Kikila Cats unbeaten

By LARRY ANDREW
KIKILA Cats are the only unbeaten side out of eight men’s teams after week two of the Digicel Lae Softball Association pre-season competition at the Eriku Niall Reserve Oval.
Association president Lindsay Pulu said there were three more rounds before the Feb 27 final and the race for the top-two spots was still open with the inaugural Digicel President’s Trophy up for grabs.
For the women’s competition, it is a three-way race between champions IS&T Manolos, Stormers and Manus side Admiralty Marlins, who are out to rewrite history.
“If there was a positive I could take out of the event so far, it would be an increase in team numbers,” Pulu said.
“Even though there have been no-shows by a few clubs, there has been an increase in player participation across both genders.
“There are a number of new players in the men’s and women’s competitions.
“The re-admission of the New Guinea Islands (NGI) women’s team after a five-year absence is an indication that Lae softball is being revived.”
Pulu said the men’s match to watch this weekend would be Saturday’s 1.15pm fixture between Peter Simon’s Tigers and Kikila.
In the women’s competition, the outcome of Sunday’s clash between Manolos and Stormers will have a bearing on the top-two spots.