The VSBL 2018/19 season is in full swing, with the Division 1 competition showcasing some of Victoria’s best baseball players and local clubs. Despite two recent losses, the reigning premiers of the Geelong Baycats are still leading the way, with Upwey Ferntree Gully, Sandringham and Melbourne in full pursuit. The final weeks before Christmas are shaping up to be intense as teams aim to finish off the first half of the season in top form prior to the New Year. Good luck to all players, teams and clubs in the next few rounds!
Round 12 - Tuesday, November 27th
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 1sts
0 2
Sunshine came into this game feeling confident after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead. The past two games between these two have been low-scoring affairs as both sides have relied on great pitching performances to keep them in the running. Following Sunday's disappointing one-run loss that came in the bottom of the 9th, Preston started Drew Janssen, the versatile import who is good with the bat as well, knocking in the Pirates' lone run on Sunday. Despite his solid efforts, which spanned most of the game before he handed things over to Mitch Heyward, the Eagles managed to put together enough scoring to get the win.
Jeremy Young was dependable as always, quickly shutting down the Pirates without too much trouble. As was the case throughout the whole series, Preston struggled to get on the board when they had their chances, with Sunshine’s pitchers doing their jobs well. Hits from Allan De San Miguel and Brian Lane helped the Eagles pull ahead of the Pirates to improve to 8-4 on the season, with seven straight victories giving the team a big boost heading into the last few weeks before Christmas break. Preston is now 2-10 with their sights set on improving during their next series at Melbourne.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 1sts
6 2
After two strong showings gave Melbourne a 2-0 series lead, the Demons headed to Berwick in search of their second sweep of the season. The Cougars had other plans, though, and they battled hard to secure their third win of the season – their first victory since round 7 vs. Blackburn back on Nov. 4th. Highlights of Berwick’s solid offense included 2017/18 Div 2 MVP Craig Barnett, who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and one run scored, and shortstop Aaron Ouwehand who hit a 2-run single. Ciaran Palmer, Nick O’Shea, Cain Hillier and Sam Gillenwater all recorded singles as well, giving pitcher Mark Surtees the offensive production, he needed to comfortably handle the fierce Melbourne lineup. Throughout his 4.1 innings pitched, he gave up just one hit, but walked seven batters to give the Demons the chance to score two earned runs. Cameron Gibbens came in to face three batters, striking out two of them, before the game was over.
Meanwhile Melbourne’s Steven Bookluck didn’t fare as well on the mound, giving up six hits and five runs – four of them earned – in two innings of work. His teammates struggled to produce runs, with an RBI sacrifice fly from Ryan Booth and Jarryd Rogers’ perfect on base percentage – for the second time this year thanks to two walks and a HBP – being some of the team’s only bright spots. Ryan Phillips came in to pitch two innings, giving up two hits, two walks and one earned run.
After this win, Berwick will set their sights on back-to-back wins as they host Sandringham, while 8-4 Melbourne will try and bounce back when Preston comes to visit.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. 1sts
1 4
After Blackburn won the first game between these two with a final score of 5-2, the Tigers answered with a good performance on Tuesday night that quieted the Orioles offense. Upwey had the upper hand at the plate, with Joshua Hendricks leading the way with a home run and a single to go 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s on the day. Staci Rogers had an RBI double, while Jordan Elliot had a pair of singles and Ashley Winton, Donovan Hendricks and Wade McConnon joined in the fun with hits of their own. Pitcher Sean Meldrum threw six fantastic innings of one-run ball with six hits, two walks and five strikeouts, giving the Tigers the room they needed to get ahead and stay there.
On the Blackburn side, Luke Hughes hit a home run and a single, while Thomas Kerr-Chapman had two singles and Ben Leslie had a double and a single. Pitcher Andrew Jones threw five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Blackburn will be looking to get back to their winning ways when Essendon comes to visit this weekend, while the Tigers will aim for back-to-back wins against ladder-leading Geelong.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 1sts
1 6
A 10-0 win on Sunday gave Waverley the momentum to make it three wins in a row. The Wildcats’ were much busier at the plate than their opponents, with Liam Evans going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Ryan Dale followed with a pair of singles and 1 RBI to go 2-for-3, while Glenn Mascoll knocked in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. Pitcher Luke Papanicoloau looked good on the mound, throwing 4.2 innings during which he gave up just three hits and one earned run with no walks and five strikeouts. The Wildcats have enjoyed getting the job done these past few weeks, and they will look to put their losing ways behind them as they approach this next series vs. red-hot Sunshine. Meanwhile 2-9 Moorrabin will need to step it up and bring their A-game if they want to have a chance against Fitzroy.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 1sts
1 1
This close game ended in the division’s first draw of the season, thanks to spot-on pitching from both sides. The Bombers put their faith in Michael Formisano, who not only had an RBI single but also pitched his second complete game of the season, giving up just four hits and two walks for one earned run. He also struck out six batters to bring his total to 24 after six appearances, and his accuracy was impressive with 22 first-pitch strikes. Jared Cruz had a double and run scored, while Gareth Formisano had a hit and a walk on an otherwise quiet day for the Bombers’ lineup.
On the Sandringham side, American import pitcher Peter Gehle threw eight remarkable innings with just two hits, one walk and one unearned run with eight big strikeouts, including his 40th of the season! His team supported him with an RBI single from Harrison Wills, along with a pair of hits from Will Tucker and a single and run scored by Joshua Meyer. Brandon Stenhouse came in to throw the last inning, giving up one hit and striking out three on 24 pitches. After such a competitive showing for the Bombers following a three-game skid, they will be looking to get their fifth win, while the Royals will be eager to improve to 9-3 to stay comfortably in third place in the standings.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 1sts
5 4
The first two games between these teams have been competitive and exciting, with Fitzroy winning the first game 3-1 and Geelong pulling away with an 8-7 win in the second game. This was another close matchup, with the Baycats narrowly edging the Lions after an up-and-down game. The early innings were quiet on both sides, before Fitzroy got the better of Sam Gibbons with a three-run frame at the top of the 3rd. The Baycats answered with two runs of their own off of Alex Merithew. A single run in both the 4th and the 5th allowed Geelong to take a 4-3 lead, which remained the score going into the 8th. That’s when Fitzroy came back with the tying run, which wasn’t enough for the Lions with Geelong bringing home their winning run in the bottom frame.
The Lions had 10 hits compared to the Baycats’ 9 hits, but they were unable to secure their sixth win of the season, instead dropping to a 5-7 record. Merithew pitched five innings on the day, with five hits, four earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. He handed the ball over to Travis Murphy, who followed up by allowing four hits, one run and two strikeouts to keep the Lions in the game.
On the Geelong side, Gibbons gave up seven hits and three earned runs across five innings before passing the ball to Kelli Zablan, who allowed three hits and one unearned run in three innings while striking out four. The team’s offense was led by Elliot Biddle with a pair of singles, as well as hits for Jarryd Wood, Ryan Darcy, Josh Davies, Brock Wells, Kelli Zablan, Kobe Greenhalgh and James Wood.
For Fitzroy, Tom Dicker, Damian Preston and Danny King had two hits apiece, while Murphy, Tom Wilson, Jordan Walker and Joel Mackenzie had one each. Dicker brought his home run total to six with his big blast, while Geelong’s Greenhalgh had his first homer of the season.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Fitzroy heads to Moorrabin in an effort to get back to .500, while Geelong remains at the top of the ladder with ten wins and two losses before their visit to second-place Upwey on Sunday.
Sunday, November 25th
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 1sts
2 1
At first, this game looked like it could potentially go in Preston’s favour, with the Pirates getting the first run of the game and holding the Eagles back. Hayden Godbold was once again confident and comfortable on the mound as he kept Preston right in the game, with the team determined to bounce back from a 3-1 midweek loss at Sunshine. Eventually though, the Eagles managed to get on the board with an RBI double from Brian Lane.
Heading into the bottom of the 9th with a tied game, the Eagles stepped it up a notch, getting the winning run in scoring position with a stolen base. The Sunshine crowd was thrilled to get their second run home, extending the team’s streak to seven wins in a row ahead of Tuesday’s midweek at Preston.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 2nds
7 3
After last week's strong showing at Berwick in which the Pirates kept battling back to edge the Cougars, Preston came into this game hoping to put their long and laborious losing streak behind them. It wasn't to be, due in large part to the Pirates once again giving up their lead later in the game. Despite a solid pitching performance from Masa Hashiguchi, mistakes in the field killed Preston's chances as Sunshine took back the lead to bring their record to 3-6. The Pirates remain at the bottom of the ladder with just one win and eight losses as they look ahead to their next series vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
7 2
Back at the Pirate ship, Preston's 3rds side had an exciting win after a seven-game skid. The team came together to put on a good show, making the most of their scoring opportunities. Although the Pirates have been producing runs in recent weeks, their pitching and defense wasn’t able to silence their opponents, but their patience paid off when they were able to shut down Sunshine for most of this game. While the Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season, they’ll have another chance as the host Waverley this weekend. The Pirates will take their 2-7 record into round 10 vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
12 4
The Pirates were pleased to get their third win on the board after dropping their past seven. Preston got out to a 2-0 start but has struggled since, so the team was eager to make their mark against Sunshine. Considering the Pirates were painfully beat by Berwick 17-6 last weekend, they bounced back with an impressive offensive outburst that left the Eagles struggling and ultimately failing to keep up. Now Preston is 3-6 going into December, while Sunshine is still looking good in third place with a 6-3 record that puts them behind Geelong and Essendon.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
2 1
A big 9-3 midweek win following a surprise 14-0 shutout of Geelong put the Demons in high spirits as they hosted the Cougars. Despite an intense pitcher’s duel, Melbourne managed to win their third game in a row, thanks to a single and a home run from Jarryd Rogers as well as an RBI from Ryan Booth. The Demons depended on Ryan Simpler’s complete game performance, highlighted by 12 strikeouts to bring his season total to 66. He gave up just one unearned run in this big victory, with Berwick’s Craig Burnett, Cameron Gibbens, Bradley Kmet, Nick O’Shea, Aaron Ouwehand, Ciaran Palmer and Aiden Willis all having one hit each, although they couldn’t string much offense together to make any damage.
Berwick’s Craig Barnett threw the first five innings, giving up three hits and four walks for one earned run and one unearned run along with six strikeouts. The Cougars are currently at the bottom of the ladder with a 2-9 record, but they will have some upcoming chances to change things up if they can carry on with their strong pitching, while Melbourne is looking good with an 8-3 record.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 2nds
3 1
After a 6-6 draw last weekend, the Demons returned to their winning habits with their fourth win of the season. Now 4-4-1, Melbourne will have a chance for back-to-back wins when they face Preston at home this weekend, while Berwick will try to even out their 4-5 record as they host Sandringham on Sunday.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 3rds
5 9
The Demons bounced back from their tough 10-1 loss at the hands of the Geelong Baycats last weekend with their first win in three games. Despite some offensive outburst from Berwick, Melbourne had the upper hand with their bats. Now 3-6, the Cougars will try to change things up at Sandringham, while Melbourne will head to Preston in search of their fourth win.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 4ths
5 5
With both teams hungry for a win, the battle was fierce as each side kept in the game. Ultimately, neither one could pull ahead in the end. Now Melbourne is 5-3-1, while Berwick is 4-3-2 heading into their road game at Sandringham this weekend in which they’ll be eager to get another win on the board.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 1sts
7 8
Back at home, Fitzroy gave up six runs in the first two innings which proved to be too much of a hurdle in the end. Cooper De Haan came to the mound in the 3rd inning for his pitching debut in Div 1, and he was able to restore the Lions’ confidence with four innings of shutout baseball. Fitzroy’s Ben Wilson also stepped up, taking to the mound for two innings in which he gave up just two runs, followed by Jordan Walker’s debut in the scoreless 9th.
On the Baycats’ side, Rudy Jaramillo performed at his best to get the win with six complete innings, giving up just one run while scattering four hits. He struck out 10 batters to bring his total to 43 throughout six appearances.
The Lions fought until the end, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the 9th to put up six runs. Tom Dicker homered with two out to reduce the difference to a lone run. Travis Murphy then came to the plate and hit the ball hard but Jaramillo was there, taking a great running catch in right field to end the game. Now 5-6, the Lions will have another shot when they play Geelong once more on Tuesday, while the Baycats will be looking for a series win.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 2nds
5 10
After tough results for both these teams in round 8, each side came out ready to win. The Baycats had the better day at the plate, though, with more players capitalising on their chances to score. Geelong is currently tied for 4th place with four wins, three losses and two draws on the season, while Fitzroy is sitting comfortably in 3rd place with a 6-3 record after this past weekend. They’ve lost two of their last three, so Fitzroy will be prepared for a better result against Moorrabin in round 10.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 3rds
8 7
Geelong was feeling fine after securing their 9th straight win following a tough game vs. Fitzroy, who proved to be fierce competition for the Baycats. A delayed start due to a late finish to the 4ths game made the Baycats a bit slow at the beginning, but eventually they found their footing. Starter Daniel Anson faced the Fitzroy lineup that’s scored 79 runs so far this season for an average of 8.78 per game.
The Baycats managed to provide some early support with two runs in the 1st thanks to a pair of walks for Tim Cruise and Liam Whiteside, who stole bases and jumped on wild pitches. Geelong wouldn’t score again until the 3rd, with singles from Cruise, Hayden Peoples and Josh Agius bringing home their third run.
Fitzroy clearly displayed their strong skills as they fought to avoid their first loss of the season. Hitting well all day and creating pressure, the Lions challenged the Baycats consistently. Geelong got their groove going in the 4th with a blazing-hot triple for Angus McNee, followed by patient batting for four walks. The Baycats were quick around the bases to bring home a few runs, aided by a fielder’s choice RBI from Mat Belfrage. Peoples came up to rip a double, with Josh Agius up next with a single to give Geelong a 8-7 advantage after falling behind 3-7. Both teams settled down after the 4th inning, with Jordan Isbister shutting down Fitzroy’s last chances.
After a great day for the whole lineup, including singles from Tim Rankin, Chris Hockey and Cooper Rickard, Geelong will carry their undefeated record into round 10 vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully. With seven wins, one loss and one draw on the season, Fitzroy will be looking to hang on to their third-place spot as they host Moorrabin.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 4ths
11 10
This high-scoring run fest was an exciting one as each side fought for a well-deserved victory. Eventually the Baycats got the best of the Lions to remain confidently in first place with their 8-1 record, with Fitzroy now sitting in fifth place at 5-4. The Lions will look to avoid a two-game skid vs. Moorrabin this weekend, while Geelong will go for back-to-back wins vs. Upwey.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 1sts
7 3
The Royals have won two in a row after getting the best of the Bombers on Sunday, thanks in large part to a phenomenal performance from Brandon Stenhouse. He had his best day so far this season, going 5-for-5 with the bat, including two doubles and three singles. He then took the mound to close out the game, throwing two innings of scoreless ball to silence Essendon’s efforts to get back into it.
Sandringham was largely supported by starter Jayson Arthur, who threw seven solid innings with just one earned run scored and two unearned. Despite the final score, Essendon had some offensive highlights, including Cody Rodwell’s 3-for-5 day with a double and two singles. Gareth Formisano was also impressive with two singles. Even so, three runs were not enough against this strong Sandringham side, which is now tied for second place with an 8-3 record. Essendon’s up-and-down season has given them a 4-7 record that they will be eager to build upon as they head into December.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 2nds
1 6
The Royals were handed their fifth loss of the season by a put-together Essendon side that worked well as a team, bringing home the runs when they needed to. After this big victory, the Bombers have won two of their last three to improve their record to 5-4, putting them in fourth place tied with Geelong. Essendon will need to maintain this pace to stay in the top four as they head into this next game vs. Blackburn, while Sandringham will try to snap this five-game skid vs. Geelong.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 3rds
12 0
Essendon blasted their way to a huge shutout victory with their big bats on full display, racking up runs and building on each other’s contributions. After a hard-fought 10-10 draw last weekend at Waverley, this was a great result for the Bombers who now have seven wins, one loss and one draw. This puts them tied for third place with Fitzroy, while Sandringham slides to 3-4-2 after losing three of their last four.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 4ths
12 9
Despite their best efforts, the Royals couldn’t quite catch up to this hard-hitting Essendon side. Each team came into this week feeling good after back-to-back victories, but ultimately the Bombers pulled ahead for their seventh win to keep them in second place and put them ahead of their close competitors at Sunshine. Sandringham is now 5-4, with plenty of potential to improve and get more wins on the board as the season moves ahead.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 1sts
10 0
The Panthers haven’t been having much luck in the last few weeks, with their last victory coming in round 6 Last win for Moorabbin was round 6 vs. Upwey. Now 2-8, the Panthers have been shutout for the second time so far this season. Waverley had a great day at the plate to secure back-to-back wins, with two players having three hits on the day. Ben Aslett had one double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Chris Burke had three hard-hit singles and an RBI on the day.
Although they weren’t able to do anything with these hits, Nick Coy, Kieran Lewis and Josh Mulherin all got on base for Moorabbin. Waverley’s pitching was much stronger on the day, with Blake Townsend, Mitchell Kennedy and Jamie Papanicoloau all filling in on the mound. Jay Rivera pitched four innings for Moorabbin in which he gave up 11 hits, two walks and six earned runs. Despite the offensive production, Rivera did strike out seven to bring his total to 67 on the season.
Waverley is now 3-7 with this victory as they head into the midweek at Moorrabin and their next series vs. Fitzroy.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
7 2
The Wildcats have now won back to back games after outhitting the Panthers on Sunday. The Wildcats are currently sitting second-last at 2-7, while the Panthers have managed three wins, five losses and one draw on the season. Waverley will have a chance to make it three in a row when they host Sunshine on Sunday, while Moorrabin will welcome Fitzroy to their home ground.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 3rds
0 7
It was a great day at the mound for the Wildcats, who were consistent throughout the game to achieve their first shutout victory of the season. This was a great result for Waverley as they quieted a team sitting two spots above them in the ladder. The Wildcats have improved to two wins, six losses and one draw, while Moorrabin is now 3-6 ahead of Sunday’s game at Fitzroy.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 4ths
2 12
Following a disappointing 11-3 loss vs. Essendon last weekend, the Wildcats came back this past weekend with much stronger offensive production that left the Panthers scrambling to keep up. Waverley is now 3-6 to keep them off the bottom of the ladder where Moorrabin find themselves with a 1-8 record.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 1sts
2 5
This marks the first time this year that Upwey has lost two games in a row after a stellar start to the season, bringing their record to 7-3, tied for fourth place with Blackburn. The Orioles haven’t lost a game since round 8 on Nov. 11, when they narrowly fell to Sandringham 1-0. In this meeting, these top, tough-to-beat teams battled hard, but Blackburn had the edge pitching-wise. Skyler Sylvester threw seven great innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. His reliable pitching gave Blackburn the chance to get on the board, with two hits apiece from Ryan Berg, Liam Hopkins and Ben Leslie. Upwey’s starter Jarrod Turner was gave up four runs – three of them earned – in his seven innings of work, with eight hits and six strikeouts. In a quiet day offensively, Staci Rogers stood out for Upwey with a pair of singles and a run scored. Now both teams are 7-3 heading into round 12.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 2nds
1 6
Both teams came into this game coming off of one-run victories, but Upwey ran out of offensive firepower against this brilliant Blackburn side that hasn’t lost or drawn a single game this season. Now 9-0, the Orioles will host Essendon on Sunday. The Tigers aren’t far behind with a 7-2 record putting them in second place ahead of Fitzroy. They’ll host Geelong this weekend while Blackburn meets Essendon.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 3rds
1 5
This strong and seasoned Orioles side bounced back from their first and only loss at Sandringham in round 8 with a great showing on Sunday. Blackburn had better pitching and batting on the day to protect their lead and keep the game in their favour. Now 8-1, Blackburn is in second place after Geelong, while Upwey is tied with the Royals for fourth place ahead of their trip to visit the undefeated Baycats.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 4ths
7 6
It was a close call for the Orioles, who narrowly overcame the Tigers for their fourth win. Competitive efforts on both sides made it anyone’s game, but Blackburn buckled down to get the job done. They’re now 4-4-1, while Upwey is struggling at 1-8, losing four of the past nine by just one or two runs. The Tigers will have another opportunity when they visit Geelong on Sunday, although it will be a difficult test against a top team.
Round 12 - Tuesday, November 27th
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 1sts
0 2
Sunshine came into this game feeling confident after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead. The past two games between these two have been low-scoring affairs as both sides have relied on great pitching performances to keep them in the running. Following Sunday's disappointing one-run loss that came in the bottom of the 9th, Preston started Drew Janssen, the versatile import who is good with the bat as well, knocking in the Pirates' lone run on Sunday. Despite his solid efforts, which spanned most of the game before he handed things over to Mitch Heyward, the Eagles managed to put together enough scoring to get the win.
Jeremy Young was dependable as always, quickly shutting down the Pirates without too much trouble. As was the case throughout the whole series, Preston struggled to get on the board when they had their chances, with Sunshine’s pitchers doing their jobs well. Hits from Allan De San Miguel and Brian Lane helped the Eagles pull ahead of the Pirates to improve to 8-4 on the season, with seven straight victories giving the team a big boost heading into the last few weeks before Christmas break. Preston is now 2-10 with their sights set on improving during their next series at Melbourne.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 1sts
6 2
After two strong showings gave Melbourne a 2-0 series lead, the Demons headed to Berwick in search of their second sweep of the season. The Cougars had other plans, though, and they battled hard to secure their third win of the season – their first victory since round 7 vs. Blackburn back on Nov. 4th. Highlights of Berwick’s solid offense included 2017/18 Div 2 MVP Craig Barnett, who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and one run scored, and shortstop Aaron Ouwehand who hit a 2-run single. Ciaran Palmer, Nick O’Shea, Cain Hillier and Sam Gillenwater all recorded singles as well, giving pitcher Mark Surtees the offensive production, he needed to comfortably handle the fierce Melbourne lineup. Throughout his 4.1 innings pitched, he gave up just one hit, but walked seven batters to give the Demons the chance to score two earned runs. Cameron Gibbens came in to face three batters, striking out two of them, before the game was over.
Meanwhile Melbourne’s Steven Bookluck didn’t fare as well on the mound, giving up six hits and five runs – four of them earned – in two innings of work. His teammates struggled to produce runs, with an RBI sacrifice fly from Ryan Booth and Jarryd Rogers’ perfect on base percentage – for the second time this year thanks to two walks and a HBP – being some of the team’s only bright spots. Ryan Phillips came in to pitch two innings, giving up two hits, two walks and one earned run.
After this win, Berwick will set their sights on back-to-back wins as they host Sandringham, while 8-4 Melbourne will try and bounce back when Preston comes to visit.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. 1sts
1 4
After Blackburn won the first game between these two with a final score of 5-2, the Tigers answered with a good performance on Tuesday night that quieted the Orioles offense. Upwey had the upper hand at the plate, with Joshua Hendricks leading the way with a home run and a single to go 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s on the day. Staci Rogers had an RBI double, while Jordan Elliot had a pair of singles and Ashley Winton, Donovan Hendricks and Wade McConnon joined in the fun with hits of their own. Pitcher Sean Meldrum threw six fantastic innings of one-run ball with six hits, two walks and five strikeouts, giving the Tigers the room they needed to get ahead and stay there.
On the Blackburn side, Luke Hughes hit a home run and a single, while Thomas Kerr-Chapman had two singles and Ben Leslie had a double and a single. Pitcher Andrew Jones threw five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Blackburn will be looking to get back to their winning ways when Essendon comes to visit this weekend, while the Tigers will aim for back-to-back wins against ladder-leading Geelong.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 1sts
1 6
A 10-0 win on Sunday gave Waverley the momentum to make it three wins in a row. The Wildcats’ were much busier at the plate than their opponents, with Liam Evans going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Ryan Dale followed with a pair of singles and 1 RBI to go 2-for-3, while Glenn Mascoll knocked in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. Pitcher Luke Papanicoloau looked good on the mound, throwing 4.2 innings during which he gave up just three hits and one earned run with no walks and five strikeouts. The Wildcats have enjoyed getting the job done these past few weeks, and they will look to put their losing ways behind them as they approach this next series vs. red-hot Sunshine. Meanwhile 2-9 Moorrabin will need to step it up and bring their A-game if they want to have a chance against Fitzroy.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 1sts
1 1
This close game ended in the division’s first draw of the season, thanks to spot-on pitching from both sides. The Bombers put their faith in Michael Formisano, who not only had an RBI single but also pitched his second complete game of the season, giving up just four hits and two walks for one earned run. He also struck out six batters to bring his total to 24 after six appearances, and his accuracy was impressive with 22 first-pitch strikes. Jared Cruz had a double and run scored, while Gareth Formisano had a hit and a walk on an otherwise quiet day for the Bombers’ lineup.
On the Sandringham side, American import pitcher Peter Gehle threw eight remarkable innings with just two hits, one walk and one unearned run with eight big strikeouts, including his 40th of the season! His team supported him with an RBI single from Harrison Wills, along with a pair of hits from Will Tucker and a single and run scored by Joshua Meyer. Brandon Stenhouse came in to throw the last inning, giving up one hit and striking out three on 24 pitches. After such a competitive showing for the Bombers following a three-game skid, they will be looking to get their fifth win, while the Royals will be eager to improve to 9-3 to stay comfortably in third place in the standings.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 1sts
5 4
The first two games between these teams have been competitive and exciting, with Fitzroy winning the first game 3-1 and Geelong pulling away with an 8-7 win in the second game. This was another close matchup, with the Baycats narrowly edging the Lions after an up-and-down game. The early innings were quiet on both sides, before Fitzroy got the better of Sam Gibbons with a three-run frame at the top of the 3rd. The Baycats answered with two runs of their own off of Alex Merithew. A single run in both the 4th and the 5th allowed Geelong to take a 4-3 lead, which remained the score going into the 8th. That’s when Fitzroy came back with the tying run, which wasn’t enough for the Lions with Geelong bringing home their winning run in the bottom frame.
The Lions had 10 hits compared to the Baycats’ 9 hits, but they were unable to secure their sixth win of the season, instead dropping to a 5-7 record. Merithew pitched five innings on the day, with five hits, four earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. He handed the ball over to Travis Murphy, who followed up by allowing four hits, one run and two strikeouts to keep the Lions in the game.
On the Geelong side, Gibbons gave up seven hits and three earned runs across five innings before passing the ball to Kelli Zablan, who allowed three hits and one unearned run in three innings while striking out four. The team’s offense was led by Elliot Biddle with a pair of singles, as well as hits for Jarryd Wood, Ryan Darcy, Josh Davies, Brock Wells, Kelli Zablan, Kobe Greenhalgh and James Wood.
For Fitzroy, Tom Dicker, Damian Preston and Danny King had two hits apiece, while Murphy, Tom Wilson, Jordan Walker and Joel Mackenzie had one each. Dicker brought his home run total to six with his big blast, while Geelong’s Greenhalgh had his first homer of the season.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Fitzroy heads to Moorrabin in an effort to get back to .500, while Geelong remains at the top of the ladder with ten wins and two losses before their visit to second-place Upwey on Sunday.
Sunday, November 25th
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 1sts
2 1
At first, this game looked like it could potentially go in Preston’s favour, with the Pirates getting the first run of the game and holding the Eagles back. Hayden Godbold was once again confident and comfortable on the mound as he kept Preston right in the game, with the team determined to bounce back from a 3-1 midweek loss at Sunshine. Eventually though, the Eagles managed to get on the board with an RBI double from Brian Lane.
Heading into the bottom of the 9th with a tied game, the Eagles stepped it up a notch, getting the winning run in scoring position with a stolen base. The Sunshine crowd was thrilled to get their second run home, extending the team’s streak to seven wins in a row ahead of Tuesday’s midweek at Preston.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 2nds
7 3
After last week's strong showing at Berwick in which the Pirates kept battling back to edge the Cougars, Preston came into this game hoping to put their long and laborious losing streak behind them. It wasn't to be, due in large part to the Pirates once again giving up their lead later in the game. Despite a solid pitching performance from Masa Hashiguchi, mistakes in the field killed Preston's chances as Sunshine took back the lead to bring their record to 3-6. The Pirates remain at the bottom of the ladder with just one win and eight losses as they look ahead to their next series vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
7 2
Back at the Pirate ship, Preston's 3rds side had an exciting win after a seven-game skid. The team came together to put on a good show, making the most of their scoring opportunities. Although the Pirates have been producing runs in recent weeks, their pitching and defense wasn’t able to silence their opponents, but their patience paid off when they were able to shut down Sunshine for most of this game. While the Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season, they’ll have another chance as the host Waverley this weekend. The Pirates will take their 2-7 record into round 10 vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
12 4
The Pirates were pleased to get their third win on the board after dropping their past seven. Preston got out to a 2-0 start but has struggled since, so the team was eager to make their mark against Sunshine. Considering the Pirates were painfully beat by Berwick 17-6 last weekend, they bounced back with an impressive offensive outburst that left the Eagles struggling and ultimately failing to keep up. Now Preston is 3-6 going into December, while Sunshine is still looking good in third place with a 6-3 record that puts them behind Geelong and Essendon.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
2 1
A big 9-3 midweek win following a surprise 14-0 shutout of Geelong put the Demons in high spirits as they hosted the Cougars. Despite an intense pitcher’s duel, Melbourne managed to win their third game in a row, thanks to a single and a home run from Jarryd Rogers as well as an RBI from Ryan Booth. The Demons depended on Ryan Simpler’s complete game performance, highlighted by 12 strikeouts to bring his season total to 66. He gave up just one unearned run in this big victory, with Berwick’s Craig Burnett, Cameron Gibbens, Bradley Kmet, Nick O’Shea, Aaron Ouwehand, Ciaran Palmer and Aiden Willis all having one hit each, although they couldn’t string much offense together to make any damage.
Berwick’s Craig Barnett threw the first five innings, giving up three hits and four walks for one earned run and one unearned run along with six strikeouts. The Cougars are currently at the bottom of the ladder with a 2-9 record, but they will have some upcoming chances to change things up if they can carry on with their strong pitching, while Melbourne is looking good with an 8-3 record.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 2nds
3 1
After a 6-6 draw last weekend, the Demons returned to their winning habits with their fourth win of the season. Now 4-4-1, Melbourne will have a chance for back-to-back wins when they face Preston at home this weekend, while Berwick will try to even out their 4-5 record as they host Sandringham on Sunday.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 3rds
5 9
The Demons bounced back from their tough 10-1 loss at the hands of the Geelong Baycats last weekend with their first win in three games. Despite some offensive outburst from Berwick, Melbourne had the upper hand with their bats. Now 3-6, the Cougars will try to change things up at Sandringham, while Melbourne will head to Preston in search of their fourth win.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 4ths
5 5
With both teams hungry for a win, the battle was fierce as each side kept in the game. Ultimately, neither one could pull ahead in the end. Now Melbourne is 5-3-1, while Berwick is 4-3-2 heading into their road game at Sandringham this weekend in which they’ll be eager to get another win on the board.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 1sts
7 8
Back at home, Fitzroy gave up six runs in the first two innings which proved to be too much of a hurdle in the end. Cooper De Haan came to the mound in the 3rd inning for his pitching debut in Div 1, and he was able to restore the Lions’ confidence with four innings of shutout baseball. Fitzroy’s Ben Wilson also stepped up, taking to the mound for two innings in which he gave up just two runs, followed by Jordan Walker’s debut in the scoreless 9th.
On the Baycats’ side, Rudy Jaramillo performed at his best to get the win with six complete innings, giving up just one run while scattering four hits. He struck out 10 batters to bring his total to 43 throughout six appearances.
The Lions fought until the end, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the 9th to put up six runs. Tom Dicker homered with two out to reduce the difference to a lone run. Travis Murphy then came to the plate and hit the ball hard but Jaramillo was there, taking a great running catch in right field to end the game. Now 5-6, the Lions will have another shot when they play Geelong once more on Tuesday, while the Baycats will be looking for a series win.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 2nds
5 10
After tough results for both these teams in round 8, each side came out ready to win. The Baycats had the better day at the plate, though, with more players capitalising on their chances to score. Geelong is currently tied for 4th place with four wins, three losses and two draws on the season, while Fitzroy is sitting comfortably in 3rd place with a 6-3 record after this past weekend. They’ve lost two of their last three, so Fitzroy will be prepared for a better result against Moorrabin in round 10.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 3rds
8 7
Geelong was feeling fine after securing their 9th straight win following a tough game vs. Fitzroy, who proved to be fierce competition for the Baycats. A delayed start due to a late finish to the 4ths game made the Baycats a bit slow at the beginning, but eventually they found their footing. Starter Daniel Anson faced the Fitzroy lineup that’s scored 79 runs so far this season for an average of 8.78 per game.
The Baycats managed to provide some early support with two runs in the 1st thanks to a pair of walks for Tim Cruise and Liam Whiteside, who stole bases and jumped on wild pitches. Geelong wouldn’t score again until the 3rd, with singles from Cruise, Hayden Peoples and Josh Agius bringing home their third run.
Fitzroy clearly displayed their strong skills as they fought to avoid their first loss of the season. Hitting well all day and creating pressure, the Lions challenged the Baycats consistently. Geelong got their groove going in the 4th with a blazing-hot triple for Angus McNee, followed by patient batting for four walks. The Baycats were quick around the bases to bring home a few runs, aided by a fielder’s choice RBI from Mat Belfrage. Peoples came up to rip a double, with Josh Agius up next with a single to give Geelong a 8-7 advantage after falling behind 3-7. Both teams settled down after the 4th inning, with Jordan Isbister shutting down Fitzroy’s last chances.
After a great day for the whole lineup, including singles from Tim Rankin, Chris Hockey and Cooper Rickard, Geelong will carry their undefeated record into round 10 vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully. With seven wins, one loss and one draw on the season, Fitzroy will be looking to hang on to their third-place spot as they host Moorrabin.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 4ths
11 10
This high-scoring run fest was an exciting one as each side fought for a well-deserved victory. Eventually the Baycats got the best of the Lions to remain confidently in first place with their 8-1 record, with Fitzroy now sitting in fifth place at 5-4. The Lions will look to avoid a two-game skid vs. Moorrabin this weekend, while Geelong will go for back-to-back wins vs. Upwey.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 1sts
7 3
The Royals have won two in a row after getting the best of the Bombers on Sunday, thanks in large part to a phenomenal performance from Brandon Stenhouse. He had his best day so far this season, going 5-for-5 with the bat, including two doubles and three singles. He then took the mound to close out the game, throwing two innings of scoreless ball to silence Essendon’s efforts to get back into it.
Sandringham was largely supported by starter Jayson Arthur, who threw seven solid innings with just one earned run scored and two unearned. Despite the final score, Essendon had some offensive highlights, including Cody Rodwell’s 3-for-5 day with a double and two singles. Gareth Formisano was also impressive with two singles. Even so, three runs were not enough against this strong Sandringham side, which is now tied for second place with an 8-3 record. Essendon’s up-and-down season has given them a 4-7 record that they will be eager to build upon as they head into December.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 2nds
1 6
The Royals were handed their fifth loss of the season by a put-together Essendon side that worked well as a team, bringing home the runs when they needed to. After this big victory, the Bombers have won two of their last three to improve their record to 5-4, putting them in fourth place tied with Geelong. Essendon will need to maintain this pace to stay in the top four as they head into this next game vs. Blackburn, while Sandringham will try to snap this five-game skid vs. Geelong.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 3rds
12 0
Essendon blasted their way to a huge shutout victory with their big bats on full display, racking up runs and building on each other’s contributions. After a hard-fought 10-10 draw last weekend at Waverley, this was a great result for the Bombers who now have seven wins, one loss and one draw. This puts them tied for third place with Fitzroy, while Sandringham slides to 3-4-2 after losing three of their last four.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 4ths
12 9
Despite their best efforts, the Royals couldn’t quite catch up to this hard-hitting Essendon side. Each team came into this week feeling good after back-to-back victories, but ultimately the Bombers pulled ahead for their seventh win to keep them in second place and put them ahead of their close competitors at Sunshine. Sandringham is now 5-4, with plenty of potential to improve and get more wins on the board as the season moves ahead.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 1sts
10 0
The Panthers haven’t been having much luck in the last few weeks, with their last victory coming in round 6 Last win for Moorabbin was round 6 vs. Upwey. Now 2-8, the Panthers have been shutout for the second time so far this season. Waverley had a great day at the plate to secure back-to-back wins, with two players having three hits on the day. Ben Aslett had one double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Chris Burke had three hard-hit singles and an RBI on the day.
Although they weren’t able to do anything with these hits, Nick Coy, Kieran Lewis and Josh Mulherin all got on base for Moorabbin. Waverley’s pitching was much stronger on the day, with Blake Townsend, Mitchell Kennedy and Jamie Papanicoloau all filling in on the mound. Jay Rivera pitched four innings for Moorabbin in which he gave up 11 hits, two walks and six earned runs. Despite the offensive production, Rivera did strike out seven to bring his total to 67 on the season.
Waverley is now 3-7 with this victory as they head into the midweek at Moorrabin and their next series vs. Fitzroy.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
7 2
The Wildcats have now won back to back games after outhitting the Panthers on Sunday. The Wildcats are currently sitting second-last at 2-7, while the Panthers have managed three wins, five losses and one draw on the season. Waverley will have a chance to make it three in a row when they host Sunshine on Sunday, while Moorrabin will welcome Fitzroy to their home ground.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 3rds
0 7
It was a great day at the mound for the Wildcats, who were consistent throughout the game to achieve their first shutout victory of the season. This was a great result for Waverley as they quieted a team sitting two spots above them in the ladder. The Wildcats have improved to two wins, six losses and one draw, while Moorrabin is now 3-6 ahead of Sunday’s game at Fitzroy.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 4ths
2 12
Following a disappointing 11-3 loss vs. Essendon last weekend, the Wildcats came back this past weekend with much stronger offensive production that left the Panthers scrambling to keep up. Waverley is now 3-6 to keep them off the bottom of the ladder where Moorrabin find themselves with a 1-8 record.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 1sts
2 5
This marks the first time this year that Upwey has lost two games in a row after a stellar start to the season, bringing their record to 7-3, tied for fourth place with Blackburn. The Orioles haven’t lost a game since round 8 on Nov. 11, when they narrowly fell to Sandringham 1-0. In this meeting, these top, tough-to-beat teams battled hard, but Blackburn had the edge pitching-wise. Skyler Sylvester threw seven great innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. His reliable pitching gave Blackburn the chance to get on the board, with two hits apiece from Ryan Berg, Liam Hopkins and Ben Leslie. Upwey’s starter Jarrod Turner was gave up four runs – three of them earned – in his seven innings of work, with eight hits and six strikeouts. In a quiet day offensively, Staci Rogers stood out for Upwey with a pair of singles and a run scored. Now both teams are 7-3 heading into round 12.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 2nds
1 6
Both teams came into this game coming off of one-run victories, but Upwey ran out of offensive firepower against this brilliant Blackburn side that hasn’t lost or drawn a single game this season. Now 9-0, the Orioles will host Essendon on Sunday. The Tigers aren’t far behind with a 7-2 record putting them in second place ahead of Fitzroy. They’ll host Geelong this weekend while Blackburn meets Essendon.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 3rds
1 5
This strong and seasoned Orioles side bounced back from their first and only loss at Sandringham in round 8 with a great showing on Sunday. Blackburn had better pitching and batting on the day to protect their lead and keep the game in their favour. Now 8-1, Blackburn is in second place after Geelong, while Upwey is tied with the Royals for fourth place ahead of their trip to visit the undefeated Baycats.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 4ths
7 6
It was a close call for the Orioles, who narrowly overcame the Tigers for their fourth win. Competitive efforts on both sides made it anyone’s game, but Blackburn buckled down to get the job done. They’re now 4-4-1, while Upwey is struggling at 1-8, losing four of the past nine by just one or two runs. The Tigers will have another opportunity when they visit Geelong on Sunday, although it will be a difficult test against a top team.