Mustangs crowned champions of Malta Baseball Cup 2024

The second edition of the Malta Baseball Cup returned on the 19th and 20th of October 2024, featuring 4 teams from Malta, Switzerland and Italy. Local teams Mustangs and Mellieha Northenders competed with Dulliken Ravens from Switzerland and Lombardia ABL Team from Italy. Each team played each other once and the top two teams battled in a final match to be crowned the champion of the Malta Baseball Cup 2024. The tournament was sponsored by SportMalta and sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

1st Game – Mustangs (16) vs. Dulliken Ravens (0)

The Mustangs opened the tournament with a convincing win over the Dulliken Ravens. Jorge Acosta was the standout for the Mustangs, contributing both offensively and defensively. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, striking out three and earning the win. At the plate, Acosta went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs scored. The Mustangs’ offense was relentless, with Gabriel Di Sabatino and Andres Susarra each adding two hits to their tally.

Strong pitching from the Mustangs continued holding the Ravens at bay. Nolan Thommen and Thierry Schnieper eventually broke through with hits and Maximilian Lips showed patience at the plate, drawing two walks. On the mound, Thommen worked hard in the first inning, limiting the damage despite the Mustangs’ early momentum. Defensively, the Ravens made several strong plays in the field but it proved to be a tall order to contain the Mustangs’ offense.

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2nd Game – Mellieha Northenders (7) vs. Mustangs (8)

In a battle of the locals, the Mustangs faced off against the Mellieha Northenders in a thrilling game. The game opened with the Mustangs scoring four runs in the first inning, followed by one more in the second. The Northenders responded in the third with four runs, led by solid contributions from Steven Grima, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Keith Bartolo, who added a hit and an RBI. A three-run fourth inning saw the Northenders take a brief 7-5 lead.

The Mustangs fought back, scoring two runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 7-7. Despite the Northenders’ efforts to hold them off, the Mustangs sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk-off single by Andres Susarra. Consistent hitting from Andres Susarra and Daniele Palumbo, who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, powered the Mustangs’ offense while Kevin Spiteri earned the win on the mound, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings in relief.

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3rd Game – Dulliken Ravens (3) vs. Lombardia ABL Team (9)

The Lombardia ABL Team started off the tournament with a win, facing off against the Dulliken Ravens. Lombardia jumped out early, scoring three runs in the first inning and adding two more in the third. A dominant fourth inning saw them score four runs, putting the game out of reach. The Ravens managed to score in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn’t overcome Lombardia’s strong start.

Davide Di Sanzo was exceptional for Lombardia, pitching a complete five innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven to earn the win. Their offense was led by Di Sanzo, alongside contributions from Denis Bryan Canizalez Gonzalez, who went 2-for-3, and Balayac Ezequiel Grullon, who scored twice. After being held scoreless in the early innings, the Ravens rallied in the fourth and fifth, thanks in part to a homerun by Cedric Thommen. The Ravens’ rally was cut short by strong defensive performances from Lombardia’s infield, ending the game with a score of 9-3 in favour of Lombardia.

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4th Game – Lombardia ABL Team (10) vs. Mellieha Northenders (11)

Looking for their first win of the tournament, the Mellieha Northenders took on the surging Lombardia ABL Team. Mellieha jumped out to an early lead, with a standout performance from Michael Bartolo, who not only contributed significantly on the mound but also made an impact at the plate. His leadership helped the Northenders score 6 runs in the second inning, setting a strong tone for the game. Steven Grima also shone, driving in crucial runs and solidifying Mellieha’s offensive strategy throughout the game.

Lombardia demonstrated remarkable resilience, particularly in the fourth inning when they mounted an impressive 8-run rally. Balayac Ezequiel Grullon and Johnatan Peri emerged as key players, with their strategic hitting igniting the team’s comeback efforts. Lombardia’s ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities highlighted their offensive prowess, making them a constant threat throughout the game, and in this tournament. As the game went to extra innings, Vincenzo Mazzamuto delivered in the clutch, hitting a walk-off single down the left field line for the 11-10 win.

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5th Game – Mellieha Northenders (11) vs. Dulliken Ravens (4)

Opening the Sunday slate of games, the Dulliken Ravens hosted the Mellieha Northenders. The Northenders were strong off the gate, scoring three runs in the first inning. Michael Bartolo shined with a stellar performance, recording three hits and driving in three runs. Masashi Suzuki also made his mark, contributing two runs of his own. Steven Grima, not only excelled with solid pitching, allowing only two earned runs, but also contributed at the plate with two runs scored and a key double.

Despite the early deficit, the Dulliken Ravens came out swinging and retook the lead in the first inning with four runs, fueled by Cedric Thommen’s impactful performance. Thommen delivered a crucial hit and RBI, while Leon Kaschek added a hit of his own. Ultimately, Mellieha regained control of the game, scoring 8 unanswered runs and won their second game of the tournament.

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6th Game – Mustangs (5) vs. Lombardia ABL Team (3)

In the penultimate game of the tournament, the Mustangs won a pitching duel against the Lombardia ABL Team. Michael Pitzchel, the Mustangs’ starting pitcher, delivered a commanding performance, going six innings and allowing only two earned runs. He showcased impressive control, striking out four batters while surrendering six hits. On the other side, Andrea Lussana of the Lombardia ABL Team matched Pitzchel’s intensity, also pitching six innings. Lussana struck out seven batters, only allowing five hits and did not surrender a single walk.

The low scoring game took a turn in the 5th inning when the Mustangs, led by Jorge Acosta, erupted for 3 runs to turn their 2-run deficit to a 1-run lead. The Mustangs scored another insurance run to end this game by a score of 5-3.

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Final Game – Mellieha Northenders (5) vs. Mustangs (8)

Throughout the tournament, the Mustangs won 3 games whereas the Mellieha Northenders won 2 games. This set up a thrilling final between the tournament’s top teams, and it did not disappoint. The game began with a bang as the Mustangs scored four runs in the first inning. Andres Susarra and Efrain Deyan each contributed key hits, with Deyan driving in a run to set the tone early on.

The Northenders quickly responded in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs thanks to Steven Grima’s single and Masashi Suzuki’s RBI. However, the Mustangs continued to assert their dominance, adding another run in the second inning with a single from Jorge Acosta, extending their lead to 5-2.

The third inning saw both teams trading runs. The Northenders managed to score one run, but the Mustangs answered back with three runs of their own, making it 8-3. As the game progressed, the Northenders fought back, scoring two more runs in the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

Kevin Spiteri pitched five strong innings, earning the win for the champions.

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Malta Baseball Cup 2024 Champions: Mustangs

Malta Baseball Cup 2024 Most Valuable Player: Andrea Lussana (Lombardia ABL Team)

Batting Leaders

Pitching Leaders