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The performance against Mellieha was very encouraging and it shows how much these players have improved over the past two years
Almost two years on to the day the former “tee ball group” of the Redcoats took on the field once again to play against some of the best players in Malta, this time at home, in Ghajnsielem. It was a very entertaining encounter on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The U/11 Redcoats showed great character as they came back from being 3-7 down to overcome Mellieha 12-10 in walk off fashion.
On the 8th of December 2013, the Ghajnsielem Redcoats took part in a Tee-Ball tournament organised by the Malta Baseball and Softball Association at the Marsa Sports Complex. On that occasion the Redcoats played three games and managed to win all three. They saw off opposition from Verdala, Mustangs and Mellieha. With those three wins the U/9 Redcoats won the tournament. This was a memorable experience for these young players. Unfortunately, the Association did not organise similar tournaments any more, and there are no U/11 or U/9 leagues. As a result these group of players never had another opportunity to play against other teams except for a exhibition games that ware organised last year against the Mustangs at the Sannat Ground and at the end of last season against Verdala at the Gozo Stadium.
The efforts to have the Association organise events or an instructional league for this age group have not been successful so far. As a result, the Redcoats took the initiative to set-up a baseball exhibition game against Mellieha who were visiting to play the final game of the Softball Minor League. The game took place on Saturday, December 12.
Out of the group of nine players who travelled to Marsa in December 2013, eight players still form part of the Redcoats. Seven out of that group were in the line-up for the exhibition game: Neil Said, Steve Bajada, Carlos Camilleri, Geordie Ellis, Elijah Muscat, Lara Buttigieg, and Karolynn Ellis. Several other players have since joined the Redcoats and some of them were also part of the team who faced Mellieha: Miguel Fenech, Sebastian Portelli, Gianfranco Ellis, Monique Attard, and Laragh Tabone. There were a few important players who were not able to make it for this game: Isaac Azzopardi, Paula Buttigieg, and Hayley Xuereb.
The performance against Mellieha was very encouraging and it shows how much these players have improved over the past two years. There is much potential in these young athletes. The challenge for the Redcoats will be to keep them engaged playing this game.
