Round seven of the Division 1 Victorian Summer Baseball League began after all teams played their first mid-week games on Wednesday 4 November. The good news of the week belongs to Doncaster who broke their winless drought with a victory against Springvale in the second leg of their series. Even better: the Dragons then backed that up with another win on Saturday against Sunshine. The boys from Deep Creek not only threw two shutouts in a row but managed to score nine runs in support of that phenomenal pitching. Melbourne continued their undefeated ways as Nathan Aron and Matthew Kent are on quite a roll at the plate. Blackburn continued to score runs with batters up and down the order hitting well and Geelong, led by Rudy Jaramillo at the bat and on the bump, are also looking confident.
Doncaster 5, Springvale 0
Mike McGillivray started on the hill for visiting Springvale on Wednesday and went five innings. The Dragons looked as though they were keen to hit. Although they struck out six times in the first five, they also collected seven knocks and amassed five runs, two of which were earned. Springvale’s pitching performed well but the night belonged to Justin Lawrence—who in his first appearance for the Dragons on the hill got the win—and Marcel D’Avoine who has been solid out of the bullpen all season.
Doncaster 4, Sunshine 0
Despite outhitting the host Dragons seven to three, the Eagles couldn’t bring a single man home in the entirety of the nine innings. It was during an error filled fourth inning that Doncaster’s only runs of the day were scored and Sunshine dealt the loss.
Simon Fitzmaurice continued his superb work starting for Doncaster as he went six innings. Fitzmaurice managed to scatter six hits, spreading them evenly over his outing. Marcel D’Avoine was masterly in the final three frames, issuing no walks and only surrendering one hit while striking out three.
Doncaster’s hits were courtesy of D’Avoine, Glenn McColl, and Andrew Reeves. For Sunshine, Lewis Weldon and Adam Irons got two hits while Shannon Hornstra, Brad Jones and Daniel Wilke all chipped in one apiece.
All hits in the game were singles.
Blackburn 9, Preston 5
After scoring five runs in their midweek win over Cheltenham, Blackburn’s bats stayed hot, collecting eight more knocks against visiting Preston. Ryan Berg, Ross Hunter and Jacob Evans each collected two hits. Hunter, the Orioles catcher, stood out as he picked up four RBI in the win. Staying true to form, Blackburn again used four different pitchers: Matt McQuiggan, Jesse Gavin, Nick Mason and Jake Tuck. McQuiggan started and went six and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and allowing five hits.
Cheltenham 7, Essendon 3
A huge home win for the Rustlers improved their record to 3-4 heading into a big game at Preston on Sunday. With the loss, the Bombers fell to 5-2, one game behind Geelong on the ladder.
Melbourne 5, Sandringham 2
Evan Brisintine started for host Melbourne, hurling six innings before handing the ball to Andy Mann (two) and Matthew Blackmore, who reprised his usual role of closer for the Demons. The three pitchers restricted the Royals to four hits. Ryan Morris and Dave Armstrong each recorded singles while Marco Lezaic got the other two hits for Sandringham. Both their runs scored in the top of the sixth.
Terry Jeon, Brayden McConkey and Spencer Jack shared the pitching duties for the Royals, allowing two runs in the second inning, one in the third, and two in the seventh. The undefeated Demons achieved the win thanks to 10 hits, including two doubles by Nathan Aron and two singles credited to both Matthew Kent and Alex Hondramatis.
Geelong 5, Springvale 3
After accounting for Sandringham during the week Geelong went to Springvale for the Sunday game. Ace Rudy Jaramillo started for the Baycats and got through the first two innings without conceding a run. The versatile lefty again showed his hitting chops when he spearheaded a four run rally. Springvale answered in the third on hits by Freddy Flores, Myles Barnden and Sam Drummond (4 for 4 on the day), plating two runs.
Springvale scored another in the fourth when Lucas Anderson and Sam Drummond singled, but they could muster no more offense. For insurance, Geelong scored once more in the top of the ninth when Jarred Durston singled and Chris Webb got his second hit of the afternoon.
Jaramillo pitched six innings for the winners before he was relieved by Cameron Forbes; Stephen Hughes went six full frames for the home team.
Newport 4, Waverley 3
Impressive pitching performances from Jon Kennedy and Gabriel Sandersius made for a tight contest that went down to the wire. For all the information on this game go to our Match of the Round feature.
Doncaster 5, Springvale 0
Mike McGillivray started on the hill for visiting Springvale on Wednesday and went five innings. The Dragons looked as though they were keen to hit. Although they struck out six times in the first five, they also collected seven knocks and amassed five runs, two of which were earned. Springvale’s pitching performed well but the night belonged to Justin Lawrence—who in his first appearance for the Dragons on the hill got the win—and Marcel D’Avoine who has been solid out of the bullpen all season.
Doncaster 4, Sunshine 0
Despite outhitting the host Dragons seven to three, the Eagles couldn’t bring a single man home in the entirety of the nine innings. It was during an error filled fourth inning that Doncaster’s only runs of the day were scored and Sunshine dealt the loss.
Simon Fitzmaurice continued his superb work starting for Doncaster as he went six innings. Fitzmaurice managed to scatter six hits, spreading them evenly over his outing. Marcel D’Avoine was masterly in the final three frames, issuing no walks and only surrendering one hit while striking out three.
Doncaster’s hits were courtesy of D’Avoine, Glenn McColl, and Andrew Reeves. For Sunshine, Lewis Weldon and Adam Irons got two hits while Shannon Hornstra, Brad Jones and Daniel Wilke all chipped in one apiece.
All hits in the game were singles.
Blackburn 9, Preston 5
After scoring five runs in their midweek win over Cheltenham, Blackburn’s bats stayed hot, collecting eight more knocks against visiting Preston. Ryan Berg, Ross Hunter and Jacob Evans each collected two hits. Hunter, the Orioles catcher, stood out as he picked up four RBI in the win. Staying true to form, Blackburn again used four different pitchers: Matt McQuiggan, Jesse Gavin, Nick Mason and Jake Tuck. McQuiggan started and went six and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and allowing five hits.
Cheltenham 7, Essendon 3
A huge home win for the Rustlers improved their record to 3-4 heading into a big game at Preston on Sunday. With the loss, the Bombers fell to 5-2, one game behind Geelong on the ladder.
Melbourne 5, Sandringham 2
Evan Brisintine started for host Melbourne, hurling six innings before handing the ball to Andy Mann (two) and Matthew Blackmore, who reprised his usual role of closer for the Demons. The three pitchers restricted the Royals to four hits. Ryan Morris and Dave Armstrong each recorded singles while Marco Lezaic got the other two hits for Sandringham. Both their runs scored in the top of the sixth.
Terry Jeon, Brayden McConkey and Spencer Jack shared the pitching duties for the Royals, allowing two runs in the second inning, one in the third, and two in the seventh. The undefeated Demons achieved the win thanks to 10 hits, including two doubles by Nathan Aron and two singles credited to both Matthew Kent and Alex Hondramatis.
Geelong 5, Springvale 3
After accounting for Sandringham during the week Geelong went to Springvale for the Sunday game. Ace Rudy Jaramillo started for the Baycats and got through the first two innings without conceding a run. The versatile lefty again showed his hitting chops when he spearheaded a four run rally. Springvale answered in the third on hits by Freddy Flores, Myles Barnden and Sam Drummond (4 for 4 on the day), plating two runs.
Springvale scored another in the fourth when Lucas Anderson and Sam Drummond singled, but they could muster no more offense. For insurance, Geelong scored once more in the top of the ninth when Jarred Durston singled and Chris Webb got his second hit of the afternoon.
Jaramillo pitched six innings for the winners before he was relieved by Cameron Forbes; Stephen Hughes went six full frames for the home team.
Newport 4, Waverley 3
Impressive pitching performances from Jon Kennedy and Gabriel Sandersius made for a tight contest that went down to the wire. For all the information on this game go to our Match of the Round feature.