Pathum thani: The Philippine Blu Boys reclaimed the men's softball gold at the Southeast Asian Games, defeating Singapore 3-0 in the final held at the Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium. This marks a significant comeback for the team after their previous loss to Singapore in the 2019 edition, which took place in Clark, Pampanga.
According to Philippines News Agency, left-handed pitcher Jehanz Maristela Coro played a crucial role in the victory, striking out 17 batters in a two-hit shutout performance. He was supported by a solo home run from Justine Rosales in the first inning and a two-run single by Lyonas de Leon in the fourth. This win secured the Philippines' ninth gold medal in men's softball.
The Blu Boys demonstrated strong performances during the preliminary rounds, achieving victories over Malaysia with a score of 11-1 and Thailand with a score of 12-0, both games concluding in four innings. The softball games, which typically last seven innings, can end early if a team leads by 11 runs after three innings or by seven after five. The team's only preliminary loss was to Singapore, where they surrendered six runs in the fifth inning, losing 7-3 after initially leading 3-1.
In related news, the Blu Girls are set to compete for their 11th gold in women's softball against Singapore on Friday at the same stadium. The Blu Girls completed the preliminary rounds with a 4-0 record, narrowly defeating Singapore 2-1 in an eight-inning game during their only encounter.
