Photo: Wilmer Joel.
WILMER JOEL
Emotions were running high as the Ralik-Ratak men’s softball championship game got underway on Monday between Lae and Namo.
The highly-anticipated game began with a tense atmosphere, as both teams traded five consecutive tie scores. Frequent strikeouts, fly outs, and groundouts kept the score deadlocked, leaving the outcome completely uncertain with Lae ahead by one run at 6-5.
Then Team Lae exploded for five runs in the fifth inning, flying to a six point game lead, 11-5.
At the packed event, the atmosphere around the baseball field was electric, filled with the sounds of fans’ enthusiastic chants, such as “Lajumaajaj e, Lae fly, etetal in Bojar,” and playful taunts directed at the athletes — some of whom responded with good natured gestures.
With Lae’s six run lead, it seemed for a brief moment that the game was in the bag. Indeed, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Namo loaded the bases but could not score, leaving Lae in the dominant position.
But in the sixth, after holding Lae scoreless, Namo turned the tide of the game and made a remarkable comeback to tie the game 11-11 after home runs and smart plays were made.
Going into the last inning, with the championship nearing its climax, spectators were on the edge of their seats, alternatively screaming and holding their breath in anticipation of the final outcome and the crowning of a winner.
In the top of the seventh, Lae took back command of the game, scoring one run to make it 12-11.
In the bottom of the seventh, Namo demonstrated why it has the reputation as the top fastpitch softball island in the country.
Despite Lae’s attempt to hold its lead, Namo went against all odds, scoring two runs to take the Ralik Ratak Softball Championship game, 13-12.
As the game came to a close, the fans unleashed themselves on the baseball field and went into celebration mode.
In the double elimination format used for the tournament, Namo had to climb out of the loser’s bracket after it lost a game to Lae last Thursday. A rematch Saturday saw Namo defeat Lae, tying the series at 1-1. Monday was the rubber match to determine the champion.
Team captain and most valuable player of Namo Grifson Kilma told the Journal that he is grateful to God for his team’s victory. Grifson also thanked the fans and said that “if it wasn’t for you, the games wouldn’t be as amazing as they were today.”
Sweden Timothy, from team Namo, expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to represent his island. “I feel proud to have participated in the games and represent my island, Namo,” he said. “To be honest, I thought we were going to lose but through team work we strengthened one another.”
The president of the Softball Federation and Lae Mayor Telmong Kabua said during the conclusion of the event that the purpose of the softball tournaments was to promote healthy living and reduce idleness in the homes.
This is the second national softball win for Namo with their first victory over Aur during the Constitution Day games held earlier this year.