| Sports |
Softball gold double for our men and
women
By HENRY MORABANG in Apia,
Samoa
PNG Men and Womenís team on Friday (Samoa time) were crowned
kings and queens of the softball at the Xlll South Pacific Games
in Apia, Samoa.
Coincidently, PNG had to play the American Samoans in both grand
finals at Faleata Softball ground.
In the womenís division, PNG beat American Samoa in a tough
encounter 2-1 while PNG thrashed them 9-1 to collect their
respective gold medals. In fact, the menís competition was
halted in the fifth inning as PNG scored more than 7 runs in the
required run rates.
In the womenís encounter, PNG scored their two runs in the first
and second innings through Shirley Tomangana and veteran Carol
Yawing respectively while Samoa replied in the bottom of the
second inning.
The next five innings were scoreless as both PNG and American
Samoa denied their respective batters from advancing on bases.
PNG had several good chances when it has players on the bases
but good pitching by American Samoa pitcher denied our batters
to get home.
Women coach Henry Takaili gave credit to her girls for putting
up a good defensive game to restrict their American opponents
from advancing or stealing bases to score points.
ìOur defence was tight based on our training which finally paid
off against our opponents. I gave credit to American Samoa for
putting up a good fight which at times threatened our gold medal
chance,î he said.
He said it has been his dream to win a gold medal for the
country, and I have finally achieved this in Apia, Samoa.
Takaili thanked PNG Softball Association, Telikom PNG and other
sponsors for making it possible for them to win the medal. He
also thanked the families for giving their time in supporting
their players.
In the menís, PNG got the ball rolling in the second inning when
Paul Bogan hit a good fly ball over the outfield to bring Bobby
Bais, Dick Bart jnr and David Upaupa home to lead by three
points.
PNG extend their lead when designated hitter Joel Petau made a
sacrifice hit to allow Daniel Malum to come home to put PNG in
front by four points to nil.
In the third inning, Joel Petau who hit a three-based run sailed
home when American Samoa made a silly overthrow to him to stroll
home for a 5-nil lead.
However, thing have change when PNG caused an silly error to
allow American Samoa back into the game by registering their
first and only point on the board to trail 5-1.
In the fourth inning, Chris Bai hit the home run to extend the
lead to 6-1. Dick Bart jnr applied his experience to bunt to
secure the first base.
Next in batting was David Upaupa who made a sacrifice to advance
Bart to second base before Paul Bogan connected a good fly ball
to the outfield to allow Bart to sprint home to cushion PNGís
lead.7-1 before Paul Bogan and Zale stormed home after a good
hit by Joel Petau to win the match 9-1.
Coach Joe Lumaris said he was expecting the gold medal at the
first instance knowing that Federated State of Micronesia and
Guam, the two forces of the game in the region didnít attend the
games.
He said he was pleased with the mission and thanked his players
for winning the gold for the country.
He said the pitcher/catcher combination of Anslem Bunbun and
Bobby Bais was the deciding factor for the medal.
PNG defended the gold medal they won in 1991 SPG in Port
Moresby.
 
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