Round four of the 2019/20 VSBL Division 2 season saw two 3-0 teams go head-to-head with Port Melbourne prevailing over Williamstown for a 4-0 record alongside Moorabbin. Malvern and Moorabbin lead both the reserves and the thirds. The Panthers and the Williamstown Wolves are the teams to beat in the fourths as well. The competition thus far has set the scene for a fantastic and intense Division 2 season.
Good luck to all teams and players in round five!
Division 2 Firsts
2 0
Port Melbourne kept Williamstown scoreless as they improved their record to 4-0 on the back of a 2-0 win on Sunday.
The Mariners two runs came early courtesy of a Darryl George home run to left field.
Pitcher Billy Parsons-Balotelli was brilliant on the hill throwing 12 strikeouts to come away with a complete shutout game.
3 9
Doncaster travelled to face Mulgrave and took a 9-3 loss. Although the Dragons collected 10 hits on the day - two apiece for Nic Unland, Derek Medlin and Dakota Gibson, they stranded a number of runners and struggled to capitalise on scoring opportunities.
Mulgrave recorded 14 hits, with three to import Zeke Howie and two base hits each for Anthony White, Liam Richardson and Riley O'Shea.
It means Doncaster are 0-4, while Mulgrave finally got on the winner’s list after Round 4.
1 16
Eight runs in each of the first two innings for Werribee was enough of a lead to hold onto as they ran away 16-1 victors.
A great defensive display from the Giants held Preston from scoring within the first six innings until the Pirates got one across in the seventh.
It was a great defensive play from Preston though too, not allowing any runs to Werribee after the second inning.
Justin Gil drove in six on two hits, driving in runs on a home run in the first and a triple in the second.
Werribee got things started in the first inning when an error scored one run for the team before scoring a further seven to finish the first inning.
Werribee put up eight runs in the second inning. Werribee big bats were led by Gil, Ryan Balzer, Andrew Christou, Jon Lowe, and Andrew Maki, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.
Trent Pantalleresco pitched Werribee to victory. He surrendered zero runs on one hit over three innings, striking out six. Wesley DeJong threw four innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Ben Donnell took the loss for Preston. He allowed four hits and eight runs over two-thirds of an inning, striking out three.
Werribee collected 14 hits. Maki, Christou, Gil, and R.Balzer all had multiple hits for Werribee Giants. Maki led Werribee with four hits in four at bats. Werribee was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Gil had the most chances in the field with ten.
Preston collected six hits on the day. Glenn Farrel and Mitchell Legge all managed multiple hits for Preston.
4 0
Photo: Bonbeach Bluejays Baseball Club - Facebook
A tight game all the way through ultimately fell in favour of Malvern who won 4-0 against Bonbeach.
Single runs in the third and sixth meant it was still anyone’s game but with two runs coming across home plate in the ninth, Bonbeach had some catching up to do at the bottom.
The Bluejays couldn’t get a run in due to a collective effort of defence from the Braves across the entire game as they are still searching for their first win of the year. Malvern collected seven hits on the day, with Mitch Kennedy and Jarryd Dale smashing doubles. Bonbeach's Jim Crowe had a double and Tomomi Tokubo had two base hits, although he couldn't come around to score.
13 2
Moorabbin took the win in this game over St Kilda, 13-2.
Although the Saints had two hits apiece from Roland Curiel and Eduardo Escalona, they struggled to score against this determined Panthers side.
Moorabbin have continued their dream start at 4-0 and have the biggest runs for in the Division 2 firsts with 46 for and only 13 against. Meanwhile St Kilda posted their equal-lowest runs total and have just the one win thus far, something they will be hoping to change in the coming weeks.
Division 2 Seconds
0 19
Mulgrave had their first win of the season, collecting 19 runs in a dominant game against Doncaster.
The Dragons couldn’t produce a single run and dropped to ninth while the Rebels powered up the ladder from last to seventh on the back of this result, their first win of the season.
5 6
Port Melbourne gave up their lead in the last inning of the game, allowing Williamstown to overtake them for a final score of 6-5 the Wolves way. Williamstown is 3-1 while Port Melbourne is close behind at 2-2.
15 1
Malvern scored at least one run in each of their innings, winning 15-1 over Bonbeach.
The Bluejays got their run in the bottom of the sixth, when the score was already a 15-run lead to the Braves.
Malvern are yet to have a loss this season as the teams play each other again next weekend.
7 3
Moorabbin won this contest against St Kilda 7-3 in the first of a three-game series.
Moorabbin remain on top of the ladder after also winning the first three games of the season while St Kilda are fourth at 2-2.
4 4
The 4-4 result was impressive from both sides as they left their big hitting to the very last inning and split the points in an even contest.
It was a great defensive effort from Werribee throughout this matchup, keeping Preston to no runs in the first six innings, keeping their one-run lead they got in the second close.
Preston, knowing the game was close to ending, gave their complete effort to come back in the seventh and final inning of the game. They did just that with four runs coming over the plate, leaving the Giants on the backfoot.
The Giants, stepping up to the challenge promptly took a careful approach to the game with the intent to score. Werribee scored three before Preston got to the final out, the game finishing in a draw.
Werribee drew for the second time this season as they haven’t had a clear win yet but will be hopeful next week against Preston once again.
Division 2 Thirds
2 21
Preston had their power hitting on show against Werribee, beating the Giants 21-2.
Werribee scored two runs in the final dig of the game, as the Pirates kept increasing their scoring prowess.
8 5
Port Melbourne got out to a three-run lead early on in the game but were worn down by Williamstown as the Wolves got the 8-5 win, evening their record to 2-2.
3 4
Doncaster held on to win a close one against Mulgrave, 4-3.
Mulgrave are 0-4 for the start of the season and play Doncaster again next weekend.
2 22
Bonbeach scored the first run of the game in the first dig of the game but it was all Malvern from there, eventually completing the game with a 22-2 win.
Malvern scored the bulk of their runs in the bottom of the first when 12 runs got marked down in the scorebook.
It was tighter from both teams in the following two innings, Malvern adding one run to their score in the second inning.
Bonbeach entered the fourth inning down by 12 runs, however they were able to only add one to their total themselves.
The Braves found themselves digging in for another quality dig at the bottom of the fourth that saw a further nine runners come home.
4 6
Division 2 Fourths
7 6
Williamstown got the win over Geelong in a game that was decided by one run, the Wolves winning 7-6.
Both sides hadn’t had a loss this season heading into the game, but the standings now read a 4-0 start to Williamstown while Geelong aren’t too far behind with a 3-1 record.
5 7
Moorabbin had a 7-5 win over St Kilda to remain in first on the ladder, a position they’ve held since Round 1. The Saints are in the middle of the bunch with a 2-2 record, something they will look to build upon in round five and beyond.
11 9
Mulgrave were able to grind out a win against Doncaster in this game, beating the Dragons 11-9.
The two sides were previously without a win, so the Rebels now have a positive number in the wins column.
Werribee Giants v Preston Pirates
Preston defeated Werribee due to a forfeit on Sunday from the Giants.