MABS (Maltese Association of Baseball and Softball) has issued the new 2003 schedule.  Check it out on the Tornadoes' Schedule page.  Gozo will play their first game on the 16th of March, against Pembrok

BASEBALL FEVER BACK IN GOZO Back-to-back champions prepare for the 2003 season (23-11-02)

This year, the Tornadoes have made several changes on their roster, in order to compensate for the loss of Don Drolet and Mike Portelli. The national team players (Charles Attard, Mark Buttigieg, Steve Ellis, Steven Galea and Jeff Tabone) are returning after a successful National Team performance in Reggio, Italy. Newcomers Joseph Gatt and Joe Portelli are likely to play an important role this year as rookies to the Maltese League. Alison Mifsud has also re-joined the champions on a part time basis as a result of her difficult work schedule. Josef ‘Reeshu’ Vella has shown some interest in playing as well. This should give coach Dennis Roberts sufficient options. Six Astro players have also been promoted from the minors. These are Rodney Debono, Mario Hili, Christopher Mercieca, Anthony Spiteri, Earl Vella and Matthew Xuereb Dingli.

Roberts is also happy that this year, he has three solid relievers to support his starting pitchers. Buttigieg and Ellis both pitched last year, but now, Steven Galea is also stepping on the rubber. Galea will be the starting pitcher for the Astros this year, this should result in a good amount of pitching experience before the regular season. His control and good velocity will make him a useful tool for the 2003 season. Mario Hili could also be on the mound for the Tornadoes by the end of the season although he still has a lot of room to develop.

This year’s Gozo Tornadoes’ Roster (so far) consists of:

Manager: Dennis Roberts

Players: Charles Attard (P-1B), Mark Buttigieg (CF-P), Rodney Debono (2B), Steve Ellis (C-2B), Steven Galea (SS-P), Joseph Gatt (OF-1B), Mario Hili (3B), Christopher Mercieca (OF), Marlon Mercieca (3B), Alison Mifsud (OF), Joe Portelli (C-1B), Anthony Spiteri (OF-1B), Silvio Sultana (OF), Chuck Tabone (OF), Jeff Tabone (P-2B), Earl Vella (OF), Josef Vella (OF), Matthew Xuereb Dingli (OF).

Gozo’s coach, Dennis Roberts and the rest of the team invite anybody who wishes to tryout and start playing baseball.  Youth Development coach, Charles Attard also invites all teenagers under the age of 19 to tryout with the Youth Nursery teams.  Tornadoes’ training sessions are held on Sundays at 1pm while Under 19 training sessions are held on Saturdays at 2pm.  All training sessions are held at the Kercem Football Ground.

Last weekend, the Maltese National Team, under the hands of player/coach Patrick Pace and coach Mario Debono, traveled abroad to play an exhibition series in preparation for the 2004 European Championships.  Team Malta traveled to Reggio Calabria, Italy, to play against the San Giorgio Baseball Club.  Malta's best player ever, Keith Bartolo, spent the 2002 season playing for San Giorgio, but in this exhibition three game series, Bartolo represented our country by pitching and playing shortstop for Team Malta.  The National Team arrived at Reggio last friday, and played two exhibition games on Saturday, and one final exhibition game on Sunday.  

The first game was definitely the best game of the series.  The Maltese coaches started off with the best nine players on the field, along with their best pitcher, Jeff Tabone to face the Serie B team.  Tabone kept San Giorgio's batters guessing, as his fastball and curveball were combined very effectively, thanks to his fellow teammate Steve Ellis, who together showed why the Gozitan battery has been dominant throughout the 2002 season.  Ellis was also making his international debut along with fellow Gozitan Mark Buttigieg, who played in left field.  As a leadoff hitter in the lineup, Tabone tried to help his own cause by trying to get on base and score runs.  Several good defensive plays from Keith Bartolo and also the talented veteran Patrick Pace helped this game to be a tight one.  Unfortunately, Malta's offence did not help Jeff Tabone earn his first international win after three performances and several defensive errors happened at the wrong time.  Keith Bartolo, who came into relief for starter Jeff Tabone, gave up the winning run with the bases loaded.

The second game started a few hours after the first one, and several young players were penciled on the starting line-up.  Teenagers Andrew Bajo, David Borg and Steven Galea made their international debut.  Seven of the nine starting players were under 21 years old, which was nice to see all of them play at the same time.  Veteran international players Patrick Pace, Keith Bartolo and Charles Attard, along with the rest of the youngsters had a flying start, scoring several runs in the first few innings.  Pace started off the mound for Malta with Steve Ellis as his catcher.  The veteran control pitcher, who had a strong performance in Game 3 of the 2002 NLCS, repeated the same feat for four innings.  Third baseman Attard also helped Pace with his pitching performance, as he made several defensive plays in the first and second inning.  Pace was taken off the mound with a comfortable lead to give a chance for 16 year old David Borg to make his international pitching debut.  The left handed pitcher gave up several runs to get San Giorgio back in the game.  Keith Bartolo came in relief for Borg after struggling on the mound and the game went into extra innings.  Going into extra innings, Pace and Debono made some changes, putting veteran players such as Trevor Shaw, Daniel Swift and Nicky Bartolo on the field.  San Giorgio finally won the game after 9 innings, with a 16-15 win.

The third and final game was the most expected game, as San Giorgio had their full team and best players amongst them.  Malta also fielded their best nine players, the same players that faced San Giorgio in Game One.  The only change made by the coaches was that Nicky Bartolo started on the mound while Jeff Tabone played second base.  Malta's offense was hot this time, scoring several runs in the first two innings.  N Bartolo's curveball was very effective in the first three innings, which forced a lot of right handed batters to chase the outside-pitched curveball.  N Bartolo gave up the ball to his older brother, Keith Bartolo after having a rough inning, which saw San Giorgio get back into the game.  Keith, pitching his third straight game that he played in, allowed few hits and runs, but unfortunately had to leave the game after sustaining a  back injury in the 6th inning.  With a 11-10 lead, Pace and Debono decided to put Attard on the mound, for his first international appearance on the mound.  Attard struck out two batters, allowed two hits and gave up no walks and no runs.  In the next inning, Malta scored six more runs to secure their win.

With this trip to Italy, the 2002 season is over and now we are waiting for the Annual Baseball Award Ceremony, which will be held at Faces Bar in Gozo.  While most of the league players have been enjoying their summer break since June, these thirteen athletes, along with Mario Debono, will start their short break and then get ready for the 2003 season.

These are the players and coaches who formed up the 2002 Maltese National Team:

Coaches - Debono Mario (Pembroke), Pace Patrick (Gzira).  Players - Attard Charles (Gozo), Bajo Andrew (Gzira), Bartolo Keith (Mellieha), Bartolo Nicky (Mellieha), Borg David (Mellieha), Borg Marlon (Mellieha), Buttigieg Mark (Gozo), Ellis Steve (Gozo), Galea Steven (Gozo), Shaw Trevor (Gzira), Swift Dan (Gzira), Tabone Jeff (Gozo).

PICTURES AND FURTHER REPORTS OF THE 2002 TRIP TO ITALY WILL BE UPLOADED ON THIS SITE LATER NEXT WEEK.  WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED.