It was another big weekend across VSBL Women's Division 1, 2, and 3 with finals just weeks away.
Check out recaps below and view season fixtures, results, and ladders HERE.
Women's Division 1 - Midweek Games
Springvale Lions B 0 v Springvale Lions 17
Hannah Jackson and Maddy Patrick combined for seven strikeouts in this big win, which featured hits up and down the lineup, including two apiece for Hanami Campitelli, Shae Lillywhite, and Siobhan Stephenson.
Jackson knocked in four runs with two singles and a triple, while Lily Bell-Tanner, Shirlie Bull, Sinead Flanigan, and Patrick all had hits too.
On the Springvale B side, Phoebe Dowsett doubled and Emma Jenkinson singled.
This game marked Springvale's tenth win of the season with just a handful of games to go.
Doncaster Dragons 7 v Essendon Bombers 7
The Dragons were first on the board with two early runs, but it wasn't long before Essendon made it a 3-2 ballgame. By the end of the third the Bombers were ahead 7-4, however that lead was short-lived as Doncaster tied the game with a three-run fourth. Neither side could score in the fifth as the game ended in a draw, the first of the season for both teams.
Jessica Johnson threw the whole game for Doncaster, with four of Essendon's seven runs unearned. Jamie Bastian smashed a double for two RBIs while Maddi Weller also knocked in two runs on a pair of singles. Belinda Cannington, Amy McCann, and Chelsea Stewart also had hits.
On Essendon's side, Emma French threw three innings with three hits, three walks, four runs, and five strikeouts. Abbey Kelly contributed two innings as well as a pair of singles and an RBI, while Allie Bebbere, Jasmine Bentley, Courtney Foura, Megan Kelly, and Aislinn Taiaroa knocked in runs too.
Women's Division 1 - Saturday Games
Springvale B 0 v Doncaster Dragons 22
Doncaster opened the game with 13 runs and kept up the pressure from there, adding three in the second and six in the third. Jamie Bastian had three hits and three strikeouts in three innings of work to pick up the win, while Bronwyn Gell contributed two innings with one hit and three strikeouts. Gell also led the team in RBIs, knocking in five on a single, triple, and a home run.
Maddi Weller had four RBIs on a single and a double, while Bastian brought three runs in on two singles and a triple. Belinda Cannington singled and tripled for two RBIs, Erin Collins had a pair of base hits, and Chelsea Stewart had a hard-hit 2-RBI single. Amy McCann and Brooklyn Hutton also got on base with timely hits.
Phoebe Dowsett, Rebecca Heenan, Emma Jenkinson, and Lily Pedder picked up hits for Springvale B.
Doncaster now has a 9-1-1 record, sitting second behind the Lions, while Springvale B is 6-6. Next up, Doncaster takes on the other Springvale side while Springvale B hosts Essendon Bombers.
Springvale Lions 3 v Essendon Bombers 1
The Lions were first on the board in the second, although Essendon tied it up at one-all in the third. Springvale added runs in the fifth and the seventh to secure their 11th straight win, staying atop the ladder for another week.
Simone Wearne got the win for Springvale with five hits, five walks, and five strikeouts. Just one unearned run scored during her time on the mound, while Gabby Bevan contributed two scoreless innings as well.
Hanami Campitelli and Siobhan Stephenson had RBIs for Springvale while Shirlie Bull, Emily Devine, and Shae Lillywhite collected singles.
11-0 Springvale hosts Doncaster in round 14 while 6-5-1 Essendon plays Springvale B.
Women's Division 2
Footscray Bulldogs 1 v Newport Rams 17
The game was tied at one going into the second before Newport pulled in front, adding two in the second, three in the seventh, and three in the fourth. Newport had 17 hits on the day while giving up just two, thanks to strong pitching from Mackenzie Prentice-Evans who struck out four in four innings.
Kira Jansen, Laura Sexton, and Leslie Anglin had three hits apiece for Newport while Caroline Moustas and Morgan Doty knocked in runs.
Newport is 6-5 going into the next round while Footscray is 3-7 and plays Essendon at home in round 13.
Geelong Baycats - Forfeit v Doncaster
After this forfeit, Doncaster is 3-8 going into a bye while Geelong plays Newport at home.
Women's Division 3 North East
Malvern Braves 0 v Melbourne Demons 17
Melbourne opened with seven runs and kept up the scoring from there, putting five on in the second and five in the third to secure win number nine. Now 9-2, Melbourne plays Waverley at home while 5-6 Malvern takes on Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly.
Research Lower Plenty 4 v South East Warriors 14
Research opened with a run in the first but the Warriors weren't deterred, adding seven in the bottom of the inning and another seven in the second. The Research offense was quieter with one run in the second and two runs in the second.
South East improved to 8-2 ahead of an away game at Preston, while Research Lower Plenty hosts Upwey Ferntree Gully next.
Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly 8 v Upwey Ferntree Gully 16
Upwey Ferntree Gully had a 2-0 lead going into the second when Malvern OGH tied it up. The Tigers pulled in front with seven runs in both the second and the third, giving them a good cushion in front of Malvern OGH despite a late flurry of six runs.
Next up for the Tigers is an away game at Research Lower Plenty, while Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly plays Malvern at home
Waverley Wildcats 14 v Preston Pirates 2
Waverley started with six runs and kept up the pressure from there, leading 9-1 by the middle of the third before a final five runs in the fourth. Preston got one back in the final frame but that was it as the Pirates are now 7-4 while the Wildcats stay at the top with a 10-1 record.
First-place Waverley heads to Melbourne and fourth-place Preston hosts the Warriors for the next round.
Women's Division 3 South
Berwick Cougars 6 v Moorabbin Panthers 11
Berwick was first on the board with one run in the second, but Moorabbin quickly took over, scoring seven in the second and another in the third. Berwick got two back in the fourth and three in the fifth but three more Moorabbin runs put them firmly in front.
Moorabbin sits second at 9-3 while Berwick is fourth with a 5-7 record. Next up the Panthers host Sandringham and the Cougars play Bonbeach at home.
Sandringham Royals 14 v Pakenham Pumas 7
The Royals recorded their seventh win of the season thanks to back-to-back seven-run innings to open the game. Pakenham tried to keep up, scoring three in the first and four in the second, but ultimately Sandringham was busier at the plate.
7-5 Sandringham hits the road to take on Moorabbin while Pakenham is away playing Springvale in round 13.
Bonbeach Bluejays 19 v Springvale Lions 9
The Bluejays were hot out the gate, scoring six runs in the first and five in the second. By the end of the third it was a 14-4 ballgame, and both teams scored five more in the fourth for an exciting finish.
Now 9-3, Moorabbin plays Sandringham at home while 3-8 Springvale hosts Pakenham in round 13.
Women's Division 3 West
Sunshine Eagles 12 v Fitzroy Doncaster 6
The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first but Fitzroy Doncaster battled back, scoring four in the second. However, the game was just getting started as Sunshine finished out the third narrowly in front 6-5.
A final six runs for the Eagles sealed the deal, although Fitzroy Doncaster did end up getting one back in the final frame.
After this game, Sunshine is 9-1 at the top of the ladder, while Fitzroy Doncaster is 5-5 in fifth place. Sunshine hosts North West Orange next while Fitzroy Doncaster heads to Essendon.
Port Melbourne 11 v North Western Orange 6
The Mariners scored four early runs although the Titans got two back in the bottom of the first. Port Melbourne managed two in the second and five in the third, holding off the Titans after they scored four runs in the final frame.
Port Melbourne hosts Newport next as North Western Orange visits Sunshine.
Newport Rams 9 v Essendon Bombers 9
The Rams and Bombers both battled hard, with Newport taking an early three-run lead, which was short-lived after Essendon scored seven in the bottom half.
Newport got one back in the second and two in the third. Essendon's two runs in the third gave them the advantage but Newport wasn't ready to lose, scoring the tying run in the fourth and keeping the Bombers off the board in the final frame.
After this 9-9 draw, Newport has an away game at Port Melbourne and Essendon plays Fitzroy Doncaster at home.
Werribee Giants 3 v North Western Black 20
The Giants started with two runs but North Western quickly answered, scoring seven runs in both the first and the second. A final six runs in the third gave the Titans their biggest win of the season as they improved to 6-3.
The Titans visit Geelong in round 13 while Werribee has a bye.