By EKONIA PENI
BEE Hive Gazelle are through to the grand final of Port Moresby women’s softball after a 6-5 win over Stingerz in the preliminary final at the weekend.
Gazelle’s win was credible enough to set up another date with Airways Bears in a replay of last season’s final.
The preliminary match was so close that in the seventh inning Gazelle thought they had wrapped up the match by jumping up in jubilation and walked off the field but were called back to bat out the bottom ofthe seventh inning as the match was tied 5-5.
Stingerz were the first to score at the top of the first inning through Lenora Simba courtesy of a safe hit over second base by Tesa Karai.
But the Antelopes replied at the bottom of two with three runs through Mayville Keket, Helen Singiat and Jessica Tonga who were scored by a powerful Jenny Pilak hit to left outfield.
Then at the top of the second inning Dorcas Horis who was walked to first base was scored by a Trudy Simba special to reduce the deficit by one run (3-2).
Both teams squared up for a scoreless third inning before Stringerz scored one run in the fourth through Claire Wutt to equalise 3-3 from another safe hit by Trudy Simba to mid-field.
But the tie was short-lived when Pala Manet raced home from third base to score for Gazelle at the bottom of the third inning courtesy of an overthrow over first base by Dorcas Horis in an attempt to force out Gazelle’s Mathilda Pondriket.
At the bottom of five, Rosewita Ire crossed the home plate for Gazelle’s fifth point after a two-base hit by Keket.
The ball game for Stingerz came about at the top of seven in their last turn to bat which they made the best of by scoring two runs to draw 5-5.
The double were scored by Lenora Simba andShirley Tomangana courtesy of two wild pitches by Gazelle’s Grace Wanma.
With the scores levelled all that Gazelle need to do was to score one point to winat the bottom of the seventh inning which they did when Singiat made a safe hit to score Navasah Pilak who had already secured third base.