Batter up Kavieng – Record number of teams for tourney

 By HENRY MORABANG

ALL systems are set to go when the 35th National Gaming Control Board National Softball Championship starts tomorrow in Kavieng, New Ireland.

PNG Softball Federation president Chris Bais yesterday said 34 teams from 13 centres had confirmed to take part, – making it the biggest national softball championships in history.

Kavieng last hosted the softball championship in 2007, when 26 teams took part.

Bais said he was happy with the preparations and the local organising committee was just putting finishing touches, including field marking and erecting back stops around the softball diamonds in selected venues.

There are four diamonds for the national championships.

They are Court House – main diamond, one diamond at Snafu, two diamonds at Utu High School and a spare diamond at Livitua village, the home of the Buluminski Softball Association.

Bais said tournament director Ralph Tarasomo expected all teams to be in Kavieng by today and early tomorrow before a briefing in the evening.

Matches are expected to start tomorrow, with the official opening on Saturday morning.

The opening ceremony will be led by Maimais (traditional chiefs from Kara/Nalik area) and Buluminski and Kavieng softball teams.

Bais said Public Enterprise and State Investments Minister and Kavieng Open MP Ben Micah would officiate at the closing ceremony on Monday.