Double treat in Pom softball grand final

SOFTBALL fans in the nation’s capital will get a double treat tomorrow when the Port Moresby men’s and women’s softball associations hold their season finals.
The separate finals are expected to draw a large crowd of regular and casual fans to the Bisini Diamonds.
For the men, pitching will be the deciding factor in the A grade grand final between defending premiers, PNG Power and Lae Biscuit Gazelle, while in the women’s final, United Sister have a side that has plenty of finals experience.
Hurlers Danny Tovia of PNG Power and Peter Simon Gazelle’s Lae-based fly-in and fly-out pitcher hold the key to victory for their respective teams.
Both are seasoned internationals and should handle the intense atmosphere of a final on the pitching mound.
Tovia and Simon will be expected to make batters work hard for first base.
Gazelle will make their 24th appearance and will be chasing their 18th premiership in the competition.
Despite the unpredictable rainy weather, both teams are prepared for tomorrow’s showdown on Diamond One.
In the women’s despite Bears missing out on this season’s grand final, nothing is lost as the bulk their players are now in the premiership decider, this time donning the colours of United Sisters.
Top batter of the season and experienced Georgina Mocke Mautu, Tersie Komek, Wendy Sogai and Natalie Bart are  the reasons behind the Bears long reign over the last decade and have no doubt brought this winning edge to first-time finalists United.
It will go down in history if United, only in their second season in the capital’s season competition, come out victors.
International hurler who led Papua New Guinea to claim gold at the last South Pacific Games in Samoa, Bart will be guided by catcher Mautu.
Mautu is one of the top catchers in the competition and her guidance should be the telling factor in United’s performance on the day.
Suluet Tarasomo, international soccer player Caroline Moeder, Claire Wut, Dong Kaukesa and Komek will again be expected to lead the batting department.
Wantoks, who beat all odds to put away the minor premiers in the major semi-final last week, will be determined to claim the silverware.
Their side will be led by veteran and former international Kolish Banam, who has not lost her flair will be playing her favourite position at short stop.
Banam will lead her chargers with the help from catcher and current international Lisa Polum directing traffic from behind the home plate.
Tomorrow’s softball action is guaranteed to cap off another good season in the capital city and supporters are urged to come and get a taste of two wholly entertaining matches to close out season 2009-10.