By EKONIA PENI
MUCH improved Dolphins yesterday upset Premiers Bee Hive Gazelle 10-4 in round five of the Digicel Port Moresby women’s softball.
Dolphins played with purpose and batted with determination and deserved the win which complimented their improving performances and form since the competition started five weeks ago.
In their first chance to bat at the bottom of the first inning Dolphins hit the score card with a double through Lara Aitsi who was scored by Bernedette Cherum from a safe hit to left outfield.
Aitisi was followed home by Yaking Haii who was scored by another safe hit from Esther Xkenjik.
Gazelle quickly replied with two runs through Jenny Pilak and Shirley Kalimet who were scored with a safe hit by Grace Wanma who unfortunately was left stranded on second base.
After a pointless third inning, Dolphins unleashed their best performance at the bottom of the third inning when they scored another five runs courtesy of poor pitching by Gazelle’s pitcher Wanma as well as their (Dolphins) own solid batting display.
After the bases had been loaded Haii was the first to be walked home when Xkenjik was also walked to first base after a ball four count.
Then Malinda Diapong who was on third base was brought home with a safe hit by Effie Saman, before Cherum was brought home with another safe hit by Betty Pokawas.
Xkinjik was walked home for the fourth point of the inning when the bases were still loaded before Saman was scored by a safe hit by Lara Aitsi.
Gazelle managed to score again through Jenny Pilak and Shirley Kalimet at the top of the fourth inning before Diapong, Cherum and Xkenjik wrapped the Dolphin’s victory at the bottom of the same inning with three more runs.
Pilak and Kalimet were Gazelle’s best batting duo, while Cherum, Yaking, Xkenjik and the Aitsi sisters batted and fielded well for Dolphins.
In the other matches Airways Bears thrashed Malangan 17-2 and Stingerz edded Admiralty 7-4.