On International Volunteer Day, our youth teams were involved in the first ever youths fastpitch softball game in Malta at the Kercem Ground, to complete what was a red letter day for the Ghajnsielem Redcoats.
The Malta Baseball and Softball Association expressed its desire to hold a youths softball ‘player-pitch’ league similar to the ‘player-pitch’ baseball league that it has been organising for several years. Since the other clubs affiliated with the Association are geared to develop baseball pitchers and baseball players they were not interested in participating in this competition. As a result, the two youth teams of the Ghajnsielem Redcoats were the only participants in this competition which was organised as a best-of-7 games series.
Our teams were involved in the first ever youths fastpitch softball game in Malta.
Redcoats 63rd and Redcoats 31st, were named after British regiments who were stationed in Ghajnsielem, at Fort Chambray during the 19th century. The 63rd (Suffolk) Regiment was stationed at the Fort following the departure of the French garrison, between 1800 and 1802. The 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment was the first British regiment to use Fort Chambray as a convalescence camp. The regiment was relocated to Gozo in 1856 to recover from its participation in the Crimean War.
Giulia Lateo and Kacey Grima, the starting pitchers for Redcoats 63rd and Redcoats 31st respectively tried their very best today to put on a good performance. Giulia faced 17 batters and gave up 9 runs in 3 innings, and was relieved by Yana Vella who faced 6 batters and conceded another 3 runs for Redcoats 63rd. Kacey Grima faced 24 batters, and conceded 11 runs in 4 innings to win the game for Redcoats 31st. Much praise goes to all three pitchers for their efforts. Catchers Alicia Said and Kirsty Bonnici put on a tremendous performance for their respective teams stopping several pitches that missed the strike zone.
This was a learning experience for our pitchers and catchers who will face each other again in Game 2, scheduled for this Saturday at 9:30am at the Sannat Ground.
