The 2020/21 VSBL season culminated in thrilling grand finals for many competitions over the weekend.
The grand final fixtures for VSBL Women’s and Men’s Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 have been confirmed HERE.
Congratulations to all the VSBL Grand Final winners from a big weekend of games!
Click HERE to view winning photos.
Division 1 Seconds
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 3 v Essendon Bombers 13
Second-placed Essendon celebrated its first Division 1 Reserves premiership since the 2011/12 season, beating third-placed Upwey Ferntree Gully in seven innings after a monster seventh inning stretch.
Upwey Ferntree Gully got on the board first, scoring a run in the second but the scores were tied once again as the third inning drew to a close when Essendon brought in its first score of the afternoon.
The Bombers would add another in the fifth after a scoreless fourth inning from each side but increased the margin to five runs with a four-run effort in the sixth.
The Tigers came back and looked ready to reply, scoring two runs to keep the game going however Essendon was keen to put the game to bed, scoring seven runs to win at the bottom of the seventh.
Luke Abels was on the mound for Essendon, giving up three runs from seven hits in seven innings while striking out seven batters.
Keeley Ronalds Greatbatch started on the hill for Upwey Ferntree Gully, lasting four innings and allowing one run on four hits, striking out five. Mitch John and Josh Yung entered from the bullpen in relief.
Mark Jones was the pick of the hitters for the Tigers, collecting two hits in three at bats while the Bombers tallied 10 hits for the game with Declan Spiers, Harrison Fitzgerald, Adam Merzel, and Lachlan Condie each racking up multiple hits. Spiers was fast on the base paths, stealing three bases.
Division 1 Thirds
Berwick City Cougars 11 v Geelong Baycats 5
Berwick, who finished the season in fourth place and scraping through to get into the top four on a head-to-head record have provided another upset after last weekend's win over ladder-leaders Sandringham, beating second-placed Geelong to claim its first Division 1 Thirds title.
Berwick got off to the best possible start, leading off the game with two runs in the first and three runs in the second as Geelong was forced to play catch-up for the remainder of the afternoon.
After two scoreless frames Berwick got back on the board with a run scoring in the fifth before another four runs in the sixth inning had the lead at 10.
The Baycats had a challenge in front of them and slowly started to bring the margin back, starting with one run at the bottom of the sixth. However, it was quickly cancelled out as the Cougars responded with one of their own the next innings.
Geelong put together a nice rally at the bottom part of the inning but the four runs wasn't enough to keep the game going, the spirited fightback not working out.
Joel Hector saw out the seven innings on the mound for the Cougars with 14 first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts overall.
Cooper Rickard had four innings on the mound for the Baycats with four strikeouts while James Lappen had two innings to ply his trade, amassing two strikeouts.
Jacob Dickenson lead the way with the bat for Berwick, collecting three hits while Hector had two hits on the day. Brodie McTolridge brought in two runs.
Maxton Sherry had two hits for Geelong as Cooper Tipping was disciplined in the box, drawing three walks.
Division 1 Fourths
The Melbourne v Essendon game was washed out and has been rescheduled to Sunday 28 March at 2:00pm at Melbourne.
Division 2 Seconds
Werribee Giants 7 v Moorabbin Panthers 5
Werribee and Moorabbin played out a close grand final as the home team and defending champions were required to recover from a 7-0 deficit after the top of the fourth inning, a five-run first inning helping the Giants to a big advantage. Instead of back-to-back Division 2 Seconds Moorabbin wins, the first-placed side were beaten by second-placed Werribee, who won its first title in the division.
As well as the offence working, the defensive unit were equally as good during the second half of the game. Despite not scoring within the first three times they came up to bat, Moorabbin got on the board in the fourth and was slowly clawing back to score, adding another two in the fifth.
The Panthers added two more to their score in the seventh but tight defense from both sides for the final two innings ensured no further runs were scored, Werribee maintaining its lead, and the win.
Mitch Sheldon-Collins had six innings working his craft on the mound for Moorabbin with three strikeouts. Felix Brunner also saw time in the middle.
Harry Garrett and John Curnow pitched four and three innings respectively for the Giants while Cameron McNish also came on to pitch, recording an equal game-high three strikeouts.
Garrett was the only Werribee player who recorded multiple hits with two for the day. Jacob Sigismondi tallied two RBIs.
For Moorabbin, Tom Brookes was the teams only one who scored multiple hits with two also with Sheldon-Collins collecting two RBIs.
Division 2 Thirds
Doncaster Dragons 11 v Newport Rams 12
A one-run ballgame that went the way of Newport courtesy of a walk-off RBI single from Ayden Ham to bring Kevin Johnson home allowed the Rams to record their first premiership in Division 2 Thirds.
Newport was the team to beat all season long, going undefeated at 10-0 while the second-placed Doncaster gave the Rams a run for their money.
Division 2 Fourths
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 12 v Williamstown Wolves 2
Williamstown was unable to improve its Division 2 Fourths grand final record to three in four years, going down to Ormond Glenhuntly, instead the Hunters celebrating their first win in this division since the 2008/09 season.
The undefeated Wolves were outclassed by the third-placed Hunters, a dominant outing by the away side however they left their chance to get runs late, an eight-run fifth inning changing the landscape of the game.
Williamstown was first to score with two in the first inning where Ormond Glenhuntly halved the deficit at the next available chance before two scoreless frames.
Ormond Glenhuntly added three more insurance runs at the top of the sixth to have a 10-run lead which remained as the Hunters kept the Wolves scoreless to end the game.
Division 4 East
Melbourne Demons Blue 7 v Waverley Wildcats Black 6
Second-placed Melbourne Blue has won a second Division 4 East title after claiming the premiership last year, beating undefeated ladder-leaders Waverley Black in a close contest.
After three scoreless innings, Waverley Black scored took a three-run lead after four innings before Melbourne Blue scored one at the top of the fifth.
The Wildcats doubled their score in the sixth to lead by five runs but the Demons weren't feeling down, picking up the bats in the seventh to take the lead by scoring six runs to force the game to continue and for Waverley Black a chance to bat to which the Demons defense were on point, restricting the Wildcats to claim a comeback grand final win.
Division 4 North
North Coburg Rebels B 12 v Fitzroy Lions A 2
It was a heart-breaking loss for the undefeated Fitzroy A side with third-placed North Coburg B upsetting the ladder-leaders in the Division 4 North grand final.
North Coburg got off to a flyer with multiple two and three-base hits, scoring three runs in the first but backing it up with a further seven runs in the second before Fitzroy brought in two runs of its own at the bottom of the second.
A scoreless third frame saw the scores remain the same until the Rebels batted in two for a 10-run lead once again, with no further scores being made.
Division 4 South
Mordialloc Ducks 3 v Bonbeach Bluejays B 13
Bonbeach B finished the season on top of the division ladder and came away with the premiership over first-time VSBL team Mordialloc, who finished third after the home and away season.
This grand final was a tight game through three innings with a scoreless first frame before two one-run innings from each side saw the score two-all after three, the Ducks the first to score on a bases-loaded walk.
Mordialloc didn't score at the top of the fourth and Bonbeach B took full advantage, plating six runs at the bottom. The final frame resulted in one run to the Ducks as the Bluejays got the bats working again, scoring five for the win.
The action happened quickly when Bonbeach batted in the runs as the Bluejays had six consecutive batters recording a hit with the Ducks unable to record an out during that onslaught. Unfortunately for the Ducks, some mistakes and errors were costly as the Bluejays lead jumped up and triggered the mercy result.
Division 4 West
Essendon Jets 0 v Footscray Bulldogs 3
After beating ladder-leaders Essendon Bombers last weekend, the fourth-placed Jets were keen to continue their run with a grand final win over second-placed Footscray, however it wasn't to be.
A shutout win for the Bulldogs continued the club's winning ways after Footscray White won the Division 4 North West division last year.
Footscray got on the board early in the first inning and didn't score again until they penciled in another two runs at the bottom of the sixth as the defensive units from each team worked well to make it a pitcher's duel, the batting from Footscray being the edge the side needed.