Madang get ready for softball title defence

By THADDEUS TIRIMAN
NATIONAL Softball champions Madang wants to make it their third national premiership title in a row this year in the National softball championship to be held in Port Moresby during Easter.
The men are sending in two teams while the women are sending in one team. The men’s teams are Madang Fox and Madang Kings and the women’s team also called the Madang Kings will be contending to defend the crown they won last year. The teams are named after their sponsor former Madang MP Alois Kingsley who has been very supportive of the team since last years exploits in Kavieng.
According to association president Ralph Tarasomo, the teams have gone into training after the grand finals two weeks ago which saw Kabiu and Bees walk away with the honors in the men’s and women’s division respectively.
International pitcher Meli Taragau and colleague Esau Vinarang are two major players in the Madang squad. Taragau has been instrumental in the Madang team’s last two national premiership titles and will be gunning for another impressive performance this year. Vinarang has come back with impressive performances this year after a slump and lead his team Kabiu into the softball grand final.
In the women’s team Natalie Bart and Judith Gabong will be very instrumental among others. Other teams expected to participate in this years championships are Kokopo, Rabaul, Tomadir, Kavieng, Lihir, Lae, Tabubil and host Port Moresby.