Petalie leads Bears to 8-8 draw

 SLUGGER Willie Petalie saved face for the Bears with a home-run at the bottom of the fifth inning to force an 8-8 draw against reigning champions  PNG Power in the Port Moresby men’s A grade softball match at the Bisini Softball diamonds on Sunday.

Former Pukpuk forward Petalie was re-introduced in the final inning and that proved to a be a strategic move as he showed his batting skills to send the ball over the boundary to bring Danny Malum and himself home for a drawn match. 

PNG Power were leading 8-6 at that time.

Bears started the game on high note at the bottom of the first inning when they scored three valuable runs through Nerius Kua, Anselm Bunbun and young Julius Tatai to lead 3-0.

The next two innings produced no further points as the teams struggled with their batting.

At the top of fourth inning, Bears were leading until PNG Power turned on the heat with the bat at the bottom of the same inning to see David Manoa’s home run narrow the score 3-2.

Petalie was first to bat and won the first base with a good hit to the outfield. He was replaced with a pinch runner, Himson Amolo. 

Amolo advanced to second while Genue Jeiso won the first base. The next batter Alex Bunbun hit a good home run to bring the score to 6-2.

At the top of the fifth inning, PNG Power made use of their batting techniques when opening batter Steven Polum was walked to the first base after being hit with the ball.  

He advanced to second and third and managed to come home from a sacrifice bunt by Edward Senna to start a six -point rout. Other runners who came home included Demas Tovia, Senna, Isikel Tovia, Eddie Simba, David Manoa and Michael Parom to take the lead 8-6.

The last turn of bat for Bears saw Petalie scoring a home run to level the score.