By EKONIA PENI
IT will be the last throw of the dice for Stingerz and premiers Bee Hive Gazelle as they prepare for the preliminary finals in the Digicel Port Moresby women’s softball tomorrow.
Never this season had a match been so important to both teams as this weekend’s encounter since the loser bow out while the winner continue to the grand final meet with Airways Bears next Saturday.
Stingerz had the best of preparations last weekend in the close tussle with Bears despite their loss (5-4) in which they displayed true defensive game.
They should maintain that defensive form
and then bat well to register the win they really need to propel them into the grand final.
Coach Nelson Simba with the likely assistance of Oscar Karai would stick with the same line-up including the reliable pitcher-catcher combination of Selina Karai and Nicky Simba.
The batting line-up of Simba, Tesa Karai, Dorcas Horis and Calire Wutt will need to click for a win.
However, the big time feel could be cut short with the final’s experience and calibre of players Gazelle’s coach Chris Raphael will be calling on to eliminate Stingerz.
Last season’s final’s pitcher Grace Wanma will probably be the first choice at the pitching mound with Mathilda Pondriket catching.
But their efforts would go to waste if Gazelle do not tighten up in fielding errors which had been one of their weaknesses.
Although they lost the minor semi final to Gazelle last week Wantoks exposed Gazelle’s fielding weakness, thus their mammoth task would be to tighten up fielding, reduce the errors and bat well against Salina Karai.
In the B grade preliminary final Stingerz will play Budget Real Estate Wantoks and Tikina will play Gazelle in the under 16 preliminary final.
In the men’s semi finals tomorrow minor premiers PNG Power will play LBC Gazelle to decide a grand final berth for the winner.
While in the elimination match the situation remains unclear as the outcome of the Airways Bears/Brown Eagles match from last weekend has not yet been resolved.
If the two teams were to play off the seventh inning as decided by the judiciary this week then an opponent will be decided with the winner to meet SPIA Manolos in the elimination match on Sunday.
However, Bears have advised that they will be appealing the decision of the judiciary.
In the B grade Brown Eagles play Manolos tomorrow to decide a grand final berth while the elimination final of the division will be between Bears and Gazelle.
In the Under 16 Airways Bears will play Brown Eagles for a grand final berth with Dolphins and Stingerz to play off the elimination final.