Samurai suffer first loss in Pom men’s softball

COMPETITION leaders Samurai were inflicted with their first loss of the season yesterday, courtesy of a fired-up Dolphins thrashing them 11-0 in the Port Moresby men’s premier softball competition  at Bisini Diamond One.
Samurai started the first two innings on a high note by restricting Dolphins.
However, their game pattern collapsed in the remaining innings which resulted in Dolphins coming back to pile runs to win the match convincingly.
It was Samurai’s first loss after an impressive campaign this season with  three consecutive wins against their name.
In their first encounter, they beat Kopex 8-6, then continued their good form when they dished out a 4-1 against Defence  and last weekend  they beat Brown Eagles 7-4.
Dolphins, on the other hand, started the season on a wrong footing but regrouped and came back with some good wins,  and  defeating  11-0.
In the early match,  United Brothers led by season campaigners Chris Avuchulas, Adrian Chan, Dick Bart jnr and pitcher Nelson Kiap proved too strong for the Brown Eagles, coming out 6-1 winners.
Brothers decided to  take the field after winning the toss.
Kiap, who was on the pitching mound, was in top form sending the three opening Brown Eagles batters  David Maira, Martin ToAlbert and Emmanuel ToAlbert back to the dugout.
When it was Brothers’ turn to bat, they registered four runs through Jollom Albert, Chris Avuchulas, Adrian Chan and Goodwil Baia crossing over the home plate to take a 4-0 lead.
However, the scoreline remained unchanged in the second inning while Albert and Avuchulas collected another one run each to extend their lead  6-0.
After sensing that the game was slipping away, Brown Eagles made vital changes by bringing first base custodian Paul Tabete to take over the pitching job from regular pitcher Belo Taule.
The changes made some  impact in their game to deny their opponents any runs and, also a classic double play which denied Brothers from collecting  points.
In the bottom of the third inning, no runs were scored and Brothers were still leading 6-0.
Brothers introduced Sam Ropa in the top of the fourth inning to relieve Kiap.
However, while adjusting to his pitching role, Emmanuel ToAlbert sneaked  home following an overthrow by Jerry Katusele and scored the only point for his side.
At the bottom of the fourth inning, United’s Pora showed that he could still pitch and denied  three Eagles batters with TKO’s
Meanwhile, in other matches yesterday, reigning premiers PNG Power beat AB Bears 6-4, Defence edged out Kopex 3-2 while Gazelle collected their first points of the season on technical grounds after defeating Mantarays 7-0.
After the weekend’s matches, the unofficial points ladder has PNG Power leading on 7 points followed by Dolphins 6, Samurai 6, Brothers 6, Defence 6, Kopex 4, Bears 2, Mantarays 3, Gazelle 2 and Brother Eagles 0.