Essendon continues to lead the way in VSBL Women's Division 1 while Springvale and Footscray keep things interesting in Division 2.
Women's Division 1
Doncaster Dragons 15 v Newport Rams 9
Doncaster took control of the game against Newport on the weekend, beating the Rams by six runs.
Jessica Johnson had four innings on the mound for the Dragons, giving up five runs from five hits while striking out three. Belinda Cannington picked up the win, giving up six hits for zero earned runs with two strikeouts across three innings.
Morgan Doty was on the mound for three innings for Newport, giving up six earned runs from seven hits with three strikeouts. Bronwyn Gell pitched two innings for one hit but Leslie Anglin was credited with the loss. Anglin gave up nine hits and seven runs in two innings.
Keeley Harrison went four from five at the plate for Doncaster, crossing home three times while Jamie Bastian picked up three hits including a double, converting the hits to two runs and five RBIs. Hannah Sowden had three hits for three runs and Johnson had two doubles and three base on balls, coming home three times also. Erin Collins had a two-hit, one-run game, as did Maddison Weller.
For the Rams, Kira Jansen, Doty and Gell each had two hits, the former two scoring one run each and the latter scoring twice. Jansen hit a triple that brought in three runs with Doty and Anglin rounding to second safely through the match too. Zoe Allen had a one-hit, one-run game for two RBIs.
Doncaster is 4-3 this season, sitting second. Newport is searching for its first win of the season, sitting 0-7 as the two sides meet again this weekend at Doncaster.
Essendon Bombers 7 v Springvale Lions 5
Springvale was down 6-0 after two innings as the Bombers had back-to-back three-run digs to start the game. The Lions slowly began to crawl back in the later innings although they fell short in the seventh.
Springvale scored its first runs at the bottom of the third with two runs, adding one more in the fourth before a scoreless fifth.
Each side scored one run in the sixth and the Lions were able to keep the Bombers to zero at the top of the seventh, meaning the home side needed four runs to win, however they could only manage one.
Essendon's Emma French and Abbey Kelly combined across seven innings on the mound, the former picking up the win. French pitched four innings for five hits and one earned run. Kelly was in the middle for three innings with five hits and one earned run as well as two strikeouts.
On the bats for the Bombers, Kelly had four hits from five at bats and recorded two runs. Tayla Weldon went four from four, with a run and three RBIs. Kayla Adams knocked in two runs from two hits while Jasmine Bentley scored twice.
Essendon continues an unbeaten run, sitting first at 7-0 whereas Springvale is 3-4 in third as the sides prepare to meet again at Essendon this weekend.
Women's Division 2
Essendon Bombers 5 v Springvale Lions 7
After two scoreless innings to begin the game, Essendon got on the board first when three runs crossed the plate at the top of the third.
Springvale controlled the bottom half of the third to bring in five and take the lead, one the side added onto by two as the fourth innings came to an end.
Essendon needed five runs to keep the game going but at the top of the fifth, managed just two and fell a couple of runs short.
Essendon travels to Geelong with a 3-3 third-placing while Springvale takes a 5-1 record, first-placing into a bye.
Geelong Baycats 14 v Preston Pirates 7
Geelong won its second game of the season against the winless Preston team on the weekend with a total of 14 hits.
With seven runs in the top of the first, Geelong had a great start and just kept powering through. Geelong's pitcher Sarah Haouchar held Preston to four runs in the first inning, while the Pirates got two in the second and one in the third.
Nyah O'Brien smashed an inside the park home run to bring in three RBIs, Bri Telford, Teri Jackson, Emma Hill, and Katie Davenport all had two hits.
The Baycats are 2-3 this season, looking for back-to-back wins in the next round at home against Essendon. Preston hosts Footscray.
Footscray Bulldogs v BYE
Footscray has managed to remain in second place despite the bye last weekend, its record at 4-1 this season. The Bulldogs travel to Preston this weekend.
Women's Division 3 East
Pakenham Pumas White 6 v Berwick City Cougars 12
Pakenham White shot out to a five-run lead after its first turn at the plate, leading by one run as the first inning came to a close after Berwick scored four at the bottom.
The Pumas doubled the margin when they scored one in the second but the Cougars came to play, collecting five runs at the bottom to take a 9-6 lead into the next inning.
Berwick's defense didn't allow another Pakenham White run, while the Cougars added three more to their score to win by six runs.
Berwick hosts Sandringham this weekend as it looks to retain its spot in the top four, currently at a 2-2-2 record. Pakenham White are 0-6 but will hold out hope that its first win of the season might be against Wheelers Hill on Saturday.
Cheltenham Rustlers 11 v Sandringham Royals 15
Cheltenham wasn't able to recover from an eight-run Sandringham lead after the Royals saw two four-run innings to start the game.
The Rustlers halved the margin at the top of the third with four runs of their own but the Royals weren't going to let them back in that easily, bringing seven runs in at the bottom.
Cheltenham proved that it could match Sandringham, the Rustlers knocking seven runs in at the top of the fourth however it wasn't enough.
Cheltenham hosts Bonbeach this weekend as the club looks to break into the top four, currently fifth with a 2-3-1 record. Sandringham is sitting nicely in third with a 5-1 record, just behind Wheelers Hill on runs for. The Royals travel to Berwick on Saturday.
Springvale Lions 8 v Wheelers Hill Warriors 18
Springvale scored three at the top of the first but Wheelers Hill went one better and finished the first inning with a one-run lead.
The Warriors added six in the second and seven in the third to have the margin sit at 17-3 before each side scored one in the fourth.
The Lions pegged the margin back a little, scoring four runs in the fifth but a 10-run margin to Wheelers Hill was the end result.
Wheelers Hill will travel to Pakenham this week to take on Pumas White, the Warriors sitting second at 5-1. Springvale is 2-4-1 for the year, sitting sixth before hosting Pakenham White this week.
Moorabbin Panthers 14 v Bonbeach Bluejays 7
Moorabbin scored in all but one inning as it kick-started the game with three runs, Bonbeach clawing back by one at the bottom.
The Panthers scored the next three during the following two innings before the Bluejays scored two runs at the bottom of the fourth.
Moorabbin scored its next run at the top of the fifth but Bonbeach drew level at seven-all with four runs at the bottom.
The Panthers were determined not to let the game slip and came out with vengeance at the top of the sixth, scoring seven runs, which would become to final margin as they shut out the Bluejays at the end.
After the win, Moorabbin carries a 7-0 first-place record into a bye this weekend. Bonbeach on the other hand sits seventh with a 2-4 record, preparing for a game at Cheltenham.
Pakenham Pumas Black v BYE
Pakenham Black sits at 1-5 for the season and will be fresh off a bye, ready to travel to Springvale for the next game.
Women's Division 3 West
Doncaster Dragons 11 v North Western Titans 17
North Western has delivered Doncaster its first loss of the season, winning by six runs in this crucial top-four contest.
The Dragons surrendered top spot to Melbourne due to the loss, now sitting second with a record of 6-1, just behind the Demons on runs for. The Dragons will play Newport at home this weekend.
The Titans sit nicely in third place with a 4-3 record, looking towards Saturday's game at home against Fitzroy.
Fitzroy Lions 21 v Geelong Baycats 7
Fitzroy was in complete control against Geelong, beating the Baycats by 14 runs.
The Baycats tried mighty hard to stay in the contest as the score was 7-4 after the first inning.
However, the Lions added another seven in the second to Geelong's two before a third straight seven-run dig to blow the margin out of the water.
Geelong added one more at the bottom of the fourth before the game ended but still sit sixth with a 0-7 record.
Ella Wilson, Hannah Lindsey, and Katrina Edwards all pitched for Geelong with hits as well.
The Baycats play Melbourne away this weekend while the Lions are 3-4 and will be up against North Western.
Melbourne Demons 18 v Newport Rams 3
Melbourne and Newport each scored two runs in the first inning before the Demons pulled ahead by two in their second dig.
Melbourne then scored the next 14 runs from two seven-run innings while the Rams scored once more at the bottom of the fourth but couldn't come back enough to keep the game going.
Melbourne has moved into pole position at the top of the table with a 6-1 record, ahead of Doncaster when factoring in runs for. The Demons host Geelong this weekend whereas 2-5 Newport plays Doncaster.