PAREF Southridge School inched closer to a historic championship, defeating Alabang rival De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ), 15-2 in seven innings, in Game 1 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 high school baseball finals on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The lone guest team in the tournament used a massive fifth-inning barrage to turn a 4–0 lead into an insurmountable 13–0 advantage, threatening to end the game early.

The Admirals will aim for a first-ever league title for a guest team when they host Game 2 on Monday.

Yano Antonio, one of the squad’s seniors, delivered both of his hits in that decisive frame, including a single to left-center that drove in Matt Genota for the side’s eighth run of the inning.

Southridge displayed that confidence from the first pitch by starting pitcher Amiel Belgar. Four hits from Genota, Joaquin Salvador, Luis Chavez and Brennan Bitanga produced four runs in the first four innings, setting the tone for the Admirals.

The lead held strong against the Junior Green Batters’ challenge, as Southridge edged their fellow Alabang side in pursuit of a first-ever title.

Salvador finished with three hits in four at-bats to pace Southridge’s offense, producing two RBIs. Genota, Antonio and Chavez each added two hits, with Genota driving in three RBIs in the contest.

Belgar, supported by his teammates, was flawless in a complete-game effort, allowing just two runs and striking out five batters.

The top-seeded DLSZ side struggled to generate offense, going hitless in five innings against Southridge’s near-perfect defense.

Laurence Valeros, who started for the Junior Green Batters, offered the lone highlight for his team. After an eventful 2.2 innings that allowed four runs, the 18-year-old utility player connected on Belgar’s first pitch in the sixth inning, sending a homer to left field beyond Emilio Borja’s reach and scoring two runs.

That would be DLSZ’s only imprint in the contest as Belgar retired the next four batters to seal the victory for Southridge.