Lae retain women’s title with 6-4 win over Madang
By EKONIA PENI
LAE retained the national women’s softball title with a 6-4 win over arch-rivals Madang in Port Moresby yesterday.
Lae overcame stiff challenges during the four-day tournament from Port Moresby’s Digicel Red and White, Rabaul, Kaveing, Tabubil and Lihir.
In the lead up to the final, Lae defeated Madang 7-4 in the play off, while Madang defeated Port Moresby 7-6 to advance to the final.
Lae opened their account at the top of the first inning through Hennie Warpin off a safe hit by pitcher Tara Tomangana.
Madang equalised at the bottom of the second inning through Natalie Bart after a lose delivery by Tomangana.
In the third inning Beverly Pasen and Philomina Marut scored the double for Lae and Madang replied with a run through Sue Tarasomo.
Madang’s replacement pitcher Judith Gabong restricted Lae from scoring in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Madang scored a double at the bottom of the fourth inning through Rhonda Tabel and pincher runner Gloria Parkop to lead 4-3.
Madang held on to the one point lead in the fifth and sixth innings before Lae broke the drought by scoring three runs at the top of seventh to steal the match through Warpin from a Marut safe hit to midfield, followed by Pasen and Marut courtesy of a Tomangana sacrifice hit also to midfield.
It is the seventh consecutive season that Lae have entered the finals of the national softball championships since 2002 during which they won six national softball titles in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and now 2008.
The only loss was to Madang 9-8 during the 2005 national championships in Port Moresby.
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