Newport and Moorabbin take up the top two spots in Division 2 but there's still everything to play for during the remainder of the 2020/21 VSBL season.
Midweek Games (4/2/21)
Division 2 Firsts
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 2 v Doncaster Dragons 8
Simon Fitzmaurice spent four innings on the mound for Doncaster to pick up the win, giving up one hit and zero runs while striking out three. He was helped along by John Britton and Luke Utting.
On the batting side of things for the Dragons, Billy Findlay recorded three hits from four at bats that included a double. Brian Chen had two hits, as did Nicholaas Unland, making his way to second on one of those. Judah Wollenburg and Unland each collected two runs with Marcel Davoine, Chen and Findlay crossing home to score also.
St Kilda Saints 5 v Mulgrave Rebels 6
It was a nail-biting finish to this matchup against St Kilda and Mulgrave during the week with the Rebels securing the win by the smallest of margins.
Caleb Poole was on the mound for Mulgrave through 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up one hit for zero runs on his way to the win. Max Smith came on to finish things off for 1/3 of an inning, giving up one hit.
Adam Schoppe took the loss for St Kilda, giving up three hits for two runs with two strikeout across 2 and 1/3 innings. Adam Cauley and Robby Lewis combined to pitch the remaining three innings.
Mulgrave's Jayson Arthur picked up two hits for one run while Donnie Poole got on base with two hits and converted each of them into runs. Paul Rutgers had two RBIs on the night as he, Caleb Poole and Nicholas Thompson all collected a hit. Michael Morgan and Trent Watkinson scored a run each as well.
For St Kilda, Schoppe had a one-hit, one-run game, as did Thomas Snowden who also picked up an RBI. Deilyn Guzman scored two RBIs from his single hit as Rolando Curiel, Mariano Favia and Bryan Livett all scored.
Newport Rams 7 v Port Melbourne Mariners 4
Newport raced out of the blocks early, bringing in three runs in each of the first two innings to lead 6-0 before Port Melbourne knocked one in at the bottom of the third.
The Mariners followed it up with two runs in the fourth before each team scored one more in the fifth.
David Asp pitched 4 and 1/3 innings for the Rams, giving up four hits and two earned runs while striking out one. Tyler Comben saw 1 and 2/3 innings on the mound and gave up just one hit.
Ben Howard had three hits from three at bats, converting one into a score for himself while also picking up an RBI. Ryan Morrison had a two-hit, two-RBI game and Mason Wray scored a double as one of his two hits. Jared Berman came home twice with Connor Schibecci, Zac Seipolt, Nathan Smith and Keenan Spence all scoring a run.
Werribee Giants 16 v Preston Pirates 9
After a scoreless first frame, Preston broke through at the bottom of the second to take a one-run lead into the third inning. However, a massive six-run effort from Werribee shot them into a commanding position, which they were able to follow up in the fourth, adding an extra two runs.
Preston added one more to its tally at the bottom of the fourth but the Giants bats were still pumping with two more scoring. It was then the Pirates turn to go all out with the bats and they did, bringing five runs across the plate to get back into the game.
Werribee were able to counter the challenge though, recording another six at the top of the sixth, prompting Preston to need another rally like before. Unfortunately for the Pirates, they managed two runs to give the Giants the win.
Harry Garrett pitched four innings for Werribee, giving up six hits for one earned run along with two strikeouts. Trent Pantalleresco picked up the win though. Through 1 and 2/3 innings, he gave up two hits and two runs while striking out two.
Gabriel Valderrama recorded the loss for Preston as he gave up eight hits and six runs across three innings, recording two strikeouts. Nicholas Pascuzzi and Nick Djorgonoski helped out on the mound for two and one innings, respectively.
Ryan Balzer, Wade Balzer and Simon Hibbert each recorded three hits for Werribee. Andrew Christou , Samuel Reale and Pantalleresco each recorded two hits for the night. Reale scored four runs, Ryan Balzer scored three runs with two RBIs with two-run games to Hibbert, Pantalleresco and Christou, the latter adding five RBIs to his scoreline.
Ryan Golledge and Hebert Rodriguez each picked up two runs for Preston as Matt Fordham and Rodriguez came home to score twice, one of Ridriguez's being a home run. Djorgonoski, Golledge and Rodriguez each batted in two runs.
Moorabbin Panthers 3 v Williamstown Wolves 1
A low-scoring game between Moorabbin and Williamstown resulted in a win to the Panthers to keep their season going strong.
Moorabbin scored a run in the first and second innings before leading 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth where Williamstown managed its first run of the game. The remaining two innings were kept scoreless by both sides.
Michael McGallivray pitched five innings for Moorabbin to pick up the win, giving up four hits and zero earned runs among one strikeout. Christopher Nelson got the save by not giving up any runs or hits across one inning on the mound where he recorded two strikeouts.
Daniel Chircop pitched the whole seven innings for the Wolves, taking the loss after giving up seven hits and three runs among four strikeouts.
Nelson was the only Panther to record multiple hits, getting on base twice, including a double. Nicholas Bertucci and Travis Finney each had one-hit, one-run games while Adam Harris had one hit and a base on balls to come home twice.
Robert Higginson was the lone runscorer for Williamstown, Scott Meager batting him in. Aaron Green recorded two hits with Gerard Carter and Mitchell Collins with one hit each.
Weekend Games (7/2/21)
Division 2 Firsts
Williamstown Wolves 1 v Mulgrave Rebels 3
The game between Williamstown and Mulgrave went down to the wire on the weekend, the Rebels securing the winning runs at the bottom of the eighth.
Mulgrave broke through first, scoring a run at the bottom of the third and it wasn't until the top of the seventh where Williamstown drew level once more. Mulgrave didn't leave it until the last innings to get the bats going though, picking up two handy runs in the eighth to take the lead that would determine the result of the game.
Jayson Arthur pitched 7 and 1/3 innings for Mulgrave, giving up five hits and zero earned runs among three strikeouts to record the win.
Dennis Neal was on the mound for eight innings for the Wolves, recording the loss after giving up eight hits and three runs but he did have 11 strikeouts.
Nicholas Coy, Michael Morgan and Caleb Poole each had two-hit games, each picking up a double too. Riley O'Shea picked up three RBIs as Donnie Poole, Caleb Poole and Morgan crossed home for Mulgrave's runs.
Curtis Cox was the man to score Williamstown's only run of the ballgame with Carter driving him in. Robert Higginson picked up two hits while Hiroshi Narasaki, Daniel Chircop and Cox had one hit each.
Mulgrave sit comfortably in third place with a 7-4 record ahead of a meeting with Preston at home. Williamstown are 5-6 for the season and will look to compete well at home this weekend against Werribee.
Doncaster Dragons 3 v Werribee Giants 7
Werribee got the win to keep themselves inside the top four with a four-run win over Doncaster who are also knocking on the door of the top four.
Werribee had Joshua Lee on the mound for seven innings, who picked up the win after giving up four hits and three runs among three strikeouts. Trent Pantalleresco pitched the remaining two innings for three hits, zero runs and one strikeout.
Brian Chen copped the loss for Doncaster. Through five innings, he gave up six hits and two earned runs along with six strikeouts. Simon Fitzmaurice pitched three innings for one hit, zero runs and two strikeouts.
Anthony Moanaroa scored two hits for Werribee including an RBI. Oliver Box and Simon Riches had one-hit, one-run games. Pantalleresco scored twice from one hit and a base on balls with Simon Hibbert and Leigh Ashmore scoring a run.
Nicholaas Unland scored two runs for Doncaster as he picked up a double and an RBI. Billy Findlay and Chen each had an RBI single in their game while Dakota Gibson and Judah Wollenburg recorded single hits.
Werribee are at away this weekend, getting set to play Williamstown and improve the fourth-placing, 6-4-1 record. Doncaster sit fifth with a 6-5 record ahead of a home fixture against Moorabbin.
Moorabbin Panthers 9 v Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 0
It was a dominant shutout performance from Moorabbin against Ormond Glenhuntly on the weekend.
Moorabbin kicked things off with a run in the first inning before adding five runs across the fifth to seventh innings. The Panthers weren't done yet, in the ninth they had three runs cross the plate, all the while keeping the Hunters to none.
Moorabbin have remained in second place with a 9-2 record, just behind Newport, who hold the same record, on runs for. The Panthers take on Doncaster away this weekend. For Ormond Glenhuntly, an eighth-place, 4-7 record will hope to be improved this weekend as the club travel to Newport.
Port Melbourne Mariners 5 v Preston Pirates 2
Preston picked up the first run of the game in the first inning but consecutive two-run innings from Port Melbourne in the second and third gave the Mariners a slight lead.
The Pirates cut the margin by one and doubled their score in the fifth but were shut out for the rest of the game as Port Melbourne secured another run in the seventh, and another win for the season.
Nicholas Pascuzzi saw seven innings on the mound to take the loss for the Pirates. He gave up 10 hits, five runs and four base on balls. Gabriel Valderrama took over for the final two innings, giving up just one hit for zero runs.
Luke Williams, Nick Djorgonoski and Mitchell Legge picked up two hits each, the latter two players scoring each of Preston's two runs. Jaycob Pascuzzi drove in each of those runs as he had one hit for the day.
Port Melbourne is in the middle bracket of the ladder, sitting sixth with a 5-5-1 record and turn its attention to St Kilda this weekend. Preston travel to Mulgrave in search of its second win of the season and hope to get off the bottom of the ladder.
Newport Rams 22 v St Kilda Saints 0
A strong shutout performance by Newport against St Kilda all started in the first dig of the game - a monumental 18 runs scored by the Rams!
Newport added one run in the second and three runs in the seventh while keeping tits defensive unit tight to not allow and Saints runs to score.
Tyler Comben pitched five innings to pick up the win for Newport. He gave up four hits and zero runs while striking out four batters. Connor Schibecci and Nathan Smith pitched an innings each in relief.
Matthew Lawman went deep to as one of his two hits on the day that included four RBIs. Mason Wray also saw the ball sail over the fence in one of three hits for him in a game that included two runs and two RBIs. Smith hit two doubles for two runs and two RBIs while Comben also had two hits and two RBIs for one run. Schibecci scored two runs, as did Troy Malthouse and Jared Berman crossed the plate for another run to Newport's tally.
The huge score to the Rams puts them firmly at the top of the ladder on runs for, ahead of Moorabbin who has the same 9-2 record. Newport face Ormond Glenhuntly at home this weekend. St Kilda sit ninth with a 2-9 record, playing the Mariners in Port Melbourne on Saturday.
Division 2 Seconds
Williamstown Wolves 6 v Mulgrave Rebels 10
The fifth inning proved pivotal for Mulgrave as scores were tied at five-all after four innings.
Williamstown got the first runs of the day, penciling in three at the top of the second before Mulgrave pegged it back to an even contest after their third chance at the plate.
Each team scored two runs in their fourth dig with the Wolves going ahead by one run at the top of fifth before the Rebels moved ahead comfortably when they added five to their score.
Mulgrave's win sees an improved 2-4-1 record ahead of a meeting with Preston while Williamstown sit seventh with a 3-4 record with Preston to come this weekend.
Doncaster Dragons 0 v Werribee Giants 11
Werribee entered the top four with a commanding win over Doncaster on the weekend as the bats were swinging and the defensive unit were tight to not allow any Dragons to score.
Werribee next travel to Williamstown to improve a 4-1-2 record while Doncaster sit second with a 5-2 record, looking ahead to a fixture at home against Moorabbin.
Moorabbin Panthers 25 v Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 4
Moorabbin were strong all day to record a big win over Ormond Glenhuntly.
The Panthers opened their account with four runs, a margin that was cut in half as the Hunters drove in two at the bottom of the first before a scoreless second frame.
The third innings is where the Panthers did the most damage though, tallying 14 runs. Ormond Glenhuntly managed two more runs for the game - one in the third and one in the fifth - as Moorabbin continued to exert its dominance on the game with another six runs in the fifth.
Moorabbin is 6-1 for the season and are away to Doncaster this weekend while Ormond Glenhuntly are away in Newport, looking to crack into the top four and improve a 4-3 record.
Port Melbourne Mariners 6 v Preston Pirates 2
Port Melbourne got its account off to a good start with a run in the first, adding three in the fourth and two in the sixth before Preston claimed its first run in the bottom of the sixth.
Preston added one more at the bottom of the eight as they chased a five-run deficit but came up short.
It was Port Melbourne's first win of the season which takes its record to 1-6 ahead of a clash with St Kilda. Preston are still winless, going at 0-7 but hope fortunes change this week against Mulgrave.
Newport Rams 6 v St Kilda Saints 6
St Kilda did well to come back in the final inning of the game but fell one run short of claiming victory, confined to a draw against Newport.
The Rams got a run in during the first dig, before St Kilda popped up with a one-run lead after two innings, adding another in the fourth.
Newport knuckled down and banged in five runs in the sixth to take a three-run lead which was almost chased down by the Saints, instead having to settle for a draw.
Newport is still within the top four with a 4-2-1 record while St Kilda is sixth with a 3-2-2 record. The Rams are at home to Ormond Glenhuntly this weekend and St Kilda play Port Melbourne away.
Division 2 Thirds
Preston Pirates 6 v Port Melbourne Mariners 12
Preston got the game going with a run scored in the first but it was mostly Port Melbourne for the next couple of innings. The Mariners scored four and seven runs in the second and third innings respectively to put themselves in a good position and handy lead.
Preston added five more runs to their score across the third and fifth innings including a three-run fourth while each team scored one run in the sixth.
Port Melbourne is 3-4 on the season, sitting sixth and looking forward to a matchup against St Kilda this weekend. Preston is at home to Mulgrave, looking to improve a 1-6 season.
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 0 v Moorabbin Panthers 25
A huge shutout win to Moorabbin against Ormond Glenhuntly was kickstarted by a 13-run first inning. The Panthers added six in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth to take the game, not giving the Hunters an inch with the defensive unit working well together.
Moorabbin is 6-1 for this season and will take the home field advantage against Doncaster this weekend. Ormond Glenhuntly travel to Newport, searching for its second win of the season.
St Kilda Saints 2 v Newport Rams 12
Newport did all the damage early with five runs in the first and another six in the second. St Kilda scored one run in the second while each side added a run to their tally in the fourth, the Saints unable to make up the lost ground when they needed to in the fifth.
The win means Newport is still undefeated this season, going at 7-0 and turning its attention to hosting Ormond Glenhuntly this weekend. St Kilda host Port Melbourne, looking to improve a 2-5 year.
Werribee Giants 11 v Doncaster Dragons 11
Werribee and Doncaster each fought until the end but neither were able to break through, instead having to make do with a high-scoring draw.
Doncaster sit third with a 5-1-1 record while Werribee is eighth with a 1-5-1 record. The Giants host Williamstown and the Dragons are away to Moorabbin in this week's fixtures.
Mulgrave Rebels 3 v Williamstown Wolves 3
After two scoreless innings to start the game, Mulgrave got three runs in at the top of the third, but Williamstown were back in the game when two runs were batted in at the bottom.
The Wolves pulled through for another run in the fourth to tie the game up, but neither team gave the other a chance to cross home plate again as six innings ended the game.
Mulgrave remain in fifth spot with a 3-3-1 record while Williamstown is a spot above in fourth and a 4-2-1 record. The Rebels are in Preston this weekend, whereas the Wolves are in Werribee.
Division 2 Fourths
Werribee Giants 3 v Doncaster Dragons 21
It was a big win for Doncaster against Werribee, to lock in a spot within the top four for another week.
The 3-2-1 Dragons take on Moorabbin away this weekend while the 1-6 Giants are away in Williamstown.
Mulgrave Rebels 2 v Williamstown Wolves 11
Williamstown stormed home to record a win against Mulgrave after scores were tied at one-all after two innings.
The Wolves broke through with two runs in the fourth but the Rebels weren't out of the game just yet, scoring one at the top of the fifth.
Williamstown rose to the challenge, collecting five runs at the bottom of the fifth, shutting out Mulgrave in the sixth before gaining three more insurance runs at the bottom.
Williamstown is undefeated this season, sitting first with a 6-0 record while Mulgrave is 2-5, sitting seventh. The Wolves travel to Werribee this weekend while the Rebels have the bye.
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 7 v Moorabbin Panthers 4
Ormond Glenhuntly have locked down third spot on the ladder after a three-run win over Moorabbin on the weekend.
Ormond Glenhuntly is 5-1 this season and will look to turn over the win column again against Newport this weekend. Moorabbin is in second spot, this game its first loss of the season, now with a 6-1 record and a fixture against Doncaster awaiting.
St Kilda Saints 8 v Newport Rams 3
St Kilda scored its first run in the first inning, adding four more in the third before Newport scored its first run at the bottom.
Each side added a run in the fifth as the Saints had two more cross the plate at the top of the sixth, setting the Rams to record seven to win. Newport however only managed one run, giving the Saints their second win of the season.
St Kilda is 2-3-1 for the season and will host Port Melbourne next up. Newport is at home to Ormond Glenhuntly, looking to break into the top four, currently holding a 3-3 record.
Port Melbourne v BYE
Port Melbourne had the week off but will return to the field on Sunday in St Kilda to play the Saints. The Mariners hold a 0-6 record for the season so will be searching for that maiden win this year.