Bad start for Gozo Storm

After eight weeks of skills development and training, all players were geared up and ready to take to the field in the first ever organised competition of fast-pitch softball in Malta.

With over 40 registered players, the girls were able to form three squads, each of them coached by a member of the Malta national baseball team.

In the first weekend of games, all three teams saw action, with Gozo Storm starting off a tough schedule with back-to-back games against The Angels and The Devils.

Led by Jeff Tabone, Gozo Storm's opening match was against The Angels, of Patrick Pace.

Being the historic first game of fast-pitch competition, play was characterized by some uneasiness from most of the players as starting pitchers Alison Mifsud, of Gozo, and The Angels' Jordy Leen battled it out on the mound to find the strike zone.

The Angels jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. They won the match 16-8.

The game on Sunday pitted the Storm against The Devils of Ryan Yada who have already introduced a team logo, apparel and are in the process of working on their new website.

It was a close match for the first few innings as pitchers Erica Xerri Mallan and Mifsud pitched strike after strike, forcing the teams to swing their bats and test the opposition's defence.

Pitching was very consistent throughout the entire game, with only two walks being allowed in total. The two teams were neck-and-neck until a five-run rally by The Devils in the fourth inning broke apart the tie.

The Devils applied some strong defence to deny Storm who went on to lose the second match 10-5.