The 2021/22 VSBL Women's season is off to an exciting start with three rounds in the books. Several teams have undefeated streaks going, including Springvale, Doncaster, Preston, Waverley, South East, Sunshine, Geelong, North Western, and Moorabbin.
The action will continue with a big round 4 coming up - view full season fixtures, results, and ladders HERE and check out recaps below.
Women's Division 1 & 2
Essendon Bombers 7 v Springvale Lions 8
Emily Devine's walk-off sealed the deal in Springvale's 8-7 victory over Essendon.
The first two innings were quiet on both sides before Essendon scored two in the third. The Bombers made it 6-0 in the fourth but Springvale fought back, scoring three in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Neither team scored in the sixth as the game was tied, but Essendon got one on the board in the seventh. Then it was Springvale's time to shine, scoring two to win the game.
Springvale had 11 hits overall including three apiece to Shae Lillywhite and Lili Cavanagh. Abbey Kelly had four of Essendon's eight hits.
Siobhan Stephenson had four quality at-bats for Springvale while Simone Wearne had a pair of RBIs. On Essendon's side, Courtney Foura had three RBIs, Jasmine Bentley had two, and Tayla Weldon knocked in two runs. Bentley, Foura, and Weldon all walked twice.
Kelly was impressive on the mound for 3.1 innings, throwing 20 first pitch strikes for Essendon with three strikeouts. Allie Bebbere also pitched with 12 first pitch strikes and a 2.00 WHIP.
Springvale's Gabby Bevan covered 3.1 innings, striking out three with a 2.70 WHIP. Maddy Patrick had 14 first pitch strikes and a 1.64 WHIP.
2-0 Springvale plays Footscray at home while 1-2 Essendon plays Doncaster.
Doncaster Dragons 19 v Newport Rams 3
Doncaster racked up double-digit runs for the first time this season as Jamie Bastian and Maddison Weller had four RBIs each.
Erin Collins joined Bastian and Weller with doubles while Ursula Howard, Brooklyn Hutton, Amy McCann, and Chelsea Stewart all had base hits.
Newport's Kira Jansen, Erin Collis, and Leslie Anglin all had hits, facing Jessica Johnson and Bastian on the mound.
In four innings, Johnson gave up three hits, four walks, one HBP, and two runs (one unearned) while striking out seven. Bastian threw a one-run inning with a hit, a walk, and a strikeout.
Newport's next game is at home v Springvale B while Doncaster hosts Essendon Jets in hopes of going 3-0.
Doncaster Dragons B 29 v Geelong Baycats 12
The bats were swinging on both sides but Doncaster made the most of an early lead, putting up 13 runs in the first two innings.
Geelong's Lily Kevelham put in two solid innings on the mound in her first pitching appearance this year, with five hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. However, Doncaster's pitchers had the upper hand, allowing just three hits and two runs during the same time.
Jen Mason also pitched for Geelong, giving up just one hit and two runs. The Baycats managed to rally for five runs in the bottom of the third, but Doncaster answered with seven in the fourth.
The same score followed in the final innings as Geelong got five and Doncaster got seven runs as the game finished 29-12 in the Dragons' favour.
Magda Boros, Michelle Searle, and Sarah Upton had great debuts for Geelong this season with Upton and Searle both singling. Nyah O’Brien, Emma Hill, Ruby Benne, and Kevelham also had hits. Geelong's pitchers Kevelham, Mason, and Hill combined for 11 strikeouts.
Katherine Colclough had a single, three walks, and three RBIs for Doncaster while Michelle Love had a base hit, three walks, a HBP, and an RBI.
Sherryn Medlicott had a single, walk, and an RBI, while Lilly Simpson singled, walked, knocked in a run, and got on with a HBP. Katrina Wapsas had two singles, two walks, and two RBIs.
Doncaster B is 1-1 and hosts Essendon Bombers next while Geelong has a bye.
Essendon Jets 5 v Springvale Lions B 13
The Lions are 3-0 after another double-digit offensive effort, scoring one in the second and three in the third. Springvale put four on in the fourth and five in the fifth, while Essendon scored once in the first and three in the fourth.
A final Essendon run came in the sixth but the deficit was too great. Now, the Jets turn their focus to an away game at Doncaster while Springvale B visits Newport.
Women's Division 3 North East
Research Lower Plenty 10 v Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly 11
Both sides battled hard but ultimately Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly came away with the win on a walk-off double.
Research Lower Plenty scored first with three early runs, followed by three more in both the second and third. Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly wasn't deterred, scoring one in the second and six in the third.
Research led 10-7 going into the bottom of the fourth, but Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly managed four more to seal the deal.
Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly is 1-1 and plays at Waverley this Saturday while Research hosts Pakenham.
Melbourne Demons 10 v South East Warriors 11
The Warriors are 2-0 going into the bye weekend after a narrow victory over Melbourne, made possible by a seven-run start and a strong finish.
A back and forth battle ensued as the Warriors led 9-5 after the second before Melbourne came within one in the third. The Demons tacked on two in the fourth but the Warriors loaded the bases and successfully secured the walk-off win.
1-1 Melbourne will have the chance to dust off the close loss in search of a win at home v Malvern in round 4.
Pakenham Pumas 3 v Waverley Wildcats 16
Waverley scored 13 runs last week and picked up right where they left off, racking up the runs to stay undefeated.
Waverley takes a 2-0 record into round 4 at home v Malvern Ormond Glenhuntly, while Pakenham looks for a win at Research Lower Plenty.
Upwey Ferntree Gully 13 v Malvern Braves 10
The Tigers enjoyed their first victory for a women’s team in 12 years as Chelsea Mosbey was strong on the mound for five innings and nearly had a grand slam, which was robbed by a wandering dog in the outfield.
All the Tigers chipped in offensively as Jess McDonald kept things under control behind the plate. Malvern had a 1-0 lead after the first but it didn't last long as the Tigers tacked on seven in the second.
By the end of the third, Upwey Ferntree Gully was in front 10-3. A final three runs in the top of the fourth put them in front by 10, but Malvern wasn't going down without a fight, scoring seven in the final frame to make it a much closer finish.
The Tigers are 1-1 now and play at Preston this weekend while the Braves look for a win at Melbourne.
Women's Division 3 South
Bonbeach Bluejays 4 v Berwick Cougars 13
The Cougars secured back to back double-digit wins after besting Springvale 17-4 the week before.
The team sits second behind Moorabbin with Bonbeach in third and both sides on 2-1 records. Berwick hosts Pakenham next and Bonbeach heads to Moorabbin.
Sandringham Royals 8 v Moorabbin Panthers 9
It was a close contest but ultimately Moorabbin came back to win thanks to a final two runs in the fifth.
The Panthers led 5-2 after the first but Sandringham took the lead with four runs in the top of the second. The next three frames were scoreless before Sandringham added one more in the top of the fourth.
Moorabbin tied it up at 7 but the Royals put in one last effort, scoring a run in the top of the fifth. Sandringham tried to hang on but Moorabbin scored two more in the final frame to get the win.
The Panthers stay undefeated at 3-0 and will host Bonbeach next while Sandringham hosts Springvale.
Pakenham Pumas 10 v Springvale Lions 8
Springvale was competitive through the end but ultimately, the Pumas got their first win on the board.
Springvale led 6-4 after the first but the Pumas fought back to score five in the top of the second. The scored was 9-8 going into the third, when Pakenham scored one more and Springvale was unable to bring runners home.
Pakenham is 1-2 and plays at Berwick in round 4 while Springvale heads to Sandringham.
Women's Division 3 West
Fitzroy Doncaster 10 v Sunshine Eagles 21
Sunshine won 22-3 last round and kept it up against Fitzroy Doncaster, staying undefeated and moving to the top of the ladder on runs scored.
Anisha Bunsee, Bridget Byrne, Mia Courtne, and Kiera Tarleton put in solid efforts for Fitzroy Doncaster while Sunshine was led by Elizabeth Basadur, Ozzy England, Lily McKenner, Ana Meljen Quach, Katherine Salkovic, Ingrid Scanlon, and Amy Wilkie.
The 2-0 Eagles are off to face North Western Orange on the weekend while Fitzroy Doncaster hosts Essendon.
Essendon Bombers 18 v Newport Rams 13
Both teams didn't make it easy, racking up double-digit runs in a high-scoring matchup. Essendon jumped on the board with four early runs but Newport was right behind them, scoring two to cut the lead in half.
The Bombers stayed in front 6-2 going into the third as they added seven runs and then five more in the final frame. Newport put in a great effort to score four in the third and seven in the fourth, but it wasn't enough as they came up just short.
Essendon is 1-2 and plays away at Fitzroy Doncaster while Newport looks for a win at home v Port Melbourne.
North Western Orange 14 v Port Melbourne Mariners 6
North Western Orange improved to 2-0 after another double-digit run tally, following up on last week's 14-2 win over Essendon.
The Titans led 7-0 after the first and added three more in the second, although the Mariners scored one run in each of the middle innings. By the end of the fourth it was an 11-3 ballgame, and then both teams scored three in the final frame.
North West Orange looks to stay undefeated at home v Sunshine while 1-1 Port Melbourne heads to Newport.
The Titans got started right away, putting up 20 runs in their first game after a washout and a bye.
North Western Black 20 v Werribee Giants 5
There were strong contributions up and down the lineup from Sarah Cuthbert, Kim Gasior, Katrina Hoenig, Anna Radnay, Charmaine St John, Dianne Tompkins, and Tracie Williams.
Now, the Titans prepare for a home game v Geelong while Werribee has a bye.