Bears humbled in upset loss
By WENDY KATUSELE
REIGNING champions Airways Bears got
a stinging from Stingerz 6-2 in Port Moresby women’s softball
competition marking a weekend of several upsets last Saturday.
In another upset second-placed Gazelle were beaten by arch rivals
Budget Real Estate Wantoks 8-5 and Admiralty edged out Dolphins
7-6.
Gazelle, who ended Bears unbeaten run the competition last
weekend, were not able to maintain their winning combination
despite missing regular third base woman Tessie Komek who was
mourning the loss of her father.
But it was Bears’ second consecutive loss signaling the top side
sailing on troubled waters.
Stingerz, who got a 13-0 beating from Bears in the first round,
had a score to settle and coach Oscar Karai had to do return
Bears’ taste of their own bad medicine.
Stingerz won the toss and elected to take field where pitcher
Selina Karai was on top of things with Bears batters made to look
ordinary on the day with fly balls the order of the day.
Stingerz were first score two quick runs courtesy of Bears
fielding errors through centre outfielder Alice Kalas and Nicky
Simba to take the lead.
Bears were left scoreless for four innings finding the going tough
against a tight fielding department.
Stingerz led 5-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Bears
broke their silence.
While Bears were kept busy trying to come to terms with Karai
deliveries, Stingerz piled on three runs in the second inning
through Selina Karai, daughter Tessie Karai and top performer
Isabelle Paisat.
Paisat not only contributed to Stingerz runs tally but was a star
performer of the day with an outstanding exhibition in the right
out field gloving all the fly hits that went her way.
Stingerz final run was scored at the bottom of the fourth inning
while Bears runs were scored by young speed star and pinch runner
Nadia Bais at the top of the fourth inning and Janice Soweni came
home in the sixth inning.
Bears coach John Josephs who was cool after match said every team
wanted to beat Bears and it was the girls complacency that allowed
Stingerz to walk over them.
