Eagles feel the Power
The National, Monday 20th May 2013
By HENRY MORABANG
PNG Power’s big game experience has propelled them into the grand final with a 2-1 victory over Brown Eagles in the preliminary finals played at the Bisini softball diamonds yesterday.
The Hohola-based team will now meet United Brothers in the finale.
As anticipated, the game got down to the wire which kept the spectators guessing who would win the match.
The “Baby” Eagles from Matupit kept the lid tight in the first inning to restrict their opponent to score.
However, at the bottom of the first inning, “Mr Reliable” Gire Bunbun exhibited some classical stealing and sneaking of bases to romp home for the first point of the afternoon to put Brown Eagles in front 1-0.
The Power had the chance to reply in the top of the second inning when Daniel Tovia and Steven Polum were left stranded on the base for all out.
Two pitchers, PNG Power’s Daniel Tovia who registered 12 K2’s to Brown Eagles’ Clement Okole with six K2’s, put on their top performances in restricting the players from advancing to win bases.
The next three innings after the second inning were all pitchers’ call. They were the once who dictated the game for their respective teams.
It was at the top of the fifth inning when the tide changed for PNG Power.
The first batter Steven Polum advanced to the first base with the good drive to the centre outfield.
The next batter Michael Parum made a sacrifice hit to advance Polum to second base while he was tagged out on the first base.
The next batter Eugene ToVue was caught out while Dimmick hit a good ball to the left outfield and raced to win the first base after a poor throw to Jack Varuna, however an attempt with an overthrow to second base saw him cruise home for the shaky 2-1 lead.
The next two batters Edward Senna and Demas Tovia were out for three down.
After the 2-1 lead, PNG Power pitcher Daniel Tovia lifted his performance to send the Eagles top batting line-up back to the dug-out.
The remaining two innings, the sixth and seventh, was evenly fought with PNG Power putting on their best ever performance to return to defend their title against United Brothers.
In the B grade semi-final, Defence led by Douglas Paak thrashed Stingers 12-0.
They meet Brown Eagles in the grand final next weekend.