MABS SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2013/14 Game 1

Sunday, November 17, 2013      Venue: Gozo Stadium      Umpire: Steve Sexton

SCORING	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Curves (0-0)	1	5	1	4	3	1	–	15	17	5
Redcoats (0-0)	1	0	5	0	2	0	–	8	8	7

BOX SCORE	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	RE	SO	PO	A	E	DP
GRIMA, Kacey 3B	3	3	2	1	0	1	0	5	1	3	0
LATEO, Giulia SS	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	2	4	0	1
SALIBA, Marlene P	2	2	2	2	1	0	0	1	5	2	0
GRIMA, Michelle 1B	3	0	1	2	0	1	0	4	0	0	0
PORTELLI, Nancy LF	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
SCICLUNA, Estelle 2B	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	0	1
VELLA, Yana CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
XUEREB, Denise CL	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
XUEREB, Miguela C	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
BAJADA, Maria RF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FARRUGIA,.Margaret.RF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
TOTALS	27	8	8	6	3	5	3	17	10	7	2

PITCHING	IP	BF	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
SALIBA, Marlene P	6	43	17	15	6	3	1	0

RECAP

Although the women’s team of the Ghajnsielem Redcoats was formed half way through the 2012/13 season and played 3 exhibition games between March and June, they never played any competitive games. So the doubleheader played on November 17, at the Gozo Stadium, represented the first every competitive experience for the Redcoats’ women’s team.

For these games the Redcoats were missing the Bonnici sisters who were away on vacation with their parents. Yana Vella and Denise Xuereb were asked to fill in for their teammates on the youths’ team. Margaret Farrugia was player her first every softball game. The core players from the previous season were all there. Marlene Saliba pitching, Michelle Grima playing at 1st base, her daughter Kacey Grima at 3rd and Giulia Lateo at short stop. Estelle Scicluna, playing at 2nd base and Miguela Xuereb at catcher completed the infield. Nancy Portelli who used to play at 2nd base started at left field, along with Yana Vella, center field, Maria Bajada right field and Denise Xuereb formed the outfield.

The Gozo Stadium looked more like a grazing field that had a heard of cows just stampede through it. The busy schedule of football games on Friday evening when it was raining and then rugby as well as more football games on Saturday completely wrecked the pitch. It was almost unfit to play softball on it. However, the fixture had to be honoured and north-west side corner of the ground was selected for the infield. Both teams who are more accustomed to play on synthetic turf suffered and committed more errors than usual as a result.

The more experienced Curves came out on top at the end as they committed fewer mistakes and won 8-15. Among the positives for the Redcoats was the excellent hitting, especially the top of the order, with Kacey Grima and Marlene Saliba both going 2-for-3. Most of the other players were making solid contact with the ball but right at Curves. This was a very good start for the women’s team especially when one considers that only 3 of the Redcoats, Marlene Saliba, Michelle Grima and Nancy Portelli, played softball before the Redcoats came into existence and the Curves have been playing together since 2009.

GAME 2