Springvale has emerged as the club to beat in both the firsts and reserves of VSBL Division 3. So far the 2019/20 VSBL Division 3 has featured eight entertaining and exciting rounds, with 11 games left to go in the regular season. There's five games left before the break as teams hope to finish off the first half of the season strong.
Division 3 Firsts
Springvale Lions 15 v Pakenham Pumas 1
After this weekend the Lions continue on their unbeaten streak, improving their record to 8-0 and ending the Pumas four-game winning streak.
The Lions had an impressive overall performance, scoring four runs in both the second and third innings before two more in the fourth. A five-spot in the eighth helped the Lions close out the game in high spirits. With excellent pitching keeping things under control on the mound, the Lions could focus on batting in the runs and extending their lead.
Myles Barnden covered four scoreless innings with just two hits given up before handing the ball over to Lucas Anderson, who got the win, pitching four innings with three hits and one unearned run allowed with seven strikeouts along the way.
Pakenham's lone run came in the bottom of the seventh with the rest of the offense belonging to Springvale. Matt Cameron knocked in two on three hits - two singles and a double - while Scott Baillie also recorded an extra base hit and Anderson contributed three singles. Tim Hanson had two RBIs with three singles, while Lucas Price, Chris Davies, Rydge Hogan and Adam Thatcher also got involved in the hitting frenzy.
Springvale is in first place at 8-0 with Pakenham sitting second on the table with a 5-2-1 record, as both losses came from matchups with the Lions. Springvale visits Chelsea in round nine while Ormond Glenhuntly Gold hosts Pakenham for the coming weekend.
After this weekend the Lions continue on their unbeaten streak, improving their record to 8-0 and ending the Pumas four-game winning streak.
The Lions had an impressive overall performance, scoring four runs in both the second and third innings before two more in the fourth. A five-spot in the eighth helped the Lions close out the game in high spirits. With excellent pitching keeping things under control on the mound, the Lions could focus on batting in the runs and extending their lead.
Myles Barnden covered four scoreless innings with just two hits given up before handing the ball over to Lucas Anderson, who got the win, pitching four innings with three hits and one unearned run allowed with seven strikeouts along the way.
Pakenham's lone run came in the bottom of the seventh with the rest of the offense belonging to Springvale. Matt Cameron knocked in two on three hits - two singles and a double - while Scott Baillie also recorded an extra base hit and Anderson contributed three singles. Tim Hanson had two RBIs with three singles, while Lucas Price, Chris Davies, Rydge Hogan and Adam Thatcher also got involved in the hitting frenzy.
Springvale is in first place at 8-0 with Pakenham sitting second on the table with a 5-2-1 record, as both losses came from matchups with the Lions. Springvale visits Chelsea in round nine while Ormond Glenhuntly Gold hosts Pakenham for the coming weekend.
Chelsea Dolphins 10 v North Western Titans 9
The Dolphins extended their winning streak to three games after a close encounter with the Titans on Sunday. Chelsea is now 4-4 while North Western slips to 1-7.
North Western enjoyed a very strong start to the game, scoring nine runs across the first three innings for a 9-4 lead going into the top of the fourth. Unfortunately for the Titans, they let their 9-8 lead slip late as Chelsea came back in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs when Rhys Tippett singled on a 1-2 count.
Cameron Wilson was instrumental for North Western despite the loss, driving in four runners throughout the game with a home run in the first and singles in the second and third.
Mark Baveth grounded out to score Chelsea's first run of the game in the second inning.
Wilson and Peter Boyd led the batting chart for the Titans with three hits each.
Brendan Robinson earned the win after throwing nine innings with 14 hits and nine runs allowed along with five strikeouts.
Chelsea's Adam Cornwill, Jeffree and Tippett managed multiple hits for the Dolphins as the team gathered 14 in total. Jeffree went 4-for-5 while Chelsea also stole a total of seven bases with Trent Wilford leading the way with two.
Chelsea will host Springvale and North Western will host Ormond Glenhuntly Blue in the next round.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold 7 v Ormond Glenhuntly Blue 5
This battle of the Hunters went in favour of the Gold side after a strong finish.
Gold opened the scoring with one run in the first, but Blue answered with three in the bottom frame. Gold tacked on five runs over the next few innings, regaining the lead. Blue got two back in the final frames but they couldn't quite swing the game back in their favour.
Ormond Glenhuntly Blue is 3-4-1 and Ormond Glenhuntly Gold is 2-6 ahead of matchups with North Western and Pakenham, respectively.
Division 3 Reserves
Chelsea Dolphins 13 – North Western Titans 5
Chelsea named Matt Vagg as the team's player of the day in this big win as the Dolphins bounced back from two straight losses.
Chelsea is now in fourth place with a 3-5 record after this game, which remained close until the Dolphins broke it open with four runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth. The Titans managed to bring their run total to five in the final frame, but it wasn't enough as they remain on the hunt for their first win for the season with 0-7-1 record.
Chelsea will host ladder-leaders Springvale and North Western will host third placed Ormond Glenhuntly Blue in the next round.
Springvale Lions 8 – Pakenham Pumas 0
The Lions are back to their winning ways after a rare loss in the last round against Ormond Glenhuntly Gold. The Lions displayed a strong overall performance against the Pumas scoring in four of the seven innings without giving up a single run. The result meant a fifth loss for the Pumas for a 1-5-2 record, while the Lions are placed at the top of the ladder with a 7-1-0 record.
In the upcoming round, Springvale goes to Chelsea while the Pumas visit Ormond Glenhuntly Gold.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold 4 v Ormond Glenhuntly Blue 15
This matchup between the two Hunters sides went in favour of the Blue team which relied on big first and fourth innings to get the job done. Five runs in the first and eight runs in the fourth cemented Blue's winning status.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold is now 6-2 in second place with Ormond Glenhuntly Blue sitting in third with a 5-2-1 record.
The Dolphins extended their winning streak to three games after a close encounter with the Titans on Sunday. Chelsea is now 4-4 while North Western slips to 1-7.
North Western enjoyed a very strong start to the game, scoring nine runs across the first three innings for a 9-4 lead going into the top of the fourth. Unfortunately for the Titans, they let their 9-8 lead slip late as Chelsea came back in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs when Rhys Tippett singled on a 1-2 count.
Cameron Wilson was instrumental for North Western despite the loss, driving in four runners throughout the game with a home run in the first and singles in the second and third.
Mark Baveth grounded out to score Chelsea's first run of the game in the second inning.
Wilson and Peter Boyd led the batting chart for the Titans with three hits each.
Brendan Robinson earned the win after throwing nine innings with 14 hits and nine runs allowed along with five strikeouts.
Chelsea's Adam Cornwill, Jeffree and Tippett managed multiple hits for the Dolphins as the team gathered 14 in total. Jeffree went 4-for-5 while Chelsea also stole a total of seven bases with Trent Wilford leading the way with two.
Chelsea will host Springvale and North Western will host Ormond Glenhuntly Blue in the next round.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold 7 v Ormond Glenhuntly Blue 5
This battle of the Hunters went in favour of the Gold side after a strong finish.
Gold opened the scoring with one run in the first, but Blue answered with three in the bottom frame. Gold tacked on five runs over the next few innings, regaining the lead. Blue got two back in the final frames but they couldn't quite swing the game back in their favour.
Ormond Glenhuntly Blue is 3-4-1 and Ormond Glenhuntly Gold is 2-6 ahead of matchups with North Western and Pakenham, respectively.
Division 3 Reserves
Chelsea Dolphins 13 – North Western Titans 5
Chelsea named Matt Vagg as the team's player of the day in this big win as the Dolphins bounced back from two straight losses.
Chelsea is now in fourth place with a 3-5 record after this game, which remained close until the Dolphins broke it open with four runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth. The Titans managed to bring their run total to five in the final frame, but it wasn't enough as they remain on the hunt for their first win for the season with 0-7-1 record.
Chelsea will host ladder-leaders Springvale and North Western will host third placed Ormond Glenhuntly Blue in the next round.
Springvale Lions 8 – Pakenham Pumas 0
The Lions are back to their winning ways after a rare loss in the last round against Ormond Glenhuntly Gold. The Lions displayed a strong overall performance against the Pumas scoring in four of the seven innings without giving up a single run. The result meant a fifth loss for the Pumas for a 1-5-2 record, while the Lions are placed at the top of the ladder with a 7-1-0 record.
In the upcoming round, Springvale goes to Chelsea while the Pumas visit Ormond Glenhuntly Gold.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold 4 v Ormond Glenhuntly Blue 15
This matchup between the two Hunters sides went in favour of the Blue team which relied on big first and fourth innings to get the job done. Five runs in the first and eight runs in the fourth cemented Blue's winning status.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold is now 6-2 in second place with Ormond Glenhuntly Blue sitting in third with a 5-2-1 record.