1st Cebu Baseball Invitational this weekend at Aboitiz sports field

CEBU, Philippines - Driven by the ardent desire to rekindle the interest of the Cebuanos in batted sports, Johnny’s Fish and Chips Company in partnership with Fastball Batting Cages of Jesse Bernad will stage the 1st Cebu Baseball Invitational this weekend at the Aboitiz Sports Field situated just a stone’s throw away from MAKRO in North reclamation area.

Event organizer Deonie Riveral, who had been in touched with Cebuano batted sports coaches for the past five years now, said four teams will see action in today’s baseball showdown that will promptly start at 1 pm.

These are the Abellana National School (ANS), Cebu Youth Phillies (composed mostly of batters from Cebu International School (CIS), the Kids Twins of the Children’s Shelter of Cebu (a center for homeless kids ran by American missionaries), and Team H&B of the well-known Bacarisas baseball clan of Cebu.

Riveral, who operates the Johnny’s Fish and Chips Company, said the baseball invitational is just an appetizer to a bigger tournament they’re cooking up this June.

“This is just a kick-off to a bigger tournament this June. Hopefully more teams and kids will get involved in our future events. It’s really a great opportunity to help develop a sport where we can do well in national and even international competitions,” said Riveral.

Riveral further added that it is very essential to reinvigorate the sliding popularity of baseball among the Cebuano youth because it is a kind of sport where we have a big chance of reaping glory in national and even in international competitions.

“If we look at the world news, baseball is a very hot topic now so we should encourage the promotion of the sport here. Japan and South Korea excelled in baseball and I don’t see any reason why the Filipinos, particularly the Cebuanos, can’t,” said Riveral.

Riveral, on the other hand, said the other highlight of the two-day activity is the softball exhibition match pitting the International Phillies against Team Fastball tomorrow still at the same venue.

“The softball exhibition is for adults and it’s a very exciting game to watch because the Phillies are composed of at least five international players [from United States and Canada,” said Riveral.

Meanwhile, Riveral announced that the Fastball Batting Cages will hold a summer camp for baseball enthusiasts aged six to 16 years old from April 13 to May 1. For more details, interested parties may call 0917-3222284 or 0922-8597498. – EBV   (THE FREEMAN)