Recap
The second game on Sunday was a must win game for the Mellieha Northenders after they fell short in the first game. Mellieha wasted no time as Clint Grima’s double to right field gave Mellieha a 3-run lead in the top of the 1st inning. The Patriots tied the game immediately in the bottom of the inning with runs from Dillon Adams, Jorge Acosta and Anderson Nuñez.
Mellieha’s Michael Bartolo gave the lead back to Mellieha with a run in the second inning. The Sliema Patriots threatened to tie the game in the 3rd inning but a diving catch by catcher Ryan Cassar gave Mellieha an important out to hold the lead. The Northenders scored a couple of insurance runs in the subsequent innings which proved to be the difference.
The Patriots mounted one last rally in the 5th inning. With Alvin Barroso and Anderson Nunez on base, Fernando Berroteran hit a double to left field which scored Barroso, bringing the game within one run. Mellieha prevented any runs from scoring the rest of the game and turned a game-ending double play for a final score of 8-7.