On Sunday, the Għajnsielem Redcoats defeated the Mellieħa Curves 12-2 in Game 5 of the best-of-7 Championship Series to clinch their 5th National title in five years. Following the narrow loss in Game 1, the Redcoats managed to win four straight games to win the series 4 – 1.
The Curves took an early lead following a fine Nicole Cassar lead-off double. The Redcoats promptly tied the game in the bottom of the 1st as Corinne Grima drove in Gianella Mallia. The Curves scored another run in the top of the 2nd inning to lead 2-1 going into the bottom of the 2nd. With two runners on and two outs the first of two key moments of the game took place as the top of the Redcoats line-up came to bat. Lead-off hitter Estelle Scicluna registered a solid single to score Clarissa Camilleri. Gianella Mallia followed with another single to score both Lara Buttigieg and Scicluna, to bring up Dominique Humphrey to bat. With a runner on, Humphrey connected for a 2-run home run to centre field that made the score 2-7 for the Redcoats. This was the first out-of-the-park home run in fastpitch softball in Malta in the past ten years.
| Team/Inning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
| Curves | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Redcoats | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 2 |
Starting pitcher Estelle Scicluna was once again instrumental for her team. She registered a 3-up-3-down inning in the top of the 3rd to maintain a four run advantage. In the bottom of the inning the Redcoats added another run as Marilise Vella doubled and was driven in by Clarissa Camilleri. The other decisive moment of the game came in the bottom of the 4th inning. Shaniya Spiteri and Estelle Scicluna singled. With two runners on and one out the Curves gave an intentional walk to Domenique Humphrey to load the bases. However, the Redcoats line up is stacked with very good hitters and the inevitable happened. Corinne Grima connected for a 2-RBI double. She was followed by Marilise Vella who hit a single to load the bases for Dosithee Attard, one of the revelations of this season. Attard hit a base hit to score another run. This was her 7th hit of the season, which put her joint 2nd in the series behind Estelle Scicluna who registered ten hits in the five games played. Another run came in to score later on in that inning to make the score 12-2. There was no further scoring in the game as the Redcoats registered a convincing win with another great all-around performance which included excellent defensive plays from Lara Buttigieg (2nd base), Clarissa Camilleri (short stop), Corinne Grima (catcher), Gianella Mallia (3rd base), Estelle Scicluna (pitcher) and Dosithee Attard (left field) who made the final out to secure a memorable victory for her team.
After the game, Malta Baseball & Softball Association President, Andrew Bajo, presented the winner’s medals to the Redcoats and the Championship Series 2022 winner’s trophy to Redcoats captain Estelle Scicluna. Redcoats co-captain Corinne Grima was presented with the Fastpitch National League trophy.
CONGRATULATIONS REDCOATS!!!!
