By EKONIA PENI
STINGERZ silenced Airways Bears at the weekend in the Digicel Port Moresby women’s softball with a nail biting 2-1 scoreline at Bisini softball diamonds.
The win by Stingerz was anticipated given their consistent form from the pre-season matches three weeks ago and their win over Wantoks (10-9) two weeks ago in round one.
The team in red and black played with determination and displayed more hunger for a win than the Bears who for the best part of the match took things casually especially in their batting department.
Stingerz’ determination was clearly shown in the first inning when Michelle Rolly and Dorcas Horis raced home for their team’s only points of the match.
Rolly had secured second base while Horis was on first base when Leno Simba who was the next batter made a big hit of the ball to right outfield that resulted in Rolly and Horis chasing each other home to score two points.
Fortunately for Stingerz, it was Horis’ determined running from first base to the home plate despite her weight that gave Stingerz the winning edge and the one point win in the end when the game was called off by Umpire Andrew Moe.
Yet despite being kept scoreless for four innings Bears still had the opportunity to force a draw or pull off the match in their favour in their last turn to bat when Joyce Inguba made a safe hit to mid-field to score Monica Diapong who had already secured base for the Bears to trail by one point.
Having scored their first point all the Bears that needed to do was to score two would-be points in Inguba and Tessie Komek who were on second and first bases respectively.
However Stingerz had other ideas when pitcher Selina Karai and catcher Nickie Simba displayed a restrictive combination that resulted in the Bear’s batters hitting flyballs that were easily caught for three downs without scoring points.
Claire Wutt was the top player for Stingez for her efforts in gloving all the flyballs that were hit in her direction.
While Joyce Inguba was the Bear’s top player for her fielding efforts at second base for her team who given their experience really struggled with the bat.
Wantoks annahilated Admiralty 22-1 in the first biggest thrashing of the season in the competition.
In yesterday only senior game Dolphins edged Malangan 10-9.