PNG Power zap Yokomo

Sports

By HENRY MORABANG
PNG Power dethroned Yokomo 9-7 in a nail-biting victory in the Port Moresby men’s A grade softball grand final on Saturday.
As anticipated, both teams kept softball fans on their toes from the first to the seventh inning.
In the end, PNG Power came out winners.
Power made known their intent to win through Demas Tovia, Paul Tabete, Daniel Tovia, Eugene Tovue and Edward Sena.
The champions, sensing that the game was slipping away from their grip, registered two runs from Paul Bogan and then David Upaupa, who romped home from a sacrifice hit from Taki Zale, to trail 5-2.
PNG Power extended the lead 6-2 through Eddie “Sanguma” Simba, who slid home at the top of the third inning.
PNG Power had to strategise and make some major changes at the bottom of the third inning, with pitcher Michael Parom switching position with Daniel Tovia at second base.
The changes did not help PNG Power’s cause as Yokomo registered four runs off Daniel Tovia’s pitching through Micah Zale, Kelly Upaupa, Colin Mangot and Paul Bogan to level the scores at 6-6.
There were no runs scored at the completion of the fourth inning but Michael Parom created breathing space when he slammed a home-run at the top of the fifth inning, while first-base custodian Simba scored his second run of the match to take a slight lead 8-6.
Yokomo had Bogan scoring his second run to narrow the lead 8-7 at the bottom of the fifth inning before magic man Edward Sena capitalised on Yokomo’s infield errors to advance bases and steal the home to take the lead 9-7.
There were no runs scored in the final inning as pitchers Clifford Kouse (Yokomo) and Daniel Tovia (PNG Power) put on their best to restrict runners from advancing to bases.
Tovia especially ensured that no runs were scored at the bottom of the seventh inning to see his team upset pre-match favourites Yokomo 9-6. In the B grade, United Brothers defended their title by thrashing Brown Eagles 13-5.