BANGKOK, Thailand  — The Philippine Blu Boys regained the men’s softball gold in the Southeast Asian Games after defeating Singapore, 3-0, in Thursday’s final held at Queen Sirikit Baseball Stadium in Pathum Thani.
Lefty pitcher Jehanz Maristela Coro struck out 17 batters in a two-hit shutout as the Blu Boys avenged their title loss to Singapore during the 2019 edition held back home in Clark, Pampanga.
He was backed up by a solo homer by Justine Rosales in the top of the first inning and a two-run single by Lyonas de Leon in the fourth.
It was the Philippines’ ninth gold overall in men’s softball.
The Blu Boys went 2-1 during the preliminary round with victories over Malaysia, 11-1, and Thailand, 12-0, all in four innings.
Softball games are played in seven innings, but can end abruptly if a team leads by 11 runs after three innings or seven after five.
Their lone defeat came at the hands of Singapore, 7-3, on the eve of the gold medal match, when the Blu Boys surrendered six runs in the fifth to squander a 3-1 lead.
Meanwhile, the Blu Girls will go for an 11th gold in women’s softball on Friday against Singapore at the same venue.
The Blu Girls swept the preliminaries with a 4-0 record, but escaped past Singapore, 2-1, in eight innings during their lone meeting.