The mix of youth and experience seem to have worked well for Redcoats Softball, however, the real test will come when they face the Mustangs and the Curves
The newly formed Redcoats Softball team came out on top 12-7 in round one of the battle for the fort. The game which was valid for the MABS Women’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament was a tense and tight affair with the outcome uncertain until the end. Although the Ghajnsielem Redcoats performed better than they did in their last outing they are still work-in-progress.
Ghajnsielem Redcoats pitchers Yana Vella and Denise Xuereb played much better with more confidence which shows that the work that coach Tahli Moore is doing is leaving a mark. However, Redcoats Softball took advantage of every opportunity they had and managed to build a 5-run lead during the first three innings. Once again Tahli Moore pitched the final inning shutting down the opponents. The outstanding performer for Ghajnsielem Redcoats was certainly catcher Nadine Grima who despite playing for the first time ever at that position did extremely well. She also pinched in with an RBI double in the 2nd inning. Tahli Moore also registered a solid triple and scored two runs.
Redcoats Softball have good reason to be satisfied with their performance. Marice Meilak, Erica Andolfi and Joanne Mifsud brought with them plenty of experience, having represented Malta, with the latter two having also played in the Italian softball league. Monique Attard, Marilise Vella, Laragh Tabone and Ilena Buttigieg were playing their first ever competitive softball game. Whereas Estelle Scicluna, Daphne Cassar and Monique Camilleri were facing their former teammates for the first time.
Pitcher Estelle Scicluna struck out eight and walked one of the 19 batters she faced registering her first win of the season. She retired the side in order in the final inning. She also contributed with the bat hitting a clutch single to center field which scored two runs. Joanne Mifsud had an excellent game at the plate going 3-for-3 with an RBI and scoring two runs. She also played for three innings as catcher. Erica Andolfi who started at the short stop position replaced Joanne Mifsud at catcher for the final inning where she did very well. All four of the young players did well with Monique Attard and Marilise Vella standing out with the former also managing a base hit in the final inning. The mix of youth and experience seem to have worked well for Redcoats Softball. However, the real test will come when they face the Luxol Mustangs and the Mellieha Curves who are regarded as the favorites to win the tournament.
| Inning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Runs |
| Redcoats Softball | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 12 |
| Ghajnsielem Redcoats | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
The girls in black will face the Luxol Mustangs next Sunday at the Sannat Ground whereas the girls in red have a Sunday off as they prepare for their sternest test of this young season when they travel to Malta to face the reigning national champions, the Mellieha Curves, the following Sunday.
