POM victorious

By FRANKIY KAPIN
PORT Moresby Melonas claimed the 2013 Nationals Softball men’s title after beating Lae Reds 7-5 at the Kavieng court house oval yesterday afternoon.
Earlier in the women’s final, Port Moresby Gold defeated East New Britain 4-2 setting the stage for clean sweep by the capital city teams.
Melonas scored at the top of first inning through third baser JontyMalum and Captain Dick Bart at top of the first inning.
Reds retaliated through runs from KolimusYadivilo, Mark Simon and a homer from centre outfield Steven Koilamus to lead 3-0 at bottom of the first inning.
Both sides were unable to add runs reaching top of the fifth inning when Dick Bart slammed his first home run from an unsuspecting delivery by Red’s Peter Simon.
Batting after Bart, Melonas Ezekiel Tovia then added to Simon’s misery with another home run to lead 4-3 in the fifth inning.

Reds were kept scoreless until the final inning (seventh) struggling to connect the deliveries of Melonas pitcher William Tony.
A number of safe hits over the infield saw Reds Albert Kinakava, Mark Ilam and John Kiapen on base but were kept from reaching home plate by Melonas relief pitcher Daniel Tovia .
At the top of the sixth inning Melonas’ Demas Tovia slapped a three-base hit and was later brought home by Bart with his second home run taking the lead to 6-3 at the bottom of the sixth inning.
The last inning saw Demas Tovia safely reaching the home plate sealing the match at 7-3.
Batting at the bottom of seventh, Reds’ despair was marred by the afternoon drizzle even after a change in the pitching role from Simon to brothers Paul and Henry Keleu.
Tournament director Ralph Tarasomo announced the 2014 national championships would be in Port Moresby while the club titles would be East New Britain in September.
A select PNG softball side for the South Pacific games in Port Moresby has also been selected and will be announced on a later date.