The 2019/20 VSBL Division 4 competition continued with some friendly competition in round seven, as some of the division's strongest teams made big statements. There's still 12 games to go before playoffs and anything is possible as these Division 4 teams aim for success this season.
Division 4 East
Blackburn Orioles 2 v St Kilda Saints 22
The Saints secured their second victory on the season, while the Orioles slip to the bottom of the ladder with six losses.
St Kilda completely outplayed Blackburn by scoring big in every inning. The Saints scored at least five runs in three out of the five innings played while the Orioles only managed to put two on the board in the third inning. St Kilda's lineup featured the likes of Ian Buckle, Steven Cuthbert and Michael O'Halloran as the Saints enjoyed a massive win in their best performance so far this season.
The Orioles take on an undefeated Melbourne side at home in round eight while the Saints host Monash Uni at home.
Fitzroy Lions Gold 1 v Melbourne Demons 13
The Demons continue on their unbeaten streak and get another win, improving to 7-0 while the Lions lost their third game on the season.
The Demons scored 11 runs across four innings, with their biggest numbers coming in a six-run second and five-run fourth. Strong pitching was a big credit for Melbourne as pitchers conceded only one run in the game. Melbourne has scored 77 runs while allowing only 11 so far this year.
The Demons visit the Orioles in the next round while there is a mid-table clash with fourth place Malvern hosting fifth place Fitzroy Gold.
Waverly Wildcats Black 16 v Malvern Braves 3
The Braves came into this matchup with some momentum after winning a close game in the last round, 10-9 over Waverley Wildcats Red. Unfortunately for Malvern, the team's pitching couldn't hold up against this Waverley side, which now sits at 6-1 just behind Melbourne on the ladder.
The game was tied 3-3 after the first inning, but after that the Braves offense ran out of steam. Waverley scored two in the second, five in the fourth and six in the sixth for a total of 16 runs. Waverley was strong up and down the lineup with solid performances by Ethan Chiarotto, Vaughn Evans and Dean Ferris.
Waverley Wildcats Black face Waverley Wildcats Red in the next round while Malvern hosts the Fitzroy Lions Gold.
Monash University Farmers 6 v Waverly Wildcats Reds 6
It was a pretty evenly matched contest as there was nothing to separate both the teams after five innings. Waverley scored in every inning except for the first, while the Farmers took an early one-run lead before letting the Wildcats back in the game.
This is the second draw for the Farmers and the first for the Wildcats. Monash sits at 3-2-2 and Waverley is currently at 1-5-1.
The Farmers visit St Kilda this coming weekend while Wildcats Red plays Wildcats Black.
Division 4 North West
Essendon Jets 8 v Essendon Bombers 4
The Jets won the bragging rights in the battle of the two Essendon teams by winning their second game of the season.
It was a closely contested game with the Bombers trailing by two runs at the end of the second. The Jets extended their advantage with two more in the fourth and four runs in the final two innings.
The Jets are 2-4 and the Bombers are 1-5 going into round eight, with games scheduled against North Coburg Gold and Mitchell Majors Yellow, respectively.
Fitzroy Lions Maroon 10 v Footscray Bulldogs Blue 6
The Lions marched into this matchup, getting back-to-back wins for their fifth victory of the season.
Fitzroy had a massive start to the game, scoring eight runs across the first two innings, while the home team only managed two runs. Footscray's offense did a bit more late in the game, coming within four but it wasn't enough to cover the deficit.
The Bulldogs conceded their fourth loss of the season while the Lions stay put in third place on the ladder.
Fitzroy Maroon visits North Coburg Rebels Maroon and Footscray Blue hosts Mitchell Majors Black.
Footscray Bulldogs Red 16 v North Coburg Rebels Gold 4
Footscray Red now has a five-game winning streak after a dominant win over North Coburg Gold.
The Bulldogs relied on big at-bats from Alexander da Silva, Brendan Fanning and Shane Kinlough and more as they put up seven runs in the first. The second inning was quiet in comparison as Footscray scored just one, leading into a five-run third and a three-run fourth. The Rebels scored two in the first and the final innings, which wasn't enough to get them back in the game.
After the results of round seven, North Coburg Gold slips to fourth in the ladder with a 4-2 record, while Footscray Red stay in second at 6-1. Next up for Footscray Red is Fitzroy Lions Blue while North Coburg Gold looks for a big win at home v Essendon Jets.
Fitzroy Lions Blue 1 v Footscray Bulldogs White 9
Footscray White continues to dominate the division after recording another win to keep a perfect record intact. and maintaining their 100%-win record in the division.
The game was scoreless through two before each side put up one in the third. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that Footscray really took things up a notch, scoring six before another two came home to score in the fifth.
Fitzroy Blue sits at 2-4 before taking on Footscray Red in round eight, while Footscray White as a bye.
Mitchell Majors Yellow 11 v North Coburg Rebels Maroon 1
North Coburg Maroon has lost the last three while Mitchell Majors Yellow bounced back bigtime in this game. Mitchell Majors was ahead 5-0 after the second before tacking on six additional runs in the third. North Coburg's lone run came in the bottom of the third.
North Coburg Maroon is currently in last place at 1-6 while last year's winner Mitchell Majors Yellow is 4-3.
The Rebels play Fitzroy Maroon next and Mitchell Majors Yellow plays Essendon Bombers.
Mitchell Majors Black - BYE
Division 4 South
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 4 v Berwick City Cougars 11
The Cougars enjoyed a win thanks to solid batting performances up and down the lineup. The team scored seven runs in the bottom of the first, a great response to Ormond Glenhuntly's three runs to open the game.
The Hunters' offense dried up after that burst at the beginning of the game, as they score just one more in their last at-bats while giving up tooo many to the Cougars. It was a quiet second inning on both sides before Berwick City scored two in the third and one run in both the fourth and the fifth.
The Cougars are 5-1 and the Hunters are 2-4 before big games against Melbourne and Cheltenham, respectively.
Pakenham Pumas 1 – Cheltenham Rustlers 18
The Rustlers secured a huge win over against the Pumas, made possible by strong hitting up and down the lineup. Blake Dunkley, Sean Dunne, Dylan Hind and Lachlan Stevens got the job done alongside their teammates as Cheltenham scored 14 runs across the first two innings.
Cheltenham didn't allow Pakenham to score until the final frame. Cheltenham hosts Ormond Glenhuntly in round eight and Pakenham plays St Kilda.
St Kilda Baseball Club 1 – Monash University Farmers 11
This weekend marked another exceptional performance from the Farmers as remain unbeaten at the top of the ladder. Monash scored in every inning with a final five runs coming in the fourth.
St Kilda scored one in the fourth but that was it, as the team searches for its first win in VSBL Division 4 South.
Monash plays Moorabbin this upcoming weekend and St Kilda plays Pakenham.
Melbourne Demons 8 – Moorabbin Panthers 13
Melbourne came into this round ready to win, but Moorabbin had the upper hand in the end. While the Panthers took a 5-0 lead after two, Melbourne fired back to tie it up.
Moorabbin came back in the end to put the game out of reach in the last few innings.
Melbourne visits a strong Berwick side this weekend and Moorabbin welcomes the ladder-leaders at Monash Uni for round eight.