The 2019/20 VSBL Division 4 competition continued on Sunday with some massive round nine matchups. Melbourne and Waverley Wildcats Black lead the way in Division 4 East, while Footscray White and Footscray Red are dominating in Division 4 North West. Monash Uni and Cheltenham remain the teams to beat in Division 4 South heading into round 10.
Division 4 East
Fitzroy Lions Gold 20 v Blackburn Orioles 10
The Lions find themselves in third place on the ladder after a huge outing on Sunday, putting together two seven-run innings to put the game out of reach. Blackburn had a 5-3 lead after the first inning, but from then on out Fitzroy had the upper hand offensively. Henry Formosa-Doyle, Andy Ramirez and Sam Hill helped Fitzroy's efforts.
Seven runs in the final frame put the game completely out of reach for Blackburn, a team that is still looking for another victory after the first and only one of the season came by forfeit backed in round three.
The Orioles will be eager to string together win number two when they play Waverley Red this weekend, while the Lions are feeling confident with a 4-3-1 record ahead of Sunday's clash with Monash University.
Waverley Wildcats Red 2 v Melbourne Demons 17
The Wildcats fell short in Sunday's big game as they've suffered back-to-back losses now. Waverley Red scored two in the top of the first but that was about it for the Wildcats offensively. Melbourne put up seven runs in the bottom of the first, followed by five apiece in the second and third while keeping Waverley Red off the board.
Melbourne remains comfortable at the top of the ladder with a 9-0 record, with Waverley Black coming up in second place at 8-1. The Demons have scored 107 runs while allowing only 17 across the first nine games, a phenomenal strength they will look to carry into round 10 and beyond as they play Malvern this weekend.
Waverley Wildcats Black 6 v Monash University Farmers 5
This battle between the second place and third place teams was a close one, but Monash ultimately left the tying and winning runs on base.
Now the Farmers will look to make amends against Fitzroy Gold this weekend, while Waverley Black has an 8-1 ahead of Sunday's home game v St Kilda.
Malvern Braves 1 v St Kilda Saints 15
Justin Ramirez, Omar Gomez and AJ Chalker propelled the Saints to a huge victory, their third double-digit win in a row. Malvern drops to 3-6 and St Kilda evens things out at 4-4.
St Kilda plays Waverley Black next and Malvern heads to Melbourne.
Division 4 North West
North Coburg Rebels Maroon 5 v Fitzroy Lions Blue 6
The Rebels came oh-so-close, but Joey Filardo hit a walk-off home run in thrilling fashion for the Lions. The Rebels have lost their last five and they will hope to turn things around at home v Essendon Bombers this weekend. Fitzroy Blue takes a 3-5 record into this weekend on the road at Essendon Jets.
The Rebels came oh-so-close, but Joey Filardo hit a walk-off home run in thrilling fashion for the Lions. The Rebels have lost their last five and they will hope to turn things around at home v Essendon Bombers this weekend. Fitzroy Blue takes a 3-5 record into this weekend on the road at Essendon Jets.
Essendon Jets 3 v Footscray Bulldogs Blue 6
The Bulldogs are climbing up the ladder after evening their record at 4-4, back-to-back wins certainly helping their cause. The Jets are 2-6 now before playing Fitzroy Blue this upcoming weekend, while round 10 puts Footscray Blue v Footscray White.
Essendon Bombers 4 v North Coburg Rebels Gold 10
The Rebels are feeling good after back-to-back wins, now sitting tied for third with Fitzroy Maroon. The game was tied heading into the bottom of the fifth when the Rebels piled on six runs to get the win.
Now it's Essendon Bombers v North Coburg Maroon while Gold goes to Mitchell Majors Yellow.
Footscray Bulldogs White 7 v Fitzroy Lions Maroon 4
Footscray White put four runs up in the second, two in the fifth and one in the sixth, although the Bulldogs did let the Lions back into the game late with two runs apiece in the fifth and seventh. It wasn't enough for Fitzroy Maroon, as the team holds steady in the top four with a 6-2 record. Footscray White remains undefeated at the top with an 8-0 record, something the Bulldogs will look to protect this weekend against Footscray Blue.
Fitzroy Maroon hosts Mitchell Majors Black.
Mitchell Majors Black 0 v Footscray Bulldogs Red 13
The Red Bulldogs side has scored the most runs in the comp, with 116 scored and just 22 given up so far this season. Six of Footscray's runs in this game came in the first inning, while three followed in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth.
Mitchell Majors Black (1-7) is hoping to improve offensively going into the season's second half, with the next game at Fitzroy Maroon. Footscray Red (8-1) has a bye this week.
Mitchell Majors Yellow - BYE
Division 4 South
Moorabbin Panthers 4 v Cheltenham Rustlers 15
The Rustlers ran away with this one, taking a 9-1 lead by the end of the second and never looking back. Moorabbin's three additional runs came in the third but the Panthers still fell short.
Cheltenham has won four of five games with a draw, while Moorabbin is 3-5. Round 10 puts Moorabbin at home v St Kilda and Cheltenham on the road to Melbourne.
Melbourne Demons 14 v Ormond Glenhuntly 11
This high-scoring affair went in Melbourne's favour in the end, giving the Demons a 3-2 record while Ormond Glenhuntly falls to 2-6.
Ormond Glenhuntly will look to avoid four straight losses in round 10 v Monash University, while Melbourne hosts Cheltenham.
Monash University Farmers 22 v Pakenham Pumas 3
A huge burst of offense in the first set the stage for Monash Uni, scoring seven runs before another four came in both the second and the third.
The Farmers scored seven more runs in the fifth, although the Pumas finally got on the board in the final inning. Kyle Crutchley, Rory Gibson, Michael Hibbert and Lachlan Kibbell all helped the Farmers on their way to a 7-0-1 win.
Pakenham will look for that elusive first win against Berwick this weekend and Monash will head into a home game v Ormond Glenhuntly with more momentum.
Berwick City Cougars 6 v St Kilda Saints 10
The Saints scored four late runs to break the tie, earning a 2-3 record while the Cougars take their second loss of the season.
Berwick remains firmly in the top three going into this weekend's home game v Pakenham and St Kilda travels to Moorabbin.