VSBL Women's Division 1, 2 and 3 continue to impress as teams look to wrap up the year on a strong note before the summer break. There's just one weekend of VSBL women's baseball left in 2019 as teams try and get the job done while enjoying fantastic competition.
Women's Division 1 - Round 12 (Midweek Games)
Essendon Bombers 4 v Springvale Lions 15
This was a game that gathered plenty of scoring opportunities but it was Lions who capitalised most as they responded to the Bombers two-run top inning to start the game.
That response included five runs at the bottom for Springvale, however Essendon bounced back with another two runners coming home. By the end of the inning Springvale still led, now with a score of 8-4. From there on out the offense belonged to the Lions, as they scored one more in the first and another three in both the fifth and the sixth.
Springvale collected a total of 16 hits on the day, with three players recording three hits. Lili Cavanagh had two doubles and a single, while Maddy Patrick had one extra-base hit and two singles. Ayumi Ikeyama has a nice hitting streak going on after three singles. Teammates Kelly Manzie and Siobhan Stephenson had two singles each, while Sinead Flanigan and Emily Devine both doubled. Shae Lillywhite also had a hit and two walks to support Springvale's offensive efforts.
The Lions looked good, finishing strongly as they cruised to their ninth win of the season. Ikeyama covered two innings with no hits allowed and three strikeouts after Manzie started the game. She gave up five hits to Essendon across four innings with four runs allowed - three of them earned - and four strikeouts.
Springvale has a 9-2-1 record while Essendon is 4-6-2 going into the next round.
Footscray Bulldogs - FORFEIT v Doncaster Dragons 0
Women's Division 1 - Round 13 (Saturday Games)
Essendon Bombers 19 v Doncaster Dragons 4
The Bombers have announced themselves in the competition in a big way since winning one game in the first seven rounds, beating Doncaster by 15 runs in their Saturday matchup.
This is Essendon's best performance of the year, and the second time in just a few weeks that the Bombers have scored more than 15 runs. Essendon beat Footscray 16-3 in round 11.
Kayla Adams, Allie Bebbere, Jasmine Bentley and Emma Davenport helped Essendon rack up the runs, with contributions up and down the lineup making a huge difference.
Essendon has won two of the last three and now has a 5-6-2 after 13 rounds whereas the Dragons have dropped two games behind Springvale to sit second with a 8-3-2 record.
In their next fixture, the last one before the break, Doncaster hosts Springvale in a top-two clash while Essendon hosts Footscray.
Springvale Lions 10 v Footscray Bulldogs 4
This game started quietly, but it wasn't long before the Lions turned things up a notch. Springvale got out to a handy six run lead after scoring five in the third before Footscray made it a game when the Bulldogs scored four in their following three digs.
With the Lions holding onto a 6-4 lead going into the top of the seventh, their experienced lineup brought the bats out once more to ensure four runs crossed the plate. Springvale then shut the Bulldogs out in the bottom to secure the win.
Springvale had 13 hits in total on the day, with Lili Cavanagh extending her hitting streak to eight games with a double and two singles. Kelly Manzie, Emily Devine and Hanami Campitelli all had two singles in the game, while Sinead Flanigan doubled and Shae Lillywhite singled. Siobhan Stephenson and Ayumi Ikeyama also had base hits to help out the Lions.
Gabby Bevan pitched six innings for the Lions, giving up nine hits and four runs - three of them earned - with three strikeouts. Cavanagh filled in for the last inning, a quiet pitching appearance that allowed Springvale to come away with the victory.
Springvale has won four in a row and is two games clear on top with a 10-2-1 record as the Lions prepare to travel to Doncaster for the final game of 2019. Footscray will be searching for a win before the break when the Bulldogs contest against Essendon.
Women's Division Two - Round 11
Essendon Bombers 3 v Wheelers Hill Warriors 12
Essendon got runs on either side of the game but could never recover from the Warriors' seven-run dig in the first.
A further five runs through the second to fourth innings saw the lead extend to double digits before the Bombers scored two in the fifth.
Essendon currently as a 1-10 record while Wheelers Hill is in third place at 5-4 before playing Footscray and Springvale, respectively.
Springvale Lions 18 v Fitzroy Lions 3
Some early bursts of offence helped Springvale gain a nice four-run lead after two innings but it was the fourth and fifth innings that did the most damage - seven runs in each.
Fitzroy cut the early lead in half with two in the third before the lineup faced the mammoth task in the fifth where they only scored one.
Fitzroy is 2-9 and off to play Doncaster this upcoming weekend, while 9-1 Springvale faces Wheelers Hill.
Doncaster Dragons 15 v Footscray Bulldogs 12
A Doncaster lineup featuring the likes of Maddy Davis, Keeley Harrison and Michelle Love got the job done, despite a great effort from Footscray. This was a close game but it finished with the Dragons extending their winning streak to 10 games.
The Dragons will be hoping they can go into the break with an 11-0 when facing Fitzroy this weekend. Footscray carries a 3-6 record into an away game at Essendon.
Women's Division Three East - Round 11
Springvale Lions 4 v Melbourne Demons 15
The Demons have continued their strong season, adding another win to their now 8-1 record.
The fourth-placed Lions saw a slight lead as they got their account going with two runs in the first and tied things up again in the second as the Demons scored three in their first dig.
Melbourne scored in each of their innings as the lead grew, highlighted by five runs in the fourth. Melbourne enjoys an extended break due to a bye next round but for the 3-5 Lions, they host Mulgrave in round 12.
Mulgrave Rebels 1 v Moorabbin Panthers 21
A large margin has put Moorabbin ahead of Doncaster on the ladder, sitting second with a considerable runs for tally. The Panthers have scored 95 runs while giving up only 63 so far.
The Panthers relied on three consecutive seven-run innings for their total score, with the Rebels' lone run coming through in the third. The fourth and five innings were much quieter to wrap the game up with neither side scoring.
Caitlin Bann, Janelle Campbell, Ruby Dale and the rest of the hardworking Panthers will hope to make it two in a row before the first half of the season concludes when they take on Doncaster in round 12. That matchup between Moorabbin and Doncaster will see one of those teams finish in second ahead of the break, while Mulgrave prepares to play Springvale.
Doncaster Dragons v BYE
Doncaster faces Moorabbin in a top-three matchup in Round 12, both teams at 5-3 so the Dragons will be feeling refreshed after the bye to overtake the Panthers.
Women's Division Three South - Round 11
Pakenham Pumas Black 10 v Bonbeach Bluejays Blue 14
Bonbeach Blue got the job done in two and a half innings as two seven-run innings proved enough, even after Pakenham Black mounted a late charge.
The Pumas were on the back foot early after scoring four in the first two innings before a big offensive display saw them score six runs but still fall short of the target.
Jessica Brown, Fiona Glover, Bronwyn James and Joanne Myers helped Bonbeach to the win as the entire team came together to make win number seven a reality.
Bonbeach Blue has just the one loss this season and will want to keep it that way with a game against Pakenham White at home. Pakenham Black has a bye this week as the Pumas start their break early.
Pakenham Pumas White 2 v Sandringham Royals 17
Pakenham White scored the first run of the game but it was the Royals who were on top after that.
After scoring seven at the bottom of one, the following three innings produced 10 runs for Sandringham to counter the Pumas one extra in the fourth.
Each team is now 4-4; the Royals play Bonbeach White next weekend while Pakenham White is playing Bonbeach Blue.
Cheltenham Rustlers 21 v Bonbeach Bluejays White 0
Three consecutive seven-run innings was plenty for Cheltenham to take a commanding win over Bonbeach White.
Carolyn Allen, Josie Broad, Pia Dunkley and the rest of the Rustlers had a great day at the plate and out on the field.
The shut-out win to the Rustlers ensured they kept their top spot with a 8-1 record ahead of next round's game against Berwick. Bonbeach White will host Sandringham.
Berwick City Cougars v BYE
The third-placed Cougars will be fresh from the bye and out to improve on their five wins for the year when they take on Cheltenham in the next round.
Women's Division Three West - Round 11
North Western Titans 10 v Sunshine Eagles 14
In Sunshine, the Eagles win was enhanced by big offensive offerings, led by four in the first, adding another 10 during the third and fourth innings.
For the Eagles, Andrea McKenner and Kat Salkovic each hit in-the-park home runs.
The Titans remained close but fell short in the sixth inning, seeing the Eagles improve to 8-1 and despite this week's bye, Sunshine will remain on top through the new year with some breathing room. The Titans host Baycats White in round 12.
(Photo: Sally Hand/Sunshine Baseball Club Facebook)
Geelong Baycats White 12 v Geelong Baycats Blue 14
In the battle of the Baycats, Blue proved victorious with White continuously pressing with a late surge.
It was a 7-1 lead to Blue after two complete innings as White scored five in the third but that effort was outdone by Blue who recorded seven at the bottom.
White would go on to score six in the fourth for a narrow loss as they sit at 0-8-1, hoping to end the year on a high against North Western Titans. Baycats Blue host Fitzroy in the upcoming round.
Fitzroy Lions v BYE
Fitzroy had the bye however the fourth-placed Lions will come out strong against Baycats Blue this weekend.