MANILA, Philippines – Former Ateneo baseball pitcher Miguel Salud, who after leading the Blue Eagles to its first UAAP baseball championship in 2013 left to study and play for Cal Lutheran University in the United States, has once more turned the trick.
The 22-year-old pitcher, coming in the seventh inning of Game Three of the NCAA Division 3 Baseball Championship against Washington and Jefferson College of Pennsylvania, protected a 3-2 lead and shut down the Presidents for a 7-2 win and the school's first ever baseball title.
The CLU Kingsmen won Game One, 12-2, but the W&J Presidents came back with a 12-4 victory of their own to forge a Game Three. With the series at sudden death, Slimak called on freshman pitcher Scott Roberts to pitch on two day's rest.
"Roberts was our guy but we're gonna go to Miggy (Salud) late, more early. And it all worked out," said Slimak.
Salud also earned his 14th save of the season to set a school record and was named Most Outstanding Player after he posted a 1.23 ERA (earned run average) with three saves, nine strikeouts and just one earned run in four appearances and 7.1 innings.
"It was huge that I was able to rest (in Game 2 despite the loss) but it was a minor setback for a major comeback," said Salud of pitching in Game Three.
© Philstar.com Miguel Salud (circled) and the CLU Kingsmen pose with their championship trophy.
Salud said he wasn't expecting to be the game's closer.
"From the beginning, I didn't think I was going to be the closer; the first guy out of the pen. When I was asked to be a closer, I just stuck to my approach and picked my spots. Every time I come out, all I can see is my catcher. I just said, never let anyone get on base and don't rattle myself," he added.