On Sunday the 12th of January, the Sliema Patriots hosted the Brewers in a playoff best-of-three series to decide the finalist alongside the Mellieha Northenders.
Game 1
The series began with a thrilling contest that saw the Brewers edge the Patriots 10-9. The Brewers came out strong, scoring four runs in the first inning, capitalizing with timely hitting. The Patriots responded in the second inning with an explosive five-run rally, highlighted by Gabriel di Sabatino’s 2-run double and Jorge Acosta’s clutch home run.
The Patriots built a marginal lead with a single run in the third and 2 runs in the fourth inning, with Fernando Berroteran’s RBI single and Israel Rangel’s consistent hitting. However, the Brewers’ offense came all the way back in the 5th inning and delivered the final blow in the seventh, scoring two critical runs to reclaim the lead. Despite a valiant effort from the Patriots in their final at-bat, the Brewers’ defense held firm, sealing a hard-fought victory.
Game 2
The second game saw a complete reversal of fortunes as the Patriots delivered a commanding 20-1 victory. The Patriots and Brewers traded runs in the first inning thanks in part to Andres Susarra’s RBI single.
The second inning proved decisive, as the Patriots erupted for eight runs. Dillon Adams ignited the rally with a 2-RBI double, followed by Fernando Berroteran’s RBI single. Jorge Acosta’s towering home run brought in three more runs, and Israel Rangel capped off the inning with a 2-RBI double. The Brewers struggled to contain the Patriots’ relentless offense, which added two runs in the third and nine more in the fourth inning. Rangel’s bases-clearing double and Alvin Barroso’s consistent hitting showcased the depth of the Patriots’ lineup. Meanwhile, Sliema’s defense, anchored by Rangel’s pitching, shut down the Brewers’ offense, allowing just one run in the game and forcing a third game.
Game 3
The decisive third game was a tightly contested affair, with the Patriots prevailing 4-3 in dramatic finish. The Brewers struck first in the opening inning, scoring a run on a well-placed single. The Patriots quickly answered with a run of their own, as Gabriel di Sabatino’s single brought home Andres Susarra to tie the game.
The middle innings saw both teams locked in a defensive struggle, with pitchers and fielders from both sides stepping up. In the third inning, the Patriots took a 2-1 lead on Dillon Adams’ RBI single and padded the lead in the 5th inning with a lone run. The Brewers responded in the seventh with two runs, thanks to a combination of hits and tied the game. In the bottom of the seventh, with the bases loaded and the game on the line, Dillon Adams delivered a walk-off hit to secure the win for the Patriots.
Next Game – The Final
The softball slow-pitch season which started in September leads us to its final game as the Mellieha Northenders host the Sliema Patriots in a highly anticipated final on the 26th of January.