Fight is on for men's softball team to retain title
Fight is on for men's softball team to retain title
The last time softball was played in the Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games was in 1997 in Jakarta, where the host men's team defeated
the Philippines for the first time in their long-standing
rivalry.
The tables are turned eight years later.
Today, the team, coached by Iwan Pujiharto, will face a tough
struggle against a powerful and motivated Philippines, cheered on
by home supporters.
The national team won the pre-SEA Games tournament in Kuala
Lumpur last month, but Iwan noted the Philippines sent its third-
string team.
"Even compared to their third pitcher, our best pitcher was
almost unable to measure up."
Indonesia beat the Philippines 5-3 in Kuala Lumpur, although
their opponents notched more hits, eight compared to five.
"Their pitching worked well. We struggled to a victory that
came in large part through our defense," Iwan said.
Perbasasi also recruited Australian star pitcher Tanya
Harding, an Olympic medalist who was ranked among the top five
pitchers in the world for many years, to help the team.
"She was with us for two weeks. It was brief, but hopefully
the team got benefits from her stint," said Gugun Yudinar,
executive chairman of Indonesian Amateur Baseball & Softball
Federation (Perbasasi).
While the men are seeking to defend their gold, the national
women's team is desperately trying to compete with their Filipina
rivals, who they lost to yet again in Kuala Lumpur.
However, Yuliastono took a positive viewpoint, saying they had
read up on Philippine game and knew how to tackle the team.
The women are training at two venues, with 14 of the team in
Bandung, West Java, and the rest in Jakarta.
Softball teams
Men: Jajat Sudrajat, Teuku Ridwan, Donny Kusuma, Dedi Chandra,
Noke Patiwael, Roy Umbasa, Heri Haeruman, Harmoko, Danika, Riska
Ramdani, Teguh Iman, Adi Saputra, M. Said, Gofur Novanto,
Zakaria, Otto Wahyu Minarto, Zubaidi, Indra Gunawan
Women: Mutiara Halmaherawati, Puri Indraswati, Mimin Mulyati,
Ira, Nurjanah, Radiana, Radiani, Gelar Puspa, Jessica Ratih,
Anita Sari Liu, Elfira Songyanan, Widaningsih, Sri Nurratnasari,
Prawita Sari, Tineke Huwae, Desi Lalihatu, Philea Prastika