After a six-year hiatus, high school baseball competition will make a return to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Last staged in Season 82 (2019), the UAAP high school baseball tournament comes back bigger this year with the inclusion of guest team PAREF-Southridge School.

The Admirals’ entry turns the competition into a five-team field, joining defending champion University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Zobel and National University Nazareth School.

The Junior Golden Sox will open their long-awaited title defense — seven years in the making — on Wednesday at the historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, facing the Junior Green Batters in the opening game.

First pitch is set at 8 a.m.

“We are very much eager to defend the title. We were the last champions so we want to be champions again when the UAAP high school baseball makes its return,” UST head coach and local legend Jeff Santiago said.

In Season 82, the Junior Golden Sox, then bannered by John Regalado and Justine Rosales — both of whom went on to make their mark at the collegiate level — defeated Ateneo, led by Season Most Valuable Player Matt San Juan, in three games in the finals.

Although the high school tournament has been held since Season 74 in 2011, it only became a regular sport in Season 80 in 2017. UST ruled the diamond in that inaugural run.

Southridge will make its tournament debut at 11 a.m. against Ateneo.

Admirals head coach Bocc Bernardo, who previously handled Ateneo’s collegiate team, where he remains as an assistant to Blue Eagles head coach Pepe Jose, is determined to make the most of the opportunity now that his high school squad has a platform to showcase its talent.

“Actually, it’s something that all high school players are looking forward to,” Bernardo said.