Junior baseball gets boost, season up April

Baseball Philippines is taking a step forward in developing the sport in the country with the formal launching of a similar tournament among the youth aged 15-17 years old.

Appearing in the weekly PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch, Chito Loyzaga of Community Sports Inc. bared the holding of the pilot season of the Junior Baseball Philippines three months from now involving four community teams.

The meet will be unveiled during the opener of Baseball Philippines Series V at the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium on April 12, although opening hostilities won’t begin until April 25.

Comprising the pioneer teams in the event being held in cooperation with the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are Cagayan Valley, Alabang, Quezon City and Pampanga.

“This is our way of nurturing the youth to play the game, and at the same time, for them to have a feel of what it likes to play like real pros and for them to have a feel of what it likes to play at a historic field such as the Rizal Memorial baseball stadium,” said Loyzaga, who had the centerstage all to himself during the hour-long session sponsored by Shakey’s, Accel, Brickroad gym and Aspen spa and MedCentral Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center.

The son of former basketball legend Caloy Loyzaga added players eligible to see action are those who are 15 years of age as of Jan. 1 of this year and would not turn 18 years old until Dec. 31 of 2009.