There will be some close competitions in the final few rounds of the 2019/20 VSBL Women's Division 1, 2 and 3 seasons. Springvale and Doncaster are separated by just one game in Women's Division 1 and 2, while in Women's Division 3 East, the top two teams fought it out but it was Moorabbin who prevailed with a big margin over Melbourne. Bonbeach Blue and Cheltenham both have 10 wins in the South conference but the top four could still change dramatically, while in the West Sunshine remains clear on top, especially after a huge win over Geelong White.
Women's Division 1 - Round 17
Essendon Bombers 11 v Footscray Bulldogs 1
A huge nine-run fourth inning was the catalyst for the Bombers big win over Footscray on the weekend, the final result also reflecting the exact same score the last time these teams met in round 14.
The fourth inning saw the margin stretch to 10-0 for the away side, as Essendon's first run coming in the opening dig.
The Bulldogs scored one run at the bottom of the fourth for their only score of the game, however the Bombers took that back the very next dig and Footscray was unable to respond at the bottom.
Essendon's reliable pitchers gave up only five hits, all singles, on the day, with Footscray's Morgan Doty and Abbey McLellan collecting three and two hits respectively.
The loss to the Bulldogs sees them sitting fourth at 0-15-1 before playing Doncaster while the Bombers are away to Springvale for a midweek game, currently sitting third at 7-7-2.
Doncaster Dragons 4 v Springvale Lions 1
Doncaster upset first place Springvale in a low-scoring game that has brought the Dragons within a game of overtaking the Lions.
The Dragons hadn't secured a proper win since round 10 but they are happy to improve to a 10-3 record while Springvale sits at 11-3-2.
Amy McCann, head coach of the Women's Division 1 team at Doncaster, was pleased with her team's performance. "Another stellar outing on the mound for Bronwyn Gell who went the full distance of 7 innings, only gave up six hits and struck out four," McCann said. "Bronwyn is one of the best middle infielders in the world, and now is showing what she can do on the hill. It is amazing to watch."
Doncaster produced enough offense to back up Gell's great pitching against a strong competitor. "With the bat, we were solid from top to bottom with Samantha Hamilton and Jamie Bastian leading the way, and Rebecca Wright is revelling in the 1s since her call up before Christmas," McCann said. "We didn't go into the game thinking we were playing 'the top team.' We knew coming in that it has been pretty tight overall between Doncaster and Springvale this season having had drawn two, lost two and won one against them. And I think both clubs have a lot of respect for each other. You know that you have to bring your A+ game to take the win."
The Dragons are looking ahead to finals with the end of the season not far off, and they will continue to work hard as a team in the coming weeks. "We have our own team processes, both mentally and physically, that we use during the week and on game day and this is focused on our team. The girls really executed." McCann added. "To think we are now 2W-2L-2D against each other, with one regular season to go against them and then finals. It is exciting!"
McCann hopes this determination could help Doncaster go far in finals. "We are feeling great and are really enjoying our baseball! The girls amaze me with their intensity every week as it has been a long season, with repetitious rounds, but they have never lost focus and now with finals in sight, they are really amping it up across every area of their trainings, overall preparations, and game days."
This game marked Springvale's second loss of the season and the Lions will do everything to keep top spot when they come up against a red-hot Essendon this Wednesday night while Doncaster takes on Footscray in hopes of continuing a successful season.
Women's Division 2 - Round 15
Wheelers Hill Warriors 10 v Footscray Bulldogs 11
Footscray walked it off in the sixth inning to take this game after falling behind at the top of the sixth.
The Bulldogs got out to a 9-2 lead after three inning, thanks to three in the first and six in the third, compared to one for the Warriors in both the first and the third.
However, Wheelers Hill would quickly claim the lead as the team scored the next eight runs of the game, helped by a five-run effort in the sixth that allowed them to take a one-run lead.
Unfortunately for the away side, they couldn't hang on as Footscray scored two.
It was the Bulldog's fifth win of the season and confirms their spot in the top four now with a look ahead to Doncaster coming up. For the Warriors, they're still sitting third and will face Essendon this week.
Doncaster Dragons 3 v Springvale Lions 6
Springvale is now within a game of first place Doncaster with a good win on the weekend.
Jessica Adkins-Barber, Mandi Avent and Lillian Bell-Tanner helped Springvale's efforts as the Lions got a crucial win.
Springvale's last loss came back in round 12 against Wheelers Hill, and the Lions will look to continue their winning ways and try to claim top spot in this weekend's game at Fitzroy, while the Dragons will want to get back onto the winner's list against Footscray after losing their first game of the season.
Essendon Bombers 19 v Fitzroy Lions 15
This was a high-scoring contest where both sides scored in each section of the box score ended as Essendon just edged Fitzroy.
Back-to-back seven-run digs from the Bombers was what they needed to get things going at the start as the Lions scored five and three in the same time.
Essendon added five runs onto the score in the third inning before the Lions made a small comeback but ended their account with seven runs.
This result was Essendon's second win of the season, the first one coming in round 10 meaning the team has now broken a four-game losing streak which puts them tied on wins with Fitzroy.
The Lions continue their seven-game losing streak and face tough opposition this weekend in Springvale while for the Bombers, they take on Wheelers Hill, looking to get off the bottom of the ladder with a win.
Women's Division 3 East - Round 15
Moorabbin Panthers 18 v Melbourne Demons 2
Back-to-back seven-run digs across the fifth and sixth innings for Moorabbin broke the game open as the scoreline ballooned out to a big win.
The Panthers led 4-1 after three innings until they started going all out, with the Demons scoring just one more in the fifth.
The Demons took just their second loss of the season, the last coming in round eight as they had a six-game win streak snapped with this game. Moorabbin has won the past four, scoring double-digit runs in each of those games, to sit within a game of Melbourne on the ladder.
Melbourne is 9-2 now and Moorabbin is 8-3 ahead of this weekend, when the Panthers face Mulgrave and the Demons play Springvale.
Back-to-back seven-run digs across the fifth and sixth innings for Moorabbin broke the game open as the scoreline ballooned out to a big win.
The Panthers led 4-1 after three innings until they started going all out, with the Demons scoring just one more in the fifth.
The Demons took just their second loss of the season, the last coming in round eight as they had a six-game win streak snapped with this game. Moorabbin has won the past four, scoring double-digit runs in each of those games, to sit within a game of Melbourne on the ladder.
Melbourne is 9-2 now and Moorabbin is 8-3 ahead of this weekend, when the Panthers face Mulgrave and the Demons play Springvale.
Doncaster Dragons 17 v Mulgrave Rebels 5
Doncaster had a huge win for back-to-back victories, taking care of the Rebels on the weekend.
The Dragons improved their record to 7-5 while the Rebels slipped to 1-8. Doncaster has a bye this weekend while Mulgrave plays Moorabbin.
Springvale Lions v BYE
Springvale is safe in the top four with two rounds to go, thanks to a 4-7 record in fourth place. Next up for Springvale is a road game at Melbourne.
Women's Division 3 South - Round 15
Bonbeach Bluejays Blue 16 v Berwick City Cougars 1
Bonbeach Blue has kept top spot with a big win over Berwick.
The Cougars are clinging onto fourth place, only ahead of Pakenham White on runs for. Both sides are 5-6, while Bonbeach Blue is enjoying a 10-1 record ahead of Cheltenham, the team they play in the last regular season game of the season. But first the Bluejays are prepping for Sandringham, while
Bonbeach Blue will play Sandringham this weekend while Berwick plays the other Bonbeach team, Bluejays White.
Sandringham Royals 5 v Cheltenham Rustlers 4
In a tight game, the home side just couldn't get past the Royals in the final inning as they scored one in the sixth, ultimately falling short by a run.
The first inning ended with an even 2-2 scoreline but Sandringham got out to a 5-2 lead after bringing three runs in in the third to the Rustlers' one at the bottom.
The next game for second place Cheltenham will be Pakenham Black as the Rustlers look to build on their 10-2 record while for 8-4 Sandringham, there's a big game ahead against Bonbeach Blue.
Pakenham Pumas White 21 v Pakenham Pumas Black 15
A high-scoring contest between the two Pakenham sides resulted in White edging ahead due to three innings with seven runs apiece.
Pakenham Black kept the pace for majority of the game with seven and six in the first two innings but fell away in the third when they scored only two runs.
Megan Bell, Johanna Boyle and Jessica Moulding helped the White team's efforts, while Melissa Atkins, Megan Barth and Annie Carter aided Pakenham Black.
Pakenham White almost did enough to overtake Berwick and sneak into fourth place but they are behind on runs, something they won't have a chance to change this weekend as they have the bye. Pakenham Black play Cheltenham next.
Bonbeach Bluejays White v BYE
Bonbeach White has a 2-9 record with two rounds to play.
The Bluejays will take on Berwick at home in the upcoming fixture as they look to end the season on a high.
Women's Division 3 West - Round 15
North Western Titans 9 v Fitzroy Lions 10
Fitzroy won a close one against North Western Titans as the result sees the two sides equal with a 5-5-1 record meaning each of their positions within the top four could change. Currently, the Titans are ahead on runs for, having scored 145 compared to 118 runs for Fitzroy.
Michelle Anderson, Amy Burnham, Bridget Byrne made a difference for Fitzroy.
The Lions have the bye next week which will work in the Titans favour however, they take on the might of Sunshine.
Geelong Baycats White 0 v Sunshine Eagles 21
Sunshine was in full control, proving once again why the Eagles at the top of the standings in this division.
The Eagles scored seven runs in each of their seven digs, all the while shutting Geelong White out of the contest. Pitcher Andrea McKenner pitched a perfect game for Sunshine, helping to improve the team's record to 11-1.
The two sides will play North Western Titans and Geelong Blue this weekend, respectively.
Geelong Baycats Blue v BYE
Geelong Blue had the bye but their standing prior to the round hasn't changed as they remain in second place with a look towards a game against fellow Geelong side, Baycats White in the next round. At 6-5-1, Geelong will look to keep up the winning momentum.