There are requests for more information about the Philippine Pioneers, an intrepid group of 12-year-old baseball players who figured in a heartwarming runner-up finish in a World Baseball Federation (WBF) international tournament in Miami, Florida, last week. We had published an initial story on the team, including the names of its members. But, to accommodate the requests, here’s assistant team coach Roselito Bernardo with more details on the national boys baseball team:
For your information and inspiration!
Notes: 1. The team lost its first four games in the 11-team tournament. It played two games against two international teams and two against US teams initially. 2. The team ended up 10th after the elimination round and so had to play a knockout game against the No. 11 team, Puerto Rico. The final score was 8-3 after a strong surge from 3-all and so everybody was very happy because we just wanted a win that will keep us in the games. The first game happened at 1 p.m. of Aug. 5 and we played the next knockout game, which was against the No. 1 team, the Pasadena Panthers Elite at 3 p.m. the same day. The team surged ahead in scoring against the elite giants and won 5-3. And the team lived for another day.
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3. On Aug. 6, the penultimate day of the shortened tournament because of weather conditions in Miami, the Pioneers faced a much tougher and bigger opposition in the team from Mexico. The game was a virtual David versus Goliath and this was the most competitive and heart-pounding contest of all. Down 3-7 and batting at the top of the last inning, the team showed its never-say die Filipino version of guts and energy to score seven runs and lead 10-7 going to the bottom of the inning. The Pioneers then got two quick outs and allowed just one run to wrap up the game at 10-8. Please take note that Mexico had the winning run on base and the batter was its No. 1 slugger who could have scored a three-run home run and take the win away from the Philippines. But the PH team just kept its composure to finish off Mexico.
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4. In the finals, PH scored the first run against the tall and powerful San Francisco Knights but the energy, the advantage in longer and better quality training and tournament games told on our little boys, who yielded the title and lost 14-4 under the 10-run mercy rule. The story of the finals though was how the Pioneers got there and fought with all their heart for the country. 5. The team did not just make history. It proved very clearly that, given the training, equipment and facilities and all other support, our Philippine boys can perform and become very competitive in other world class tournaments. Salute to our head coach Oca Natanuan. Please pass. Coach Bernardo