The three-way tie for first place in the VSBL 2018/19 season has finally been broken after two of the top teams faced off for a thrilling series. Cheltenham has pulled away unscathed, holding on to their undefeated record after Werribee and Newport fought gallantly against one another, with the Giants taking two out of the three games. Now 13-0, the Rustlers will look to go 15-0 before the break as they cement their position as a Div 2 leader. Some teams have slipped in recent weeks while others have picked up the pace, and the competition will be fierce heading into the New Year. Good luck to all players, teams and clubs in the final round of VSBL play in 2018!
Sunday, Dec. 9th (Round 13 – 1sts, Round 11 – 2nds, 3rds, 4ths)
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 1sts
2 0
One of the most dominant teams in Div 2 have managed a perfect 13-0 record with just two games to go in the first half of the season. Facing off against the third-place team, the Rustlers relied on superb starter Jesse Remington, who threw the whole game, giving up just two hits and four walks while striking out eight to bring his season total to 71 K’s. With such faultless command on the mound, the Rustlers were able to focus on building their lead with some solid offensive moments. Singles for Dante Caruso, Kane Davidson and Ben Fierenzi did the trick, while Jackson Hunkin’s RBI double allowed Cheltenham to pull ahead. Coming off his fantastic round 12 performance, Conor Myles did it again, knocking in a run on a massive triple. He’s now had hits in 11 out of 12 games this season. Another key player was Sam Michael, who went 2-for-4 with a single, a double and one run scored.
Newport’s Scott Barr had a good day on the mound, but the two runs he gave up would come back to haunt the Rams as they struggled to answer against Remington and the rest of the Rustlers. Barr threw 7.1 innings, giving up seven hits while striking out nine batters. David Asp kept the game under control in relief, but with singles from just Dean Malthouse and Justin Gil, the Rams couldn’t avoid their third straight loss. As Cheltenham sits comfortably at the top of the ladder, with Werribee and Newport in hot pursuit, the Rustlers will host the Rams on Thursday night before Sunday’s return game.
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 2nds
12 2
The Rustlers enjoyed a big rout of the Rams as they earned their 10th win in thrilling style. Cheltenham hasn’t lost a game since round 4, and with their first-place spot closely chased by Werribee and Williamstown, they will need to bring their best form into their final first-half game at Newport. With two losses in their last three games, the Rams (will look to rebound when they play at home this weekend.
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 3rds
2 14
Both these teams are neck and neck with 72.73 win percentages thanks to their 8-3 records. 14 has been the magic number for Newport this past month, with three of their last four wins involving a final tally of 14 runs for the Rams. The Rustlers managed to put up 22 runs against the Port Melbourne Mariners the week before, but this time around they were held down by a strong Newport pitching staff. Cheltenham will have another shot on Sunday as they hit the road to visit Newport.
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 4ths
4 5
A tight game saw the Rams pull away to further cement their second-place position. Newport is now 9-2, with their last loss coming in round 5 vs. Malvern. The Rustlers are following up in third-place with 7-4, with their most recent loss going back to round 8’s 13-15 run frenzy at Mulgrave. Cheltenham will try to prevent another loss at the hands of the Rams when Newport hosts the round 12 game this weekend.
Malvern Braves vs. Doncaster Dragons 1sts
6 5
The Braves had endured some ups and downs this season, but when they faced this depleted team of Dragons, they knew it was a must-win situation. Especially after losing back-to-back games in rounds 11 and 12, Malvern wanted to avoid a three-game skid at all costs. The Braves battled hard against starting pitcher Rhys Otter and the rest of Doncaster’s defense. In his first appearance in the ones this season, he threw 6.2 innings, giving up eight hits, four walks and five earned runs while striking out two. At times he was able to keep Malvern’s bats off balance to give Doncaster more chances at the plate.
Entering the 7th with a 3-run-lead, the Braves fell asleep in the top of the inning. Starter Chance Hicks went deep into the game, but he was hurt by poor fielding and throwing the ball around. In addition to knocking in a run on a sacrifice fly, he covered the first 6.1 innings on the mound with six hits, two walks, one HBP, three earned runs and two unearned runs. Hicks also struck out seven batters, bringing his total for the season to 31 K’s.
With their chances for a win in jeopardy, Malvern brought their bats back in the bottom of the 7th to regain the lead, giving Simon Fitzmaurice the opportunity to jump in and pitch two scoreless innings. Hicks joined Geoff Holland, Travis Cutt and Chris Godfrey with RBI’s on the day as the middle and bottom of the order showed much-needed patience. Holland’s double and a walk did the trick, while Gavin Woolger and Billy Findlay both had a single, double and run scored on the day. Nic Unland recorded a pair of singles, a walk and a run scored, while Mitchell Wilhite also had a single, BB and run scored.
A handful of 2nds players stepped up for Doncaster, with several batters recording their first hits in the top nine. An RBI single for Jed Bastian, as well as a single and double for Lachlan Craven and a pair of singles for John Britton highlighted Doncaster’s day at the plate. Jimin Lee also had a hit, while Bransen Gibson managed a single and a walk before coming in to face six batters in relief, giving up one hit, one walk and no runs with a lone strikeout.
After a slow start that saw the Dragons in the bottom half of the ladder, they have rebounded nicely to remain in the running. Following round 13, Doncaster and Malvern are tied for fourth-place with seven wins and six losses, so the competition will be fierce as the series continues.
Malvern Braves vs. Doncaster Dragons 2nds
3 7
Following a disappointing performance last weekend that saw the Braves go down to the Wolves 2-20, Malvern had their sights set on avoiding their third consecutive loss. At the start, things looked good for the Braves as Jonte DeZwart was pitching well and the bats were moving enough to secure an 2-0 lead heading into the 5th. A tiring pitcher and lack of relief proved detrimental for Malvern, as the Dragons went on to stack seven runs in the final four innings. In their last game before the break, the Braves will be looking forward to the return of Eddie Gibbs after an injury. With four wins, five losses and two draws on the season, Malvern will hope to liven up their bats and return to their winning ways, while 4-7 Doncaster will aim for three in a row.
Doncaster Dragons vs. Malvern Braves 3rds
0 14
Steady scoring was the name of the game for Malvern as the Braves racked up a huge score line in their best offensive outing so far this season. Josh Brown did a fantastic job on the mound and was relieved by Coach Dean for a combined shutout. Stu Holland picked up 2 doubles and a triple to lead the 6-5 Braves at the plate as they inch closer to breaking into the top four. Doncaster suffered their seventh loss, with their last win coming in round 8 when they beat Williamstown 11-3.
Doncaster Dragons vs. Malvern Braves 4ths
13 4
After a challenging series vs. Williamstown that saw Malvern give up 44 runs while only scoring six, the Braves were pleased to face a new team. Although they didn’t achieve the end result they wanted, there were still some exciting highlights, including Doug Miller’s single to right field that brought two runners home. The Dragons proved too strong at the plate as they cruised to their fifth win, snapping a four-game losing streak. Malvern is now 2-9, tied at the bottom of the ladder with Werribee.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Springvale Lions 1sts
16 2
The Rebels have endured some disappointing losses thus far this season, but they’ve now won back-to-back games to stay out of the lowest ladder position. Now 4-9 after this big win, the Rebels were able to make it happen thanks to phenomenal plate appearances from several key contributors. Nick Thompson had 4 RBI’s with two singles and a double, while Anthony White went 4-for-4 with 4 singles, a walk and 3 RBI’s. A bases-clearing double from Thomas Ondra gave him 3 RBI’s, and he also pitched an easy inning of relief later in the game.
Donnie Poole joined in the fun with an RBI and three runs scored, as did Chris Anderton, Grant Miller and Scott Oldin who all had a hit on the day. Caleb Poole was relentless in his efforts to get on base, coming around to score four times following a single and three walks. Pitcher Liam Richardson didn’t have any troubles on the mound, giving his teammates the chances they needed to pull ahead of the Lions and stay in the lead. He threw six innings, allowing five hits, four walks and two earned runs along with six strikeouts.
It was a much quieter day for Springvale, as the lineup, supported by 2nds players, managed just two runs for the third game in a row. Neal Cavanagh had a single and a double, although they couldn’t score him either time, while Dan Linton had a single and a walk. Anna Kimbrell enjoyed a pair of singles and a walk to score one run, batted in by a blazing 2-RBI double from Liam Madden. Although he had success at the plate, he struggled on the mound against Mulgrave’s unstoppable lineup, giving up five earned runs and six unearned runs for a total of 11 runs. In 2.2 innings of work, he faced 22 batters and threw 73 total pitches as defensive mistakes proved costly. Pitcher Ben Pittaway also had a rocky outing, allowing five earned runs across 3.1 innings with four walks and two strikeouts. Springvale is sitting just off the bottom of the ladder in second-last place with a 2-11 record they’ll hope to improve in the New Year.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Springvale Lions 2nds
13 9
The Lions put up an honorable fight, but ultimately, they couldn’t overcome the Rebels. Mulgrave has won three in a row to improve their record to four wins, six losses and one draw, while the Lions are sitting in the same position with one game left in 2018.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Springvale Lions 3rds
7 7
A gallantly-fought battle between these two sides saw both lineups do their best to stay in the game. This back-and-forth affair ended in a draw, a result that both Springvale and Mulgrave could use rather than a loss. The Lions have moved into the first-place position following a Cheltenham loss to Newport. With seven wins, two losses and one draw, Springvale is looking good heading into the break, while the Rebels are rounding out the top four with six wins, four losses and one draw.
Werribee Giants vs. Mulgrave Rebels 4ths
6 15
The Rebels hit the road to take on the Giants, and they didn’t disappoint as they worked the game in their favour. This was a strong showing for Mulgrave after two tough losses to Bonbeach with final scores of 10-14 and 3-18. The Rebels are now tied for fourth place with Doncaster at 5-6, while Werribee is a few paces behind with a 2-9 record. They lost won a game in round 7 at Malvern with a score of 15-12.
Bonbeach Bluejays vs. Williamstown 1sts
0 10
The Wolves are finally clicking on all cylinders after suffering some painful losses as they went 1-9 in the first 10 rounds. Since then, they’ve won three straight as they begin to resemble the team that led the division for so long last season. Their latest game at Bonbeach was an exceptional result, particularly after offensive struggles earlier in the year that saw the Wolves score just one run, if any, in four of their games.
While the Bluejays were kept off the scoreboard, the same could not be said for the Wolves as they went wild at the plate, knocking in run after run on huge hits. This past few weeks have been a turning point for Williamstown, with this game showcasing some of their best stuff. Justin Gourlay went 3-for-4 with two singles and a triple, bringing his hit total to 20 on the season and his RBI total up to seven. Aaron Green recorded a single, a walk and an RBI, while Bill Millar hit an RBI single and Jason McDonald added a single and scored a run.
The entire lineup contributed, with Troy Malthouse taking a walk and smashing a double with two runs scored, along with 2 RBI’s for Daniel Chircop on a single and a walk. Robert Higginson had a double and a single, while Jayde Thorne went 3-for-5 with a double, two singles and 2 RBI’s. Robert Higginson had a single and a double, and Sam Thompson knocked in a run with his base hit.
Six innings of one-hit baseball for Dennis Neal sealed the deal, with just two walks and 10 strikeouts. He’s now struck out 21 batters in his last 14 innings of work. Thompson followed up with an easy inning of relief, allowing just one hit but squashing the Bluejays’ chances to come home.
Since their first big win 10-7 over Mulgrave in round 11, Bonbeach has struggled to achieve a repeat performance as they drop to a dismal 1-12. Mitchell Sheldon-Collins threw for six innings, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs with two strikeouts along the way. Matthew Prior came on for one inning, in which he struggled to control the Wolves, giving up three hits, three walks and four runs – three of them earned. Both teams will be eager to finish out the first half of the season on a high note as round 15 draws near.
Bonbeach Bluejays vs. Williamstown Wolves 2nds
2 16
The Bluejays woes continued as they fell to 0-11 after yet another stomping, this time at the hands of the formidable Wolves who have remained in the top four throughout the first 11 rounds. Coming off a big 20-2 victory over Malvern, Williamstown won their fifth straight in dominating fashion, quickly shutting down the Bluejays hopes of finally getting in the win column. The Wolves are now 9-2, not far behind the Giants and the Rustlers. They’ll be eager to keep up the momentum when 2019 arrives.
Williamstown Wolves vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 3rds
2 12
The 3rds lifted the spirits of Bluejays fans with a convincing victory over the Wolves. The week before was rough for Bonbeach, as they fell 12-25 to Mulgrave. They bounced back with big bats and confident pitching, giving the Wolves little to work with. Bonbeach has improved to 5-6, giving them the potential to break the top four in the second half of the season if they can continue playing like this. Meanwhile the Wolves are third from the bottom at 4-7, a record they’ll try to build upon throughout January and February.
Williamstown Wolves vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 4ths
13 4
The top-of-the-ladder team had no problems against the Bluejays. Williamstown hit well once again on their way to their fifth straight victory. With reliable pitching and hot hitting, the Wolves don’t have much to worry about as they sit at 10-1 above 9-2 Newport. At 4-7, the Bluejays have some work to do,
Port Melbourne Mariners vs. Werribee Giants 1sts
3 7
The Mariners have been struggling lately, with seven straight losses after starting the season 5-1. The same cannot be said for the Giants, who have been on fire with just one loss in the first 12 rounds. Although the Mariners looked promising at the beginning of the game, the Giants took a late lead to take home the victory.
Werribee got things started in the first inning when Oliver Box singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run. Port Melbourne got a single in the bottom of the first from the bat of Kevin Desmedt, but they were unable to convert and bring the runner home. Both teams then went hitless until the 5th inning before Port Melbourne scored their first run in the 6th inning from an error in the Giants defense.
Werribee answered back in the top of the 7th with a sacrifice fly from Wesley DeJong, although Port Melbourne once again tied the game up in the bottom of the 7th from a wild pitch. With both teams tough and relentless, the game went to extra innings. Werribee struck first in the tenth when Ryan Balzer stole second and third before scoring from a Wade Balzer single. Port Melbourne then tied things up at three after another Werribee error allowed the run.
The game was tied at three with Werribee batting in the top of the eleventh when W. Balzer doubled on a 1-1 count, scoring three runs to set the Giants up for the win. DeJong took the win for Werribee. He lasted ten innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out nine. Guillermo Salazar threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Aaron Petri took the loss for Port Melbourne. He surrendered five earned runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out six. Desmedt started the game for Port Melbourne. He lasted five innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
Werribee tallied 12 hits on the day. Salazar went 3-for-5 to lead the team, while, R.Balzer, Josh Lee, and W.Balzer each collected multiple hits. On the Port Melbourne side, Kevin Ung stood out with his 3-for-5 performance, including a double and two singles. The 5-8 Mariners will look to get back to their earlier-season form, while the Giants will hope to keep on rolling in their comfortable second-place position.
Port Melbourne Mariners vs. Werribee Giants 2nds
4 16
The Giants were on a roll on Sunday, as they smashed their way to their ninth victory over a struggling Port Melbourne side that still hasn’t managed a win after the first 11 rounds. The Werribee lineup was especially pleased with this result after losing their first game 0-6 to the Newport Rams. Now the Giants will turn their attention to their final game of 2018 at home vs. the Mariners this weekend.
Werribee Giants vs. Port Melbourne Mariners 3rds
13 6
After a lackluster 14-0 loss at Newport the week before, Werribee came back in full force to overpower the Mariners and achieve their fifth win. The Mariners are still hanging out at the bottom of the ladder with one win and ten losses, with their only victory coming in the very first game of the season when they got the best of Williamstown, 15-6. Port Melbourne will look to regroup and reenergize over the break, and make a stronger push in the second half of the season. If Werribee can get the upper hand in January and February, they could still find themselves in the running for playoffs.
Sunday, Dec. 9th (Round 13 – 1sts, Round 11 – 2nds, 3rds, 4ths)
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 1sts
2 0
One of the most dominant teams in Div 2 have managed a perfect 13-0 record with just two games to go in the first half of the season. Facing off against the third-place team, the Rustlers relied on superb starter Jesse Remington, who threw the whole game, giving up just two hits and four walks while striking out eight to bring his season total to 71 K’s. With such faultless command on the mound, the Rustlers were able to focus on building their lead with some solid offensive moments. Singles for Dante Caruso, Kane Davidson and Ben Fierenzi did the trick, while Jackson Hunkin’s RBI double allowed Cheltenham to pull ahead. Coming off his fantastic round 12 performance, Conor Myles did it again, knocking in a run on a massive triple. He’s now had hits in 11 out of 12 games this season. Another key player was Sam Michael, who went 2-for-4 with a single, a double and one run scored.
Newport’s Scott Barr had a good day on the mound, but the two runs he gave up would come back to haunt the Rams as they struggled to answer against Remington and the rest of the Rustlers. Barr threw 7.1 innings, giving up seven hits while striking out nine batters. David Asp kept the game under control in relief, but with singles from just Dean Malthouse and Justin Gil, the Rams couldn’t avoid their third straight loss. As Cheltenham sits comfortably at the top of the ladder, with Werribee and Newport in hot pursuit, the Rustlers will host the Rams on Thursday night before Sunday’s return game.
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 2nds
12 2
The Rustlers enjoyed a big rout of the Rams as they earned their 10th win in thrilling style. Cheltenham hasn’t lost a game since round 4, and with their first-place spot closely chased by Werribee and Williamstown, they will need to bring their best form into their final first-half game at Newport. With two losses in their last three games, the Rams (will look to rebound when they play at home this weekend.
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 3rds
2 14
Both these teams are neck and neck with 72.73 win percentages thanks to their 8-3 records. 14 has been the magic number for Newport this past month, with three of their last four wins involving a final tally of 14 runs for the Rams. The Rustlers managed to put up 22 runs against the Port Melbourne Mariners the week before, but this time around they were held down by a strong Newport pitching staff. Cheltenham will have another shot on Sunday as they hit the road to visit Newport.
Cheltenham Rustlers vs. Newport Rams 4ths
4 5
A tight game saw the Rams pull away to further cement their second-place position. Newport is now 9-2, with their last loss coming in round 5 vs. Malvern. The Rustlers are following up in third-place with 7-4, with their most recent loss going back to round 8’s 13-15 run frenzy at Mulgrave. Cheltenham will try to prevent another loss at the hands of the Rams when Newport hosts the round 12 game this weekend.
Malvern Braves vs. Doncaster Dragons 1sts
6 5
The Braves had endured some ups and downs this season, but when they faced this depleted team of Dragons, they knew it was a must-win situation. Especially after losing back-to-back games in rounds 11 and 12, Malvern wanted to avoid a three-game skid at all costs. The Braves battled hard against starting pitcher Rhys Otter and the rest of Doncaster’s defense. In his first appearance in the ones this season, he threw 6.2 innings, giving up eight hits, four walks and five earned runs while striking out two. At times he was able to keep Malvern’s bats off balance to give Doncaster more chances at the plate.
Entering the 7th with a 3-run-lead, the Braves fell asleep in the top of the inning. Starter Chance Hicks went deep into the game, but he was hurt by poor fielding and throwing the ball around. In addition to knocking in a run on a sacrifice fly, he covered the first 6.1 innings on the mound with six hits, two walks, one HBP, three earned runs and two unearned runs. Hicks also struck out seven batters, bringing his total for the season to 31 K’s.
With their chances for a win in jeopardy, Malvern brought their bats back in the bottom of the 7th to regain the lead, giving Simon Fitzmaurice the opportunity to jump in and pitch two scoreless innings. Hicks joined Geoff Holland, Travis Cutt and Chris Godfrey with RBI’s on the day as the middle and bottom of the order showed much-needed patience. Holland’s double and a walk did the trick, while Gavin Woolger and Billy Findlay both had a single, double and run scored on the day. Nic Unland recorded a pair of singles, a walk and a run scored, while Mitchell Wilhite also had a single, BB and run scored.
A handful of 2nds players stepped up for Doncaster, with several batters recording their first hits in the top nine. An RBI single for Jed Bastian, as well as a single and double for Lachlan Craven and a pair of singles for John Britton highlighted Doncaster’s day at the plate. Jimin Lee also had a hit, while Bransen Gibson managed a single and a walk before coming in to face six batters in relief, giving up one hit, one walk and no runs with a lone strikeout.
After a slow start that saw the Dragons in the bottom half of the ladder, they have rebounded nicely to remain in the running. Following round 13, Doncaster and Malvern are tied for fourth-place with seven wins and six losses, so the competition will be fierce as the series continues.
Malvern Braves vs. Doncaster Dragons 2nds
3 7
Following a disappointing performance last weekend that saw the Braves go down to the Wolves 2-20, Malvern had their sights set on avoiding their third consecutive loss. At the start, things looked good for the Braves as Jonte DeZwart was pitching well and the bats were moving enough to secure an 2-0 lead heading into the 5th. A tiring pitcher and lack of relief proved detrimental for Malvern, as the Dragons went on to stack seven runs in the final four innings. In their last game before the break, the Braves will be looking forward to the return of Eddie Gibbs after an injury. With four wins, five losses and two draws on the season, Malvern will hope to liven up their bats and return to their winning ways, while 4-7 Doncaster will aim for three in a row.
Doncaster Dragons vs. Malvern Braves 3rds
0 14
Steady scoring was the name of the game for Malvern as the Braves racked up a huge score line in their best offensive outing so far this season. Josh Brown did a fantastic job on the mound and was relieved by Coach Dean for a combined shutout. Stu Holland picked up 2 doubles and a triple to lead the 6-5 Braves at the plate as they inch closer to breaking into the top four. Doncaster suffered their seventh loss, with their last win coming in round 8 when they beat Williamstown 11-3.
Doncaster Dragons vs. Malvern Braves 4ths
13 4
After a challenging series vs. Williamstown that saw Malvern give up 44 runs while only scoring six, the Braves were pleased to face a new team. Although they didn’t achieve the end result they wanted, there were still some exciting highlights, including Doug Miller’s single to right field that brought two runners home. The Dragons proved too strong at the plate as they cruised to their fifth win, snapping a four-game losing streak. Malvern is now 2-9, tied at the bottom of the ladder with Werribee.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Springvale Lions 1sts
16 2
The Rebels have endured some disappointing losses thus far this season, but they’ve now won back-to-back games to stay out of the lowest ladder position. Now 4-9 after this big win, the Rebels were able to make it happen thanks to phenomenal plate appearances from several key contributors. Nick Thompson had 4 RBI’s with two singles and a double, while Anthony White went 4-for-4 with 4 singles, a walk and 3 RBI’s. A bases-clearing double from Thomas Ondra gave him 3 RBI’s, and he also pitched an easy inning of relief later in the game.
Donnie Poole joined in the fun with an RBI and three runs scored, as did Chris Anderton, Grant Miller and Scott Oldin who all had a hit on the day. Caleb Poole was relentless in his efforts to get on base, coming around to score four times following a single and three walks. Pitcher Liam Richardson didn’t have any troubles on the mound, giving his teammates the chances they needed to pull ahead of the Lions and stay in the lead. He threw six innings, allowing five hits, four walks and two earned runs along with six strikeouts.
It was a much quieter day for Springvale, as the lineup, supported by 2nds players, managed just two runs for the third game in a row. Neal Cavanagh had a single and a double, although they couldn’t score him either time, while Dan Linton had a single and a walk. Anna Kimbrell enjoyed a pair of singles and a walk to score one run, batted in by a blazing 2-RBI double from Liam Madden. Although he had success at the plate, he struggled on the mound against Mulgrave’s unstoppable lineup, giving up five earned runs and six unearned runs for a total of 11 runs. In 2.2 innings of work, he faced 22 batters and threw 73 total pitches as defensive mistakes proved costly. Pitcher Ben Pittaway also had a rocky outing, allowing five earned runs across 3.1 innings with four walks and two strikeouts. Springvale is sitting just off the bottom of the ladder in second-last place with a 2-11 record they’ll hope to improve in the New Year.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Springvale Lions 2nds
13 9
The Lions put up an honorable fight, but ultimately, they couldn’t overcome the Rebels. Mulgrave has won three in a row to improve their record to four wins, six losses and one draw, while the Lions are sitting in the same position with one game left in 2018.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Springvale Lions 3rds
7 7
A gallantly-fought battle between these two sides saw both lineups do their best to stay in the game. This back-and-forth affair ended in a draw, a result that both Springvale and Mulgrave could use rather than a loss. The Lions have moved into the first-place position following a Cheltenham loss to Newport. With seven wins, two losses and one draw, Springvale is looking good heading into the break, while the Rebels are rounding out the top four with six wins, four losses and one draw.
Werribee Giants vs. Mulgrave Rebels 4ths
6 15
The Rebels hit the road to take on the Giants, and they didn’t disappoint as they worked the game in their favour. This was a strong showing for Mulgrave after two tough losses to Bonbeach with final scores of 10-14 and 3-18. The Rebels are now tied for fourth place with Doncaster at 5-6, while Werribee is a few paces behind with a 2-9 record. They lost won a game in round 7 at Malvern with a score of 15-12.
Bonbeach Bluejays vs. Williamstown 1sts
0 10
The Wolves are finally clicking on all cylinders after suffering some painful losses as they went 1-9 in the first 10 rounds. Since then, they’ve won three straight as they begin to resemble the team that led the division for so long last season. Their latest game at Bonbeach was an exceptional result, particularly after offensive struggles earlier in the year that saw the Wolves score just one run, if any, in four of their games.
While the Bluejays were kept off the scoreboard, the same could not be said for the Wolves as they went wild at the plate, knocking in run after run on huge hits. This past few weeks have been a turning point for Williamstown, with this game showcasing some of their best stuff. Justin Gourlay went 3-for-4 with two singles and a triple, bringing his hit total to 20 on the season and his RBI total up to seven. Aaron Green recorded a single, a walk and an RBI, while Bill Millar hit an RBI single and Jason McDonald added a single and scored a run.
The entire lineup contributed, with Troy Malthouse taking a walk and smashing a double with two runs scored, along with 2 RBI’s for Daniel Chircop on a single and a walk. Robert Higginson had a double and a single, while Jayde Thorne went 3-for-5 with a double, two singles and 2 RBI’s. Robert Higginson had a single and a double, and Sam Thompson knocked in a run with his base hit.
Six innings of one-hit baseball for Dennis Neal sealed the deal, with just two walks and 10 strikeouts. He’s now struck out 21 batters in his last 14 innings of work. Thompson followed up with an easy inning of relief, allowing just one hit but squashing the Bluejays’ chances to come home.
Since their first big win 10-7 over Mulgrave in round 11, Bonbeach has struggled to achieve a repeat performance as they drop to a dismal 1-12. Mitchell Sheldon-Collins threw for six innings, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs with two strikeouts along the way. Matthew Prior came on for one inning, in which he struggled to control the Wolves, giving up three hits, three walks and four runs – three of them earned. Both teams will be eager to finish out the first half of the season on a high note as round 15 draws near.
Bonbeach Bluejays vs. Williamstown Wolves 2nds
2 16
The Bluejays woes continued as they fell to 0-11 after yet another stomping, this time at the hands of the formidable Wolves who have remained in the top four throughout the first 11 rounds. Coming off a big 20-2 victory over Malvern, Williamstown won their fifth straight in dominating fashion, quickly shutting down the Bluejays hopes of finally getting in the win column. The Wolves are now 9-2, not far behind the Giants and the Rustlers. They’ll be eager to keep up the momentum when 2019 arrives.
Williamstown Wolves vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 3rds
2 12
The 3rds lifted the spirits of Bluejays fans with a convincing victory over the Wolves. The week before was rough for Bonbeach, as they fell 12-25 to Mulgrave. They bounced back with big bats and confident pitching, giving the Wolves little to work with. Bonbeach has improved to 5-6, giving them the potential to break the top four in the second half of the season if they can continue playing like this. Meanwhile the Wolves are third from the bottom at 4-7, a record they’ll try to build upon throughout January and February.
Williamstown Wolves vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 4ths
13 4
The top-of-the-ladder team had no problems against the Bluejays. Williamstown hit well once again on their way to their fifth straight victory. With reliable pitching and hot hitting, the Wolves don’t have much to worry about as they sit at 10-1 above 9-2 Newport. At 4-7, the Bluejays have some work to do,
Port Melbourne Mariners vs. Werribee Giants 1sts
3 7
The Mariners have been struggling lately, with seven straight losses after starting the season 5-1. The same cannot be said for the Giants, who have been on fire with just one loss in the first 12 rounds. Although the Mariners looked promising at the beginning of the game, the Giants took a late lead to take home the victory.
Werribee got things started in the first inning when Oliver Box singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run. Port Melbourne got a single in the bottom of the first from the bat of Kevin Desmedt, but they were unable to convert and bring the runner home. Both teams then went hitless until the 5th inning before Port Melbourne scored their first run in the 6th inning from an error in the Giants defense.
Werribee answered back in the top of the 7th with a sacrifice fly from Wesley DeJong, although Port Melbourne once again tied the game up in the bottom of the 7th from a wild pitch. With both teams tough and relentless, the game went to extra innings. Werribee struck first in the tenth when Ryan Balzer stole second and third before scoring from a Wade Balzer single. Port Melbourne then tied things up at three after another Werribee error allowed the run.
The game was tied at three with Werribee batting in the top of the eleventh when W. Balzer doubled on a 1-1 count, scoring three runs to set the Giants up for the win. DeJong took the win for Werribee. He lasted ten innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out nine. Guillermo Salazar threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Aaron Petri took the loss for Port Melbourne. He surrendered five earned runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out six. Desmedt started the game for Port Melbourne. He lasted five innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
Werribee tallied 12 hits on the day. Salazar went 3-for-5 to lead the team, while, R.Balzer, Josh Lee, and W.Balzer each collected multiple hits. On the Port Melbourne side, Kevin Ung stood out with his 3-for-5 performance, including a double and two singles. The 5-8 Mariners will look to get back to their earlier-season form, while the Giants will hope to keep on rolling in their comfortable second-place position.
Port Melbourne Mariners vs. Werribee Giants 2nds
4 16
The Giants were on a roll on Sunday, as they smashed their way to their ninth victory over a struggling Port Melbourne side that still hasn’t managed a win after the first 11 rounds. The Werribee lineup was especially pleased with this result after losing their first game 0-6 to the Newport Rams. Now the Giants will turn their attention to their final game of 2018 at home vs. the Mariners this weekend.
Werribee Giants vs. Port Melbourne Mariners 3rds
13 6
After a lackluster 14-0 loss at Newport the week before, Werribee came back in full force to overpower the Mariners and achieve their fifth win. The Mariners are still hanging out at the bottom of the ladder with one win and ten losses, with their only victory coming in the very first game of the season when they got the best of Williamstown, 15-6. Port Melbourne will look to regroup and reenergize over the break, and make a stronger push in the second half of the season. If Werribee can get the upper hand in January and February, they could still find themselves in the running for playoffs.
Werribee got things started in the first inning when Oliver Box singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run. Port Melbourne got a single in the bottom of the first from the bat of Kevin Desmedt, but they were unable to convert and bring the runner home. Both teams then went hitless until the 5th inning before Port Melbourne scored their first run in the 6th inning from an error in the Giants defense.
Werribee answered back in the top of the 7th with a sacrifice fly from Wesley DeJong, although Port Melbourne once again tied the game up in the bottom of the 7th from a wild pitch. With both teams tough and relentless, the game went to extra innings. Werribee struck first in the tenth when Ryan Balzer stole second and third before scoring from a Wade Balzer single. Port Melbourne then tied things up at three after another Werribee error allowed the run.
The game was tied at three with Werribee batting in the top of the eleventh when W. Balzer doubled on a 1-1 count, scoring three runs to set the Giants up for the win. DeJong took the win for Werribee. He lasted ten innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out nine. Guillermo Salazar threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Aaron Petri took the loss for Port Melbourne. He surrendered five earned runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out six. Desmedt started the game for Port Melbourne. He lasted five innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
Werribee tallied 12 hits on the day. Salazar went 3-for-5 to lead the team, while, R.Balzer, Josh Lee, and W.Balzer each collected multiple hits. On the Port Melbourne side, Kevin Ung stood out with his 3-for-5 performance, including a double and two singles. The 5-8 Mariners will look to get back to their earlier-season form, while the Giants will hope to keep on rolling in their comfortable second-place position.
Port Melbourne Mariners vs. Werribee Giants 2nds
4 16
The Giants were on a roll on Sunday, as they smashed their way to their ninth victory over a struggling Port Melbourne side that still hasn’t managed a win after the first 11 rounds. The Werribee lineup was especially pleased with this result after losing their first game 0-6 to the Newport Rams. Now the Giants will turn their attention to their final game of 2018 at home vs. the Mariners this weekend.
Werribee Giants vs. Port Melbourne Mariners 3rds
13 6
After a lackluster 14-0 loss at Newport the week before, Werribee came back in full force to overpower the Mariners and achieve their fifth win. The Mariners are still hanging out at the bottom of the ladder with one win and ten losses, with their only victory coming in the very first game of the season when they got the best of Williamstown, 15-6. Port Melbourne will look to regroup and reenergize over the break, and make a stronger push in the second half of the season. If Werribee can get the upper hand in January and February, they could still find themselves in the running for playoffs.