22 confirmed for softball championships

 By WENDY KATUSELE

TWENTY-two teams have confirmed their participation for the                                                                                                                                      national softball club championships in Madang in September.

The championships are slated for the independence weekend from September 13-16.

Senior vice-president of the PNG Softball Federation, Ralph Tarasomo confirmed this yesterday following the deadline for nominations last Friday.

Tarasomo said 10 men’s teams would participate with two more from Madang to be confirmed once their competition ended.

For the women, seven teams have paid in their K600 nomination fee with two sides from Madang to bring the total to nine.

Tarasomo said because they were the hosts, they would have to fill in the required number of teams to participate.

The national club championships is an annual event where premier clubs and runners-up battle it out to crown the country’s top softball club.

Port Moresby is the only association allowed to field its top four clubs considering their high standard of competition and larger pool of players. 

Another top finish is expected at these championships  with selections for the 2015 Pacific Games an exciting incentive for players.

The PNGSF is still searching for players to beef up its national women’s train-on squad and players who missed out still have a chance to impress the national selectors. 

The national women’s team will travel to Brisbane a week before the tournament for the Queensland state championships.

Men’s: Ivarak (Kokopo), New Guinea Islands, Rovers (Mt Hagen), Yokomo, Bears, United Brothers, Gazelle (Port Moresby), Admiralty Marlins, Manolos (Lae), Heights (Ramu) and the two Madang men’s teams. Women’s: Manolos (Lae), Stormers (Lae), United Sisters, Bears (Port Moresby), Titans (Mt Hagen), Tongani (Kavieng), Eels (Ramu) and the two teams from Madang.