2015 national softball championships

The Melonas opened the scoring at the top of the second inning after Sammy Malum was walked to first base.

Next batter up, Martin ToAlbert hit out to bring Malum home while he advanced to third base.

Gerald Pokanau followed this up with a safe hit that brought ToAlbert home to make it 2-0.

The Buluminski batters failed to get on base at their turn of bat as the game progressed to the third inning.

Good batting allowed Madang to open the scoring in the third inning with three runs to take the lead.

Buluminski hit back at their next turn of bat,  scoring after Wendy Katusele was walked with a full base situation. A hit by pitch ball gave Buluminski their second run.

Madang finally made the play to end the innings with the score at 3-2.

 A hit by Madang’s Pricilla Mocke brought home another runner. In the next play, Mocke scored herself from a loose ball.

In the first semi-finals at 9am for the women's, Port Moresby Gold will take on Port Moresby Black while Madang take on Buluminski.

The winners will book their spots in the grand final at 1pm on diamond one.

The second semi-finals is the men's event which will see East New Britain Softball League (ENBSL) play Buluminski. The Port Moresby Melonas will lock horns with the Madang Kings.

The format is the same with the winners advancing to play in the grand final at 3pm.

At the end of the first inning, it was a hit by Port Moresby’s Rose Ire that brought home two runners to give her team a 2-1 lead.

Madang sneaked in a run in the second inning to level scores but the Port Moresby girls maintained their lead with two more runs scored by Margaret Parom and Claire Wut.

A run to Tenisa Keveu in the next inning gave Madang some hope of stealing the win.

 But the Port Moresby girls tightened up their infield play to make the final out at first base to win the game.

Manus could only manage to send one team (men’s) to this year’s softball championships at the Bisini Grounds.

Despite being winless so far, the boys from the Admiralty islands have won the hearts of many people for their never say die attitude.

Coach Jayso James said this year’s championships will be used as a learning curve for his players.

“The softball competition in Manus died out in the 1980s and was only just revived back in 2013.

Madang faced an unpredictable Wewak side but managed to hold on to eventually come out victors over the Wewak side who are taking part in the softball championships for the first time.

In the other men’s results, Madang Kings thrashed Manus 12-0 while the Canberra Giants crushed East New Britain Softball League (ENBSL) 10-2.

The Port Moresby Melonas held off a strong Buluminski side to draw 4-4 while the NCD Meros pulled off a scrappy win over Manus 7-1.