MABS YOUTH SOFTBALL MINOR LEAGUE 2013/14

Sunday, November 10, 2013      Venue: Sannat Ground      Umpire: Steve Sexton

SCORING	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Grand Slammers	0	0	0	0	0	–	0	3	6
Ghajnsielem Redcoats	2	5	5	2	–	–	14	14	2
BOX SCORE	AB	R	H	RBI	SO	RE	PO	A	E
XUEREB, Gerrard CF	3	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	0
LATEO, Giulia SS	3	2	2	1	0	1	0	0	1
GRIMA, Kacey 1B	3	1	2	1	0	0	9	0	0
REFALO, Malcolm 3B	3	2	1	3	0	1	1	2	0
BONNICI, Kirsty C	3	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	1
SCICLUNA, Estelle P	3	1	2	2	0	0	2	6	0
BONNICI, Jasmine 2B	3	2	1	0	0	1	2	0	0
REFALO, Ian LF	3	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	0
XUEREB, Miguela CF	2	2	1	1	0	1	0	0	0
BUTTIGIEG, Kelly RF	2	1	0	2	0	1	0	0	0
SAID, Nicholas RF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	28	14	14	13	2	6	15	8	2

Coach Pitch: Loreto Scicluna      1st Base Coach: Michelle Grima     3rd Base Coach: Joseph Scicluna

RECAP

Following their disappointing 0-4 loss against the Grand Slammers in Mellieha a week earlier, the Ghajnsielem Redcoats were determined to set matters right and end their commitments in the MABS Youths Softball Minor League on a positive note by beating the same Grand Slammers at the Sannat Ground. The Redcoats put on an almost perfect performance and demolished the Grand Slammers 14-0 to register their fifth win of the season and their fourth shut-out of their campaign.

The tone was set in first inning. Despite having two Grand Slammers reach base following a couple of errors, the Redcoats held their nerves and made 2 quick outs to end the threat. Then in the bottom of the inning, with Giulia Lateo on base, Malcolm Refalo hit an inside-the-park home run to give his team an early 2-0 advantage. In the top of the 2nd inning the Grand Slammers were retired in order. In the bottom of the 2nd the Redcoats sent 8 players to the plate to score 5 runs with Kacey Grima hitting an RBI double. The confidence of the Ghajnsielem Redcoats players was sky high at this stage. They felt they could do no wrong.

As a result, the 3rd inning followed a similar pattern. The Grand Slammers were retired without much trouble and the Redcoats had another big inning scoring yet another 5 runs. The highlight of this inning was a bases loaded line drive to the outfield hit by Gerrard Xuereb to clean up the bases. It would have been another inside-the-park home run as Gerrard also managed to cross home plate but the 5-run limit mercy rule came into effect as the runner who was on first base came to score the fifth run of that inning.

12-0 after 3 innings!

The fielding of the Redcoats was also a joy to watch. Out of the first 3 batters of the Grand Slammers, two managed to get hits, a double and a single. However, the next batter hit a line drive to Jasmine Bonnici at 2nd base who promptly tagged the runner coming from 1st for an inning-ending double play. The Redcoats were keen to keep adding to their lead. In the bottom of the 4th, with one out they loaded the bases yet again for Estelle Sscicluna. Estelle promptly hit a line drive to the outfield to bring home Kacey Grima and Malcolm Refalo. 14-0!

The support during this game was the best the Redcoats ever had. The members of the Redcoats Softball team where in a continuous chorus cheering their club-mates on. Several parents were also in attendance along with the players and supporters of the two Mellieha teams.

What remained was the formality of playing out the top of the 5th inning. Two ground balls to Estelle Scicluna, playing at the pitcher’s position, and two fine throws to 1st base. Two down. However, the drama was not over. Mark Borg, a fine prospect of the Mellieha club was up to bat with two out. He made solid contact and hit a line drive towards 3rd base. Malcolm Refalo, probably the player of the game, had to make a spectacular diving stop to end the game. The game was stopped after 5-and-a-half innings as the mercy rule came into effect – if a team is leading by 10 runs or more after 5 innings the game is stopped.

What a way to finish the season in style! The outcome of this year’s softball campaign for the Ghajnsielem Redcoats  ended up being very similar to that of their debut season. Two losses in Mellieha, a heavy defeat at the hands of the Mustangs, a memorable victory against the Mustangs, this time in Marsa, and two home triumphs against the respective Mellieha team in Gozo with the last one, to end the season, coming in emphatic fashion. Another remarkable feat was to be able to record a shut-out victory against every other team in the league. Four out of the five wins were shut-outs, and in the other victory they conceded a single run.

GAME 7          STANDINGS