There were some powerful hitting displays across VSBL Women's Division 1, 2 and 3 this weekend as teams now have a well-deserved break. In Division 1, the top teams couldn't be split as Springvale has the edge over their competition while in Division 2, Doncaster kept an unbeaten streak alive, extending the Dragons' winning run to 11 straight games!
Women's Division 1 - Round 14
Footscray Bulldogs 1 v Essendon Bombers 11
Essendon won comprehensively against Footscray in this matchup, Abbey Kelly needing a single to enforce the mercy rule. However, Kelly went plenty better and hit an in-the-park grand slam to get her team across the line.
Essendon ends the year with a 6-6-2 record sitting third while Footscray will be hungrier next year as going into the break in fourth place with a 0-13-1 record. In the first games back for these teams, the Bombers host Springvale while the Bulldogs host Doncaster.
Springvale Lions 8 v Doncaster Dragons 8
The battle of the top-two in this division certainly lived up to expectations! Springvale and Doncaster couldn't be separated as the game finished at eight-all.
The Lions finish the year in first place with a 10-2-2 record whereas second-placed Doncaster hold a 8-3-3 record. In the first round back next year, Springvale will travel to Essendon while the Dragons take on Footscray.
Women's Division 2 - Round 12
Fitzroy Lions 5 v Doncaster Dragons 14
Doncaster keep going from strength to strength and have rounded up the year with a big win over Fitzroy.
The win to the Dragons sees them take an 11-0 record into the break and will come back to face Wheelers Hill when games resume next month. Fitzroy have ended the year in fifth with a 2-10 record but will be preparing well for a clash with Footscray in Round 13.
Springvale Lions 3 v Wheelers Hill Warriors 4
A three-run first inning score to Wheelers Hill was what set these teams apart in the end as the Lions kept pressing, hoping to turn the tables and take a lead.
Springvale's only lead came when their first dig was complete where they scored one run.
After the second inning when the Warriors scored a run, the margin was three. Springvale managed to get more runs added but couldn't turn it into something bigger, netting singles in the fourth and sixth innings.
The Wheelers Hill win sees them in third with a 7-4 record while Springvale sit second at 9-2, those two losses coming within the last three weeks. Springvale play Essendon when the competition resumes whereas the Warriors will travel to Doncaster.
Footscray Bulldogs 7 v Essendon Bombers 6
A great spectacle from each of these teams as Footscray claimed their fourth win of the season.
In a tight contest, the Bombers were assisted well by Gee Bolt hitting an in-the-park home run and Robyn Fraser rounding to third for one of the team's hits on the day.
Essendon finish the year in sixth with a 1-11 record while the Bulldogs are fourth at 4-7. After the break, Footscray take on Fitzroy and the Bombers host Springvale.
Women's Division 3 East - Round 12
Doncaster Dragons 2 v Moorabbin Panthers 15
Moorabbin have breezed through this game with the Dragons on their way to their sixth win of the year.
Each team were 5-3 heading into the matchup however now the Panthers have a little breathing room, sitting second with Doncaster in third. Doncaster hosts Melbourne next up while Moorabbin host Springvale.
Mulgrave Rebels 1 v Springvale Lions 22
A huge win to Springvale as they took care of Mulgrave to end the year on a high after going down in their two games prior.
The Lions now sit fourth with a 4-5 record ahead of a matchup with Moorabbin while the 1-7 Rebels will have an extended break as they have a bye.
Melbourne Demons v BYE
Melbourne had the bye in the final round of the year but will be returning to take on Doncaster in Round 13.
The Demons have held onto first place since the start of the season, their 8-1 record a showing of their capabilities, that one loss coming in Round 7 against Doncaster which was a one-run margin.
Women's Division 3 South - Round 12
Pakenham Pumas White 4 v Bonbeach Bluejays Blue 25
Constant big run-scoring innings from Bonbeach Blue were the highlight of this game as back-to-back seven-run digs to open their game already gave them a sizeable lead before a further five and six runs in the third and fourth innings respectively drew the margin out.
Pakenham White were able to get runs on the board too but not to the degree that the Bluejays had, the Pumas leading briefly as their first dig came to a close, up 2-0.
Single runs to Pakenham White in the second and third doubled their first inning score but the Pumas just couldn't contain the consistent batting power from Bonbeach Blue.
Bonbeach Blue sits second with a 8-1 record, that one loss from Round 3 and will stay in that position even after the first set of games back as they have the bye. Pakenham White are 4-5 and fifth and take on Cheltenham when the competition comes back.
Berwick City Cougars 7 v Cheltenham Rustlers 19
Some big hitting was on display as both teams displayed run-scoring capabilities. When each side got starts, it transitioned into plenty of runs for their respective digs.
Cheltenham held the edge for majority of the game, notching up 13 runs across the first two innings while being able to shut out the Cougars.
Berwick managed seven runs in a complete fourth innings for them however Cheltenham did what they had done previously and added another six to their score at the bottom.
Cheltenham are proving the team to beat, sitting first with a 9-1 record ahead of Pakenham White next round. Berwick meanwhile are third at 5-4 and will travel to Sandringham in the first round back from the break.
Sandringham Royals 20 v Bonbeach Bluejays White 5
Domination from Sandringham over Bonbeach White, at least six runs in each of their digs overpowering the Bluejays.
Seven, six and seven runs across the Royals three innings were more than enough as they restricted the Bluejays offense. Bonbeach White were able to get five runs on the board - two in the second and three in the third.
Sandringham are in the top four with a 5-4 record ahead of a meeting with Berwick when the break finishes whereas Bonbeach White hold a 1-8 record as they'll take on Pakenham Black first up next year.
Pakenham Pumas Black v BYE
Pakenham Black had the bye to end the year but will be coming to back to face Bonbeach White.
The Pumas are yet to win a game this season, sitting seventh with a 0-9 record but are hoping for a better second half of the season as they look to get their season on track.
Women's Division 3 West - Round 12
Geelong Baycats White 3 v North Western Titans 13
North Western Titans have handed Geelong White their eighth loss in a row as the Baycats finish the year in fifth place with a 0-9-1 record.
The Titans however have enjoyed some wins this season so far and sit third with a 4-4-1 record.
North Western Titans will begin the new year with a bye while Geelong White hosts Fitzroy.
Fitzroy Lions 12 v Geelong Baycats Blue 12
Geelong Blue had a chance to walk it off but fell short, promoting the game to end in a tie.
The Lions got off to a hot start, collecting five runs in their first dig as the Baycats managed one. Fitzroy added two more in the next inning, Geelong Blue closing the gap considerably after scoring four in their second dig.
In the third inning, the two sides couldn't be separated, each team adding one to their score.
At the top of the fourth, Fitzroy felt confident when they had a six-run lead, on the back of four in that dig however Geelong Blue came out with bats in hand, knowing the seven they needed for victory was achievable.
Unfortunately for the Baycats, they came up one run shy of the target and had to settle for a draw.
Baycats Blue are second with a 6-3-1 record heading into the break and will play Sunshine next up, while the Lions are 3-4-1 in fourth place and will travel to Geelong to take on Baycats White in the first round of the new year.
Sunshine Eagles v BYE
Sunshine had the bye to end the year but will be looking to improve on their 8-1 start to the season when they take on Baycats Blue in a top-two clash to begin the second half of the season.