Philippine tot baseball, softball get much-needed lift from new sponsors

HMR Trading Haus and Loro Sports will be supporting the Philippine Tot Baseball’s 22nd season of the Metro Schools League Baseball and Softball Tournament which opened yesterday at the Sto. Niño Baseball Field in Marikina City.

Both sponsors are known for their sourcing of quality but affordable items from Australia, US, Europe and Asia. Their product lines include hard-to-find sporting equipment, enabling them to help new and developing sports in the country. They were one of the major sponsors of Rugby in the Philippines.

With youth baseball and softball fast gaining popularity in the country, the availability and affordability of its equipment remain as the biggest stumbling block for the said sports to reach their full potential. This drove the HMR and Loro Sports to throw their support to the Metro Schools League Tournament in a noble move to help push baseball and softball further.

Metro Schools League Baseball and Softball Tournament began as a simple dual meet between two schools and two teams in 1992, and has now grown to become one of the biggest annual school and community-based baseball and softball competition in Metro Manila.

Seeing action in this year’s tournament are 80 teams from 25 schools or clubs from Metro Manila and nearby provinces namely: Ateneo de Manila University, La Salle Greenhills, International School-Manila, PAREF Southridge School, La Salle College Antipolo, Marist College, De La Salle Lipa, Manila Japanese Baseball, De La Salle Canlubang, PAREF Woodrose School, Miriam College, St. Pedro Poveda College, PAREF Rosehill School, College of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul’s College Pasig, Assumption High School Antipolo, Rizal High School, Quezon City High School and teams from Antipolo, Muntinlupa, Tanauan City, Marikina City, Cainta, Pasig and Quezon cities.

Said squads will be vying for honors in eight age-group divisions namely: Shetland (3-6 years old Tee-Ball), Pinto (7-8 years old Coached Pitched), Mustang (9-10 years old), Bronco (11-12 years old), High School Girls Softball (14-18 years old) and the 2016-2017 General Championship title for both Baseball and Girls Softball.

The tournament will be played every Sunday until March 2017 and promises to be another banner year for the contest.