Power, Wantoks take honours in Port Moresby softball finals

REIGNING champion PNG Power and Wantoks are the king and queens of Port Moresby men and women softball  respectively following their grand final wins on Saturday.
Defending champions PNG Power’s good pitching by hurler Daniel Tovia and tight infielding enabled them to beat Lae Biscuit Gazelle 4-1 in the men’s grand final.
Both teams were level 1-1 until the fourth innings when coach Isikiel Tovia instructed his players to capitalise on errors caused by Gazelle infielders to score three quick runs to put them in safer waters.
Like Tovia, Gazelle head coaches Hulala Tokome and Paskalis Pinia were working overtime to ensure they reduced the deficit.
The last three innings were so tight and PNG Power ensured no Gazelle players advanced to bases.
Gazelle pitcher Peter Simon contributed well to restrict PNG Power’s batters from advancing to bases but it was poor infield errors that cost them the game.
In the women’s final, veterans Kolish Banam, Sandra Sawaraba and Pala Manet led by example with bat to ensure their favourite Wantok women’s team are back in Port Moresby women’s softball history books.
Wantok capitalised on defending champions Bears early demise in the elimination finals to make sure some of their players now with United Sisters followed their footsteps.
It was good pitching by Mathilda Moe with assistance from tight fielding led by Banam and captain and backstop Lisa Polum that played a very big role in their 7-3 thrashing  of the Sisters.
Despite Sisters captain Georgina Mocke-Mautu creating a history in Port Moresby softball grand final with a homer in the fifth inning, it did not overshadow the Wantoks’ 10-year drought to win back the prized Port Moresby women’s crown.
Meanwhile, the  president of Port Moresby Men’s Softball Association Ralph Tarasomo congratulated the Port Moresby Women’s Association for their understanding and cooperation in hosting the combined grand final last Saturday.