Tigers, Bismarck end Kikila Cats winning run

DIGICEL Lae Softball Association (LSA) pre-season men’s competition leaders Kikila Cats’ perfect run came to halt as they lost to Tigers and Bismarck on the weekend.
Saturday’s game of the round saw the battle of the cats, with previously undefeated Kikila facing the Tigers.
The Tigers welcomed the return of John Kiapen in the catching role.
Pairing with Peter Simon, they came out firing to take a 5-1 lead at the top of the fifth inning.
Young Tiger Tio Kamilo pushed his claim for a permanent spot in the line-up by bagging a home run.
But Kikila would not lie down, fighting back at their last turn of batting to score three runs, only to fall short by one run in their maiden pre-season. With Kiapen and Simon hitting their stride, the Tigers are peaking at the right time and are in the hunt for the inaugural Digicel LSA President’s Title.
Admiralty Marlins added to their tally by defeating a spirited Jets outfit 11-0 on Saturday and forfeited NGI on Sunday. IS&T Manolos, who collected two points after forfeiting Brown Eagles, have a game in hand against Bismarck.
Sunday’s match of the day saw Kikila looking to rebound against Bismarck.
The first inning saw the game dominated by the pitchers with Kikila’s Roland Ackroy and Bismarck’s Meli Taragau sending batter’s to their respective dugouts.
In the second inning, Bismarck eventually settled down and their batters scored 14 unanswered runs after five innings.
Kikila’s sole run was scored at the bottom of the fifth inning.
According to LSA president Lindsay Pulu, the game between Manolos and Bismarck was deferred due to the death of a young player.