Three members of the women’s fastpitch softball team were nominated along with the team itself in recognition for their outstanding achievements during 2016

For the third year in a row the Ghajnsielem Redcoats have finalists for the Gozo Sports Awards organised by the Gozo Sports Board to honour the achievements of Gozitan athletes during the course of 2016. For the first edition held in 2015, there were three finalists, whereas last year there was only one finalist. Last year’s achievements of the Club were recognised by the board of selection with four nominations making it to the final.

Last year will be remembered by the Club as a remarkable one for the achievements on, as well off, the field, especially with regards to the accomplishments of women’s softball team. Despite having an average age of around 15 years, with the oldest player on the team just over 16 years old, the Redcoats’ women’s softball team was more than a match for the other teams based in Malta who were made up of older and more experienced players. The women’s team finished the year by winning the MABS Autumn Tournament with solid hitting and great pitching.

The team also participated in a joint training camp with BC The Herons in the Netherlands playing two exhibition games for the first time on foreign soil with several members of the team performing well enough to earn the praise of the foreign coaches who conducted the training camp. In October, the European Commission also awarded the softball team a grant of over €58,000 for the Erasmus+ Sports: Small Collaborative Partnerships project called Inclusion & Gender Equality Through Softball with partners Olympia Haarlem from the Netherlands and Softball Klub Princ Zagreb from Croatia. This was a remarkable development not just for the Redcoats and for sports in Gozo, but also for the sport of softball in Europe.

Three members of the women’s fastpitch softball team were nominated along with the team itself in recognition for these outstanding achievements. Denise Xuereb, Yana Vella and Steve Ellis will be contesting the Promising Female Athlete award, the Female Athlete award, and the Official of the Year award respectively, whereas the softball team will contest the Team of the Year award.

Denise Xuereb is a versatile player with natural athletic abilities who can play at any position on the field. Her primary position is that of pitcher, however, out of necessity she played most of the time as a catcher, the most demanding position on the team. She managed to form a great partnership with the starting pitcher of the team and together they managed to take the team to the final of the MABS Autumn Fastpitch Softball Tournament and to bring the honour home. Denise is also a powerful hitter and the best baserunner in the league. She has the potential to excel at any position she plays especially as a pitcher, her favourite position.

At 16 years of age, Yana Vella is the oldest member of the Redcoats’ softball team. She is the starting 1st base player and a relieve pitcher. As a left-handed pitcher she is a great asset for the team. Yana also bats left handed and is a powerful hitter. During the training camp that the Redcoats had in July, in the Netherlands, she impressed the Dutch coaches who hinted that they would love to have her on their team.

Steve Ellis is the technical director of baseball and softball of the Club. His focus is on the youth teams being responsible for coaching the U/15, U/13 and U/11 baseball teams. He is also the assistant coach of the women’s fastpitch softball team. With much dedication and on a volunteer basis he prepares each team to participate in the competitions organized by the Malta Baseball and Softball Association. During 2016 his teams performed very well and obtained great results in the competitions organized by the Association. Steve Ellis is also the Vice-President of the Ghajnsielem Redcoats and an important member of the Executive Committee of the Club. Over the course of 2016, with his vision and determination, Steve made significant efforts to steer the Club towards important administrative achievements which should secure the future of the organization as a prominent sports club based in Gozo.

The Gozo Sports Award ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 8, at the Grand Hotel. Best of luck to our finalists.