“At the end the exhausted players were more than happy to go back to Gozo with the win and now enjoy a 2-0 advantage over the Mellieha Curves in the Championship Series”
The Ghajnsielem Redcoats women’s softball team travelled to Mellieha last Saturday to take on the Mellieha Curves in Game 2 of the Fastpitch National Championship Series. The scorching heat played a role as both sets of players found it very difficult to perform at their best. It was the Redcoats however, who took a commanding lead and just about managed to come out on top 15-11.
| Team/Inning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | R | H | E |
| Għajnsielem Redcoats | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 3 |
| Mellieha Curves | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
The Curves played much better than they did in Game 1 rallying from a 12-2 deficit after two-and-a-half innings, scoring nine runs to make the score-line more respectable. The Redcoats did much better offensively as well, with lead-off hitter, Laragh Tabone, being once again among the protagonists, with three hits, three runs batted in (RBIs) and scoring three runs. Estelle Scicluna registered two hits, walked twice, scored three times and had an RBI. Player/coach Dominique Humphrey had an inside-the-park home run in the 1st inning along with a hit in the 2nd inning, with three RBIs and two runs scored. Simona Refalo and Marilise Vella both registered a base hit with the latter also scoring twice. The other runs were scored by Clarissa Camilleri (2), and a run each for Dosithee Attard, Elizabeth Farrugia and Lara Buttigieg. Shaniya Spiteri registered a walked, while Thea Sultana walked with the bases loaded to earn an RBI.
The same cannot be said about the defence and the pitching as both struggled particularly during the final 2 innings of the game when the fatigue from the heat and humidity started to take a toll on the players. There were still some fine defensive plays worth mentioning by Marilise Vella, Clarissa Camilleri, Lara Buttigieg, Laragh Tabone and Estelle Scicluna.
At the end the exhausted players were more than happy to go back to Gozo with the win and now enjoy a 2-0 advantage over the Mellieha Curves in the Championship Series. The next game is scheduled for Saturday, 14 August, at the Gharb Stadium in Gozo.
