Division 4 of the 2019/20 VSBL season is shaping up to be one of the strongest as a number of team look poised to go all the way early on. In East, Melbourne and Waverley Black are both 4-0 after big wins. In North West, three teams are yet to register a loss while in South, Monash University and Berwick are unbeaten but that could be broken this weekend as the two sides play each other.
Division 4 East
Waverley Wildcats Red v St Kilda Saints
Waverley Wildcats Red forfeited their Round 4 game against St Kilda Saints.
Blackburn Orioles 7 v Malvern Braves 16
It was an intriguing contest between these two sides, before Malvern cracked the bats a bit more in the bottom of the third, collecting seven runs in the dig.
At that stage, the Braves had got out to a 9-4 lead but the Orioles couldn’t get as many runs as their opponents had, Malvern adding another seven across the final two innings.
Malvern won their second match of the season and face the Farmers next week, whereas Blackburn face the 4-0 Waverley Black.
Monash University Farmers 5 v Melbourne Demons 12
Melbourne are 4-0 and on top of the ladder after downing Monash Uni who still have the one win that came back in Round 1.
Monash play Malvern in Round 5 and Melbourne will want to create a chance to go 5-0 after facing St Kilda.
Waverley Wildcats Black 12 v Fitzroy Lions Gold 3
Fitzroy were forced to play catch-up from the start as Waverley Black got on top early, batting in seven runs in the first dig of the game, a result that they know to defend too.
Another three runs in the second to the Wildcats saw the score creep out to 10-0 before Fitzroy were finally on the board in the bottom.
The Wildcats only allowed Fitzroy to score three runs, and in one-run digs too proving their defence stacks up and is a big contributor to them being 4-0. It was Fitzroy’s first loss of the season.
Division 4 North West
Fitzroy Lions Blue 5 v Fitzroy Lions Maroon 15
In a battle between two Fitzroy teams, Maroon left it until the final two innings to put their foot down and drive in the runs.
13 of Maroon’s 15 runs came in the third and fourth innings after it was 2-2 heading into the bottom of three.
Fitzroy Blue got on a roll in the fourth but managed three, until Maroon got a hold of more pitches in good spots and quick baserunning.
Maroon remain 3-0 while Blue will want to recoup with the bye this weekend to come out firing after the break.
Essendon Bombers 0 v Footscray Bulldogs Blue 13
A five-run first inning and six-run fourth was more than enough to see the result favour Footscray Blue.
That offence, coupled with keeping the Bombers to no runs improved Blue’s record to 2-2 while Essendon Bombers are without a win in three games.
Footscray Bulldogs White 4 v Mitchell Majors Yellow 3
Footscray White are off to a hot start at 4-0 but it wasn’t without a scare as Mitchell Majors led all the way up until the sixth inning after scoring two in the first.
Bulldogs White took three runners to the plate in the top of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead, leaving Mitchell Majors Yellow with a task that wasn’t impossible.
However, Mitchell Majors Yellow managed just one run and took a loss and have a tough assignment against Fitzroy Maroon in Round 5. Footscray White don’t have it easy either when they’ll play North Coburg Gold, another undefeated squad in what is sure to be a fantastic matchup.
Essendon Jets 2 v Footscray Bulldogs Red 16
Handy innings all across the board from Footscray Red in reply to Essendon’s one to start the game.
The most runs (seven) came from the fourth inning when the game was dusted but they’ll be looking to do the same when travelling to Essendon for a clash with the Bombers.
The 11th-placed Jets will want to win against ninth-placed North Coburg Maroon when they meet in the next round.
North Coburg Rebels Maroon 6 v Mitchell Majors Black 3
Mitchell Majors Black scored three runs in the second inning after giving up one run in the first inning to North Coburg Maroon.
Rebels Maroon had three of their own in the next dig after and took a bigger lead with another two runs in the fourth.
The win was Maroon’s first win of the season and will feel good about making that two in a row after playing Essendon Jets. Mitchell Majors Black continue their season against Footscray Blue.
North Coburg Rebels Gold v BYE
Division 4 South
Pakenham Pumas 7 v Moorabbin Panthers 12
In a game where neither team had had a win yet, there were some brilliant displays of hitting. Pakenham got on the board in their first dig, up 2-0 heading into the Panthers’ first dig.
Moorabbin, sensing a challenge, put in seven of their own to create a big lead after just one inning.
The second inning saw no activity from either team in terms of runs but Pakenham were up for the challenge, bringing in five runs to make the scores even yet again.
Holding out Moorabbin for their third dig, the score was even at middle four, until Moorabbin closed out the game with five of their own in the bottom of the fourth and didn’t allow the Pumas any chance to steal the win away from them.
Monash University Farmers 12 v Ormond Glenhuntly 8
Monash University’s win over Ormond Glenhuntly and Berwick’s bye allowed the Farmers to overtake the Cougars to claim first place on the ladder after Round 4.
Ormond Glenhuntly put up a good fight but the Famers have been good this season and has set up a mouth-watering clash with Berwick this weekend. Ormond face Moorabbin who’ll each be searching to add to their one win this season.
Berwick City Cougars v BYE