RTU cops semi-pro softball title

MANILA, Philippines - The Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder swept the Globe Asiatique Realtors in their best-of-three series to capture the inaugural Softball Pilipinas Fall Season crown at the Rosario Sports Complex in Pasig City over the weekend.

The Mandaluyong City-based clouters first disposed of the Realtors, 8-3, in the opener of the gold medal playoff then came back in the afternoon to repeat with a similar 12-5 romp to claim the championship via a perfect 10-0 win-loss slate in the event organized by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.

Lefty Leo Barredo pitched a two-hitter and allowed one run in a four-inning start in the first game before yielding the mound to comebacking Ronnie Pagkaliwagan at the top of the seventh and last frame.

Barredo, who emerged the 10th best pitcher in last year’s International Softball Federation World Championship where the Philippine Blu Boys ended up ninth, re-stamped his class in the afternoon duel, coming up with a superb four-inning, four-hit, one-run start that set the tone for another rout.

“This (victory) is a product of many years of patience the school management and us in the sports department have been at in putting up a strong development program,” said RTU’s Noel Bumagat, many-time member of the national softball and baseball teams.

The Blue Thunder looked headed for an abbreviated ending in the afternoon session after racing to a 10-1 lead in first four frames, highlighted by a solo home run by designated hitter Raymond Mariano in the second.