By EKONIA PENI
PNG Power pitcher Daniel Tovia continued his good form yesterday when he led his team to a 4-0 victory over Airways Bears in the Digicel Port Moresby men’s competition.
It was the second successive weekend for Tovia to combine well with his brother and catcher Isikel Tovia Junior to record 12 strike outs that eventually rattled the Bears’ batting line-up in the match of the weekend.
The power men were expected to win given their solid form last weekend when they defeated Brown Eagles 4-0 in a match that Daniel Tovia also starred in with his pitching.
After a pointless first inning, PNG Power scored their first point in the second inning through Eddie Simba from a pass delivery by Bear’s pitcher Joe Avuchulas.
Then they (PNG Power) piled on three more points in the third inning through Isikel Junior, Michael Parom and Demas Tovia to seal the win.
Isikel Junior and Parom were scored by a safe hit to midfield by Demas, while Demas raced home following a fielding error by John Monie at centre field.
Despite a credible pitching stance by Avuchulas, the Bears struggled in batting in the entire five innings match and will need to address their batting during training if they are to be as competitive this season.
The absence of skipper Dick Bart Junior who has transferred to Gazelle and pitcher Apisai Guguna who has linked up with Brown Eagles were evident in the struggle by the Bears.
In the other match yesterday Brown Eagles regrouped well after their loss last weekend to thrash Kopex 17-1 with Andrew Livuana scoring the only point for Kopex.
Match umpire Betty Pokawas called off the game at the bottom of the third inning by applying the mercy rule when Kopex were unable to score enough points to force the match for another two innings.
SPIA Manolos nailed Dolphins 5-0 in the other match yesterday.
On Saturday, veteran pitcher Patrick Pilak led LBC Gazelle to beat Samurai 9-3 and Bobby Benson displayed his own pitching class to lead Bullets to a 6-1 victory over Malangan.
After the weekend matches PNG Power, Manolos and Bullets lead on 4 points each after winning two games each, followed by Bears, Malangan, Eagles and Gazelle on two points apiece with Kopex, Samurai and Dolphins yet to win gamse.