| Sports |
Manolos sail through to claim
softball title
Telikom Eagles are kicking themselves for opportunities lost when
Island Shipping Manolos beat them 6-5 in a tie breaker in Lae
Softball women’s A grade grand final at the Sir Ignatius Kilagi
Stadium on Saturday.
Telikom looked to be the better side in latter innings and had
Manolos under pressure but failed to capitalise mainly due to
their speed and agility between the bases.
Telikom captain and first basewoman said they had the measure of
Manolos and were unlucky to lose.
“We stopped their runs at the top of third and kept them scoreless
until the tie breaker,” she said
Manolos team official Roslyn Pasen, when asked if her side have
played better, said; “We may have played poorly in latter part of
the match but a win is a win.”
The flying in of short stop Shirley Tomangana from Port Moresby
looked to be added bonus for the minor premiers in the early
innings. But, that turned sour in latter stages when she threw
some wayward throws to first base and allowed Telikom into the
match.
The diminutive lass kicked started Manolos campaign with a
two-base hit and was scored by Beverly Malum. The next lot of
batters were sent back without advancing to first base and Malum
in her attempt to steal third base was forced out.
At the top of second, Mnaolos added couple of runs to the total
through bunts forcing the slower Telikom infielders to scramble.
Telikom tied the match at 3- all when their best player Clair
Augwi got safely to second through a good fly hit to centre
outfield. She was then scored Nerriel Murup with a similar hit.
Then a series of errors from the Manolos infielders allowed Murup
home and later Carol Kori raced home in similar fashion.
Tara Tomangana’s home run at the top of third pushed her side
ahead and further by another run from Mathilda. Tara was later
named woman of the match.
Telikom then levelled the scores when Murup was scored by Ursula
Wanana and Wanana was later brought home.
The runs then stalled for both sides until the tie breaker.
In B grade, Marlins beat Manolos for the premiership. That win
started Marlins onslaught for premierships in men’s B and A grades
as well.
 
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