THE ADAMSON University Lady Falcons emerged as champions for the ninth-straight year after overpowering the rookie-ladden UST Tiger Softbelles, 11-2, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 81 softball finals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last April 2.
This is the fourth consecutive year the Softbelles lose to the Lady Falcons in the finals.
Head coach Sandy Barredo attributed the team’s failed bid for the title to the UST sluggers’ lack of maturity.
“The girls can play defense, they can play offense, pero iba pa rin ‘yong naglalaro ng may maturity. ‘Yon ‘yung kapag down the stretch, mag-de-deliver,” Barredo told the Varsitarian.
The Softbelles have 11 rookies from the 17-player roster, with only three seniors namely Hannah de la Torre, Tin Palma and Lealyn Guevarra as the only constant fixtures in the batting order.
In their finals series against defending champion Adamson, UST was limited to just four hits per game with 5.5 runners stranded on base.
Errors also doomed the Softbelles in the finals with 2.5 errors per game, resulting in five unearned runs for the Lady Falcons.
The all-rookie UST bullpen composed of Celyn Ojare, Irene Lumanas and Henna Santiago allowed an average of 6.33 hits in the championship round.
“Kung may pitcher ako na beterano and na buo na ang loob like (Ann) Antolihao last year, kung naabutan niya ‘tong batch na ito na puro depensa, kaya namin talunin ang Adamson,” Barredo said.
Despite the bridesmaid finish anew, team captain Ojare said the Softbelles overachieved this season, considering the team is composed of mainly newcomers.
“I think we overachieved. Hindi namin hinayaan na mahuli kami kahit na karamihan sa mga naglaro ay rookies, pinakita namin na kahit mga baguhan pa lang kami ay maaasahan na kami ng seniors,” she said.
The Softbelles will miss the services of de la Torre, Palma, Guevarra, Bianca Hernandez, Lyra Gustilo and Tanya Belano next season after exhausting their playing years.
Barredo said she will reinforce the Softbelles next year with sluggers from Palarong Pambansa, Aurora, Bulacan and Pasig.
Uphill climb
After finishing the first round with a subpar 3-3 win-loss slate, the Softbelles hiked their performance in the second round on the two important aspects of softball: hitting and fielding.
UST averaged 8.66 hits per game in the second round resulting in 4.66 runs per outing, an improvement from their 5.4 output in the first round.
The Softbelles also lessened their errors to an average of 1.16, resulting in just 0.66 unearned runs, from two errors per game in the first round.
UST then ended the elimination round at third place with a 7-5 slate and faced the twice-to-beat De La Salle University Lady Batters in the semifinals.
With their season on the line, the Softbelles displayed their deadliest form, averaging season-highs in hits (10), runs (10.5) and runners left on base (5.5), which propelled them to overcome the daunting task of winning twice.
Third baseman Charlotte Sales bagged the Rookie of the Year award and tied one-and-done Lady Falcon Arianne Vallestero for the Most Home Runs with three apiece.
