Chebu, Eagles take on Bears sides

A REJUVENATED Chebu take on Bears in the main fixture of the Port Moresby Women’s Softball Association’s third round at the Bisini diamonds tomorrow.
The Bougainville club have taken to the diamonds with determination this season and have proven a tough out for any side they have faced.
Port Moresby women’s softball president Mary Paak said there was little separating most of the teams in the top grade and she expected all clashes on the weekend draw to be close affairs.
Paak predicted pitcher-catcher combinations would be key to deciding most of the contests.
Chebu will look to put the heat on the Bears through their big hitters in Eliza Bobby, Lois Garena and Vero Aisi while the grizzlies will base their game plan around their experienced core of Nadia Bais, Lisa Polum and Joyce Inguba and Francisca Kinit.
Paak said experience favoured Bears but anything could happen especially if Chebu’s batters got going.
In the men’s A grade competition the Brown Eagles take on a Bears outfit boosted with the inclusion of veteran slugger Dick Bart Jr.
Bart, who led the United Brothers to several titles, is back with the club he started his career at and his big hitting coupled with level head will be a boon for the grizzlies.
The Eagles won’t be flustered by the Bears building their momentum with two wins on the trot but face their biggest test yet against a team that features current PNG captain Bart, Consie Bais, Alfred Kinakava, Bobby Bais, Jonty Malum and Nerius Kua.
The Bears were edged 4-3 by PNG Power and will be out to close better this weekend.
Eagles have their own guns in pitcher Kolish Pagal whose battle with Bart will be an intriguing match-up.
The Matupit men also have their own game-breakers in catcher Graham Kinavai, Martin ToAlbert, Peter Bunbun, Consie Lumaris and Tyrone Paivu making the fixture of the round.
Fixtures: Sat, Feb 23 – Men: Brown Eagles v Bears; Women: Saints v Gazelle, Yokomo v Mariners; Stingerz v United Sisters; Sun, Feb 24 – Men: Yokomo v Aviat Jets, Kikila Cats v PNG Power, Stingerz v Defence. Bye: Men – Gazelle.