By THADDEUS TIRIMAN
IT will be a thrilling encounter in the Digicel-sponsored Port Moresby Men’s A Grade softball on Sunday as the Airways Bears and LBC Gazelle battle it out to determine who faces the competition’s pacesetters PNG Power in next weekend’s grand final.
In the preliminary final showdown Gazelle and Bears have one win each from the two times they have faced each other and will start as equals.
The Bears are in winning form after last weekend’s nail-biting major semi finals match in which they showed SPIA Manolos the exit with a 10-9 win.
And Gazelles have to make up for their 7-2 loss to PNG Power last Saturday, a game in which they clearly were outnumbered in both batting and fielding.
The Bears batting has been a very important factor in their last two wins with big guns Dick Bart Junior, Bobby Bais, Chris Avuchulas, and in-form youngsters Nerius Kua, Chris Timi and Sam Malum having the ability to make big hits and trigger off scoring sprees.
Gazelle are not lacking in youthful energy as they possess an impressive batting line-up in the likes of Toni Karani, Gabriel Pamel, Peter Kaminiel, David Mickey, Colin Mangot and Demas Totil.
If their regular pitcher Nelson Kiap can control his line and maintain it for seven innings he can set up a course for victory. Substitute pitcher, and former international Patrick Pilak can unleash lethal pitching, which has seen him single-handedly send a whole team back to the bench, that is, if he hits the right line and maintain it throughout his innings.
The Gazelle have to lift in their fielding and careless running between bases which were two of the determining factors in their loss to PNG Power last week.
The Bears’ winning factor has always been psychological, seen in their never-say-die attitude which has resulted in three successive comebacks from behind to win.
Captain Dick Bart’s substitute pitching has been very helpful in their last two wins, easing the burden off regular Joe Avuchulas Junior who couldn’t last a full seven innings.
The Gazelle men could be in for a shock if they fail to contain the onslaught of a comeback campaign which the Bears are capable of executing with devastating results.