The 2020/21 VSBL Division 4 season has featured some big result so far as teams enjoy the return to play and embrace an exciting summer of baseball. There's one round to go in 2020 before the holiday break, with some exciting matchups in store for the third round.
Division 4 East
Doncaster Dragons 1 v Waverley Wildcats White 21
After dropping a close one to Blackburn 7-6 in the first round, the Wildcats bounced back with a massive run margin over the Dragons. Consistent scoring certainly helped their cause, with big contributions up and down the lineup from Jack Barlow, Tom Barlow, Shaun Caulfield, Ashley Geary-Smith, Mal Jackson, Michael Legg, Cam Rogers, Mason Rogers, Byron Smith and Matthew Trevean.
Doncaster started the season with a bye and will have the chance to get a win on the board at Melbourne Blue, fresh off the bye, on the weekend, while 1-1 Waverley White hosts Mornington.
Waverley Wildcats Red 15 v Malvern Braves 5
The Wildcats won big in the first round with 17-3 victory over Upwey Ferntree Gully Black, and they show no signs of slowing down after a 10-win at Malvern.
Waverley opened with four runs and Malvern responded with two. A seven-run second inning put the game firmly in Waverley's favour, and two more runs followed in both the third and the fourth. Malvern got one on the board in the third and two in the fourth but it was too little, too late. John Darby, Paul Davison, Vaughn Evans and Tony Page were among the key contributors for Waverley.
The Wildcats Red are 2-0, just behind Waverley Black with 32 runs scored and eight given up. Malvern is 0-2 going into the next round at Waverley Black while Waverley Red plays Blackburn.
Waverley Wildcats Black 24 v Upwey Ferntree Gully Black 1
The Tigers have dropped two in a row after falling short to a tough Waverley side. Waverley Black won 19-3 over Melbourne Red in the first round and now the side remains atop the ladder with 43 runs scored and just four given up across two games.
In this matchup, Waverley led 3-1 after the first before tacking on two runs in the second and seven apiece in both the third and the fourth. Five more runs followed in the fifth to seal the deal.
Waverley Black hosts Malvern next while Upwey Ferntree Gully visits Monash Uni.
Monash University Farmers 10 v Melbourne Demons Red 10
This high-scoring matchup couldn't be won by either side as it was one of two 10-run draws on the day. The Farmers led for the majority of the game before letting the Demons back in late. Monash scored one in the first, two in the second and seven in the third for a 10-1 lead, but it wasn't over yet. Melbourne battled back hard with five in the fourth and four in the fifth to tie the game and end it in a draw.
Monash is in third place with one win and a draw while Melbourne Red has a loss and a draw. Monash hosts Upwey Ferntree Gully Black and Melbourne Red hosts Upwey Ferntree Gully Gold on Sunday.
Blackburn Orioles 10 v Mornington Pirates 10
The other 10-run draw of the day came at the Pirates home base as the game went back and forth throughout seven innings.
Blackburn put up five in the first and three in the third for an 8-0 lead after three, but Mornington wasn't done yet. The Orioles scored one more in the fourth but gave up seven runs to the Pirates in the bottom frame. A quiet fifth gave way to one more Pirate run in the fifth and two in the seventh to tie it up after Blackburn added one last minute.
Both teams have one win and one draw with Mornington sitting just above Blackburn thanks to 19 runs sored and 17 given up. Blackburn has scored 17 and given up 16. The Orioles host Waverley Red next and Mornington visits Waverley White.
Division 4 North
North Coburg Rebels A 1 v Mitchell Majors B 14
The Rebels' offence couldn't match that of the Majors, with two seven-run innings to start the game. North Coburg regained control in the third, not giving up any runs before scoring a lone run in the fourth.
Mitchell Majors B is in third place with a 2-0 record and 25 runs scored v 10 given up, while North Coburg A is 0-2 and scheduled to play Fitzroy B next. Mitchell Majors B is set to host Fitzroy A.
Mitchell Majors A 12 v Fitzroy Lions B 2
Mitchell Majors kept tacking away at the lead, putting up one in the first and six in the second to keep the game in their favour. Three runs in the third and two in the fourth followed, while the Lions got on the board with two in the fourth.
Nick Attard, Coen Fitzgerald and Matt Whyte were among the key players for Mitchell Majors as the team takes a 2-0 record into the third round v North Coburg B. 0-2 Fitzroy B is set to play North Coburg A.
North Coburg Rebels B 2 v Fitzroy Lions A 15
The Lions proved challenging for the Rebels after putting up five runs to start the game. The Rebels got one of their two runs in the second but Fitzroy continued to score, adding two in the bottom half and one in both the third and the fourth.
North Coburg scored again in the fourth but six in the fifth put Fitzroy even farther in front. Fitzroy A is atop the ladder with a 2-0 record and 36 runs scored v nine allowed, while North Coburg B is 0-2 in fourth place with 11 runs scored and 26 given up. North Coburg B plays Mitchell Majors A next while Fitzroy Lions A plays Mitchell Majors B.
Division 4 South
St Kilda Saints 16 v Chelsea Dolphins 5
The Saints scored 13 late runs to turn the game into a huge run rally. It was a 3-1 St Kilda lead after the first, with the Dolphins eventually tying it up at 3-all in the third. That didn't last for long as the Saints dug deep and fired back with seven in the fourth and six in the fifth. Chelsea managed two more but that was it as the Dolphins visit Mornington next and the Saints hosts Bonbeach A.
Bonbeach Bluejays B 4 v Bonbeach Bluejays A 6
The two Bonbeach sides faced off as the B side took a 1-0 lead in the first before A went ahead 2-1 in the second. B scored three in the third but A did one better with four runs, securing the victory. Bonbeach A is 2-0 in second place with nine runs scored for and four against, while Bonbeach B is one behind with a 1-1 record. Out of these top three teams, Bonbeach B has a bye next while Bonbeach A plays St Kilda.
Berwick City Cougars 10 v Pakenham Pumas 11
It was a high-scoring matchup that ultimately went Pakenham's way after four late runs.
Berwick had a 6-1 lead after the first, but that early start didn't last too long as the Cougars were kept quiet in the second while giving up five runs as Pakenham tied the game. The third was scoreless before Berwick added four in the fourth, but Pakenham got one back in the bottom frame.
Things were looking up for the Cougars with two unanswered runs in the fifth, but Pakenham powered up at the last minute, tacking on four including the tying and go-ahead runs, in the bottom of the sixth.
Pakenham is now 1-1 after dropping the first game 14-2 to Mornington, while Berwick shares the same record but is one spot ahead in fourth place with 21 runs scored v 16 given up, compared to 13 runs scored and 24 allowed for the Pumas.
Pakenham plays Mordialloc next while Berwick plays Wheelers Hill
Mornington Pirates v Wheelers Hill Warriors - FORFEIT
Mornington is 2-0 atop the ladder after this forfeit, with a home game v Chelsea coming up next. Wheelers Hill is 1-1 going into a game at Berwick.
Division 4 West
Geelong Baycats A 7 v Geelong Baycats B 3
This battle of the Baycats saw Geelong B leading 3-0 after the first, but from there on out it was all Geelong A offence. Five runs in the second and two in the fifth secured the win for Baycats A, as both sides are now 1-1. Geelong B is in second place with 18 runs scored and 10 given up, while Geelong A has scored 10 and given up 20 for a fourth place position.
Geelong A plays Essendon Jets on the road while Geelong B takes on Essendon Bombers.
Newport Rams 1 v Essendon Bombers 13
Brian Anderson worked hard on the mound with no walks and three strikeouts in four innings as the Bombers scored 13 runs.
Newport had five hits and four walks across five innings but left some runners on base. The Rams' sole run came when Sam Aldenhoven walked with two outs. Tim Thiel followed up with a hit to centre, and some agressive baserunning followed by a Daniel Coucerio double brought the runner home. Aldenhoven followed up with a line drive to centre in his next at-bat.
The Bombers lead the way with a 2-0 record and 30 runs scored with just four given up, while Newport is in third place with a 1-1 record thanks to 15 runs scored and 16 allowed.
Newport plays Footscray next and Essendon Bombers play Geelong B.
Essendon Jets 3 v Footscray Bulldogs 5
The Bulldogs suffered a 15-3 loss to Geelong B in the first round but managed a victory over Essendon Jets in this round. The Jets are 0-2 and Footscray is 1-1 with upcoming games v Geelong A and Newport, respectively.