teammate Adriane Bernardo home. This upped the score 4-2, still in favor of the Bulldogs.
Hampered by substandard hitting, Team Ateneo was unexpectedly presented with two opportunities to take the lead. It happened twice when the bases were loaded with blue and white jerseys yet the players up to bat could not deliver.
As NU scored another run in the ninth inning, Ateneo was determined to fight to the end. In the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Ramos was able to hit a single, getting him on base. Laurel followed with a double, and a tired NU pitcher gave Tantuico a walk. Suddenly, all bases were loaded.
All eyes were on rookie Dio Remollo—notorious for delivering power hits—to save the day. Remollo hit, but the ball landed firmly on a Bulldog’s mitt. The fate of Ateneo then rested on co-captain and slugger Bocc Bernardo. Unfortunately, Bernardo struck out and Ateneo surrendered to NU, 2-5.
Game day
Revitalized, the Blue Batters ventured off to Rizal Memorial bright and early on March 1 to face the Bulldogs in their final game of the season.
Unlike most of their games, this championship game against NU was a close one. NU drew first blood, scoring three runs in the third inning. In retaliation, coach Barandoc signaled starting pitcher Andy Tan to replace a tired Tantuico. Captain Matt Reyes answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring Ateneo’s first run.
Ateneo kept their defense solid, not allowing NU to score until the sixth inning. Emotions ran high in the bottom of sixth, when Catangui and Laurel ran home. This tied the game at 3-3 but NU quickly responded in the seventh inning, scoring one run to regain the lead 4-3. This again prodded Barandoc to replace their pitcher, sending in Kevin Ramos while Tantuico defended first base.
In the bottom of the seventh, Bernardo was able to hit a double. A single RBI from Catangui would give way to Bernardo to run home, tying the game again at 4-4.
An air of excitement enveloped the stadium, as both teams successfully prevented each other from scoring in the eighth inning.
A crucial catching error by Ateneo in the centerfield gave NU batter Gante the chance to run home, giving them the lead, 5-4. Soon after, Ramos was replaced by Adriane Bernardo on the mound. NU would not score any more runs after this change.
By the bottom of the ninth, Ateneo struggled offensively, failing to get on base. After last batter Bocc Bernardo was struck out by NU’s pitcher Oruga, a victorious NU team ran to the field celebrating their first championship (in any collegiate sport) after almost four decades.
Break out
Despite their disappointing loss, the Blue Batters managed to end the game with heads held up high. After all, it was their breakout season.
“I am extremely proud of how far we’ve come,” said Captain Matt Reyes, the five-year veteran in collegiate baseball who sees Season 74 as the team’s best ever finish.
While the team finished runner-up, batter Laurel was decorated with three individual awards for the season, being awarded Most RBIs, Most Home Runs and Best Slugger. Alongside Laurel was rookie Dio Remollo, whose stellar performance earned him the much-coveted title of Rookie of the Year.
Although unable to mask his disappointment, sophomore standout Andy Tan said, “It was a great season for Ateneo, but it just didn’t go our way. We’ll get them next year.”
Coming into the season as underdogs is never an easy feat. That the Blue Batters were able to outplay some of the teams who have been consistently placing on top is in itself a great achievement.
Tan quipped, “At this point, there’s nowhere to go but up. Because we’re Eagles—and we fly.” As cliché as his lines may sound, it certainly holds true, seeing as how far this team of ‘underdogs’ have come.
