Bears lead POM softball

By EKONIA PENI
BEARS are the new leaders of Port Moresby men’s softball after two big wins yesterday in their two matches.
Bears easily accounted for a struggling Gazelle side in their first match beating the antelopes 5-1 and then in the main match, Bears backed-up well to hold off a strong challenge from Dolphins in a nailing biting 4-3 victory.
Malcolm Kolemus, Willie Patali (home run) and Sammy Malum (two runs) were the batters who scored for Bears.
However credit for the win goes to pitcher Henry Keleu who pitched well at the bottom of the fifth inning to restrict Dolphins from scoring after the scores were tied 3-all in the fourth inning.
Bears coach Joe Lumaris was happy that the Bears had taken lead in the competition at this stage but said more work would be required of the team to remain on top.
Mantarays, who were running third on the ladder, have moved up to clear second after beating Stingerz 6-2.
With Bears and Mantarays on first and second placing, the previous joint competition leaders Brown Eagles and Dolphins have been dethroned to equal third on the ladder on eight points apiece with PNG Power.
The power men who were on six points previously managed to secure two points after beating Brown Eagles 7-4 in the mid afternoon match.
The Tovia brothers Demas, Isikel Jr and Daniel starred for PNG Power when they scored a home run each giving a strong indication that PNG Power were still the team to beat this season.
Daniel was exceptional in pitching and gave a strong indication of his claim for the pitching duties for Port Moresby come next Easter’s national championships in Goroka.
In the other matches United Brothers thrashed Kopex 22-7 while Defence demolished Stingerz 17-nil in the second double header for Stingerz.
The unofficial competition ladder is Bears 10, followed by Mantarays on 9 points, Brown Eagles, Dolphins and PNG Power on eight points each, United Brothers (7), Gazelle and Defence on three points each, Kopex (2) and Stingerz yet to win a match.