Photo: Alex McCulloch
Williamstown won two close games over Moorabbin while Malvern came back from a game one loss to book a spot in the Grand Final.
The Wolves and the Braves will go head-to-head at Melbourne Ballpark starting Thursday, 10 March with the VSBL Division 2 Firsts Premiership on the line.
Game 1: Moorabbin Panthers 1 v Williamstown Wolves 3
With both sides eager to win in the first game of the series, this was a pitcher's duel through and through, with Williamstown coming out on top.
The Panthers pounced first, scoring one in the opening frame before Williamstown settled down and got things moving in the right direction. Moorabbin held off the Wolves' hungry bats through the first two innings, but the bottom of the third saw Williamstown bring three runners home in a flurry.
The rest of the game went by quickly with no scoring on either side as Williamstown kept Moorabbin off the base paths for a crucial win. Kevin Desmedt continued his fine pitching form with just four hits and two walks allowed in seven innings, with seven strikeouts along the way. He also had two hits, with Aaron Green, Robbie Higginson, Jayde Thorne and Daniel Chircop also having hits on the day.
Zack Kamerman pitched six innings for Moorabbin, giving up six hits and two walks with four strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. Mitch Barr and Nick Veal had big hits for Moorabbin to keep them in the game.
Game 2: Moorabbin Panthers 3 v Williamstown Wolves 4
In a must-win game for Moorabbin, the Panthers fell just short as the Wolves walked it off in the ninth with a huge home run from Jayde Thorne.
The game was scoreless through the first four innings before Moorabbin got three on in the fifth and Williamstown scored one. The Wolves broke through in the eighth to tie it up before winning the game in the ninth inning.
Kevin Desmedt also homered while Thorne made a terrific slide at home plate. Aaron Green laid down a beautiful bunt to bring Hiroshi Narasaki home as well, all in support of a strong start by pitcher Dennis Neal.
Moorabbin's strong season campaign ended with a 17-10 total record, while Williamstown secured the first of two Grand Final spots as the Wolves will chase their first premiership since back-to-back flags in 2013 and 2014.
Having finished the regular season in second place with a 20-7 record, the Wolves will be eager to get the job done in the grand final.
Game 1: Werribee Giants 3 v Malvern Braves 2
After a wash out at Melbourne Ballpark on Thursday, the first game of the semi-final series was played on Saturday, with Werribee gaining the upper hand with a crucial win.
The Giants started strong with a two-run effort at the top of the first. Justin Gil, the second batter of the game, hit a shot deep over the right field fence scoring two runs as Ryan Balzer was on base via an error to lead off the game.
Malvern was able to cut the margin in half in the bottom of the fifth when, with two outs, Gavin Woolger scored on a wild pitch with Justin Burke at the plate, Burke eventually lining out for the final out of the inning.
At the top of the seventh, the Giants got that run back as Andrew Christou scored on an error from the catcher after he drew a walk and advanced on a single from Trent Pantalleresco and a fielder’s choice to end up at third.
A couple of pitches after that Christou run, Sean Cruz struck out Jon Lowe looking for the final out, the Braves needing to pick up a few consecutive hits in the coming innings.
While Malvern got runners on base in the seventh, neither came home, the same result in the eighth after a positive defensive showing saw them remain in-touch with the Giants.
The Giants couldn’t extend their lead anymore in the ninth, leaving the equation quite clear for Malvern. Two singles to Jack Hanger and Geoff Holland to start things off in their ninth dig was a good result as the Braves brought in a pinch hitter, H Hayman, who flew out to centre field, however Hanger was left at third.
A fielder’s choice saw Hanger scoring as Ryan Othen was the second out on his attempt to get to second before Ryan Dale popped it up to shortstop who caught it and started celebrating as Werribee took a 1-0 series lead on their quest to the grand final.
Holland led the way for hits on the day with four for the Braves as Woolger and Kennedy picked up two each. Malvern had 11 hits for the game, compared to three for the Giants. But it was the Giants who were more clinical in getting their runners home when on base.
Wesley de Jong and Cruz each pitched nine innings for Werribee and Malvern respectively and were very similar on the stat sheet, Cruz edging out his opponent with 25 to 24 first-pitch strikes and 12 to seven strikeouts.
Game 2: Malvern Braves 2 v Werribee Giants 0
Werribee saw an early deficit after Malvern picked up the first run of the game within the first inning, an RBI double from Mitch Kennedy paving the way for Ryan Dale to score after he singled in the at-bat prior.
The following seven innings were a great defensive showing from both teams that kept the contest close, each dig providing the three outs in five batters or less.
The Braves secured another run at the top of the ninth to give themselves a bit more of a buffer going into the final dig of the game. Justin Burke was the runscorer this time around as he lead off the dig with a single before gaining third due to a Dale double. The bases were loaded when Kennedy drew a walk and as Gavin Woolger grounded out, Burke crossed home.
Evan McPherson tried to lift the Giants to a chance when he singled with one out at the bottom of the ninth, advancing on a wild pitch but the ensuring next two batters after him were struck out swinging, seeing the game end with a two-run win to Malvern.
Jon Kennedy and Joshua Lee pitched nine innings for their respective teams as Kennedy threw 14 strikeouts to help his side to the win. Lee, still competitive, sat seven batters down via strikeout.
While the Giants had more hits than the Braves – seven to four - Dale had half of his team’s hits as he scored on one, while McPherson and Justin Gil each led the way for Werribee with two apiece.
Malvern’s win confirmed that this semi-final series would go to a third game on Sunday afternoon with the series split at 1-1 after a Werribee 3-2 win the day before.
Game 3: Malvern Braves 12 v Werribee Giants 10
A grand final berth was on the line as Malvern and Werribee faced off to see who would play Williamstown in the deciding series to start on Thursday night at Melbourne Ballpark.
The Giants were eager to make up for their loss the game before, and they came out swinging early on, catching the Braves off guard with six runs within the first two innings, while shutting their opponents out during that time.
The determination from the Giants looked promising from the outset as lead-off Ryan Balzer singled before Evan McPherson put down a sacrifice bunt, getting thrown out at first as Balzer took second. The next batter up was Justin Gil who singled, and the speedy running of Balzer saw the Giants take the first run of the game. Gil scored a couple of batters later as Andrew Christou singled on a fly ball to left field.
A three-up, three-down dig for Malvern started a massive second inning when the Braves gave up four runs to Werribee at the bottom. Reece Haywood singled and scored from a McPherson hit, where after that the Braves changed their pitcher, Stephen Hunter coming onto the mound to try and change things.
The move started well as Gil flew out to left field for the second out however a few unforced errors from the Braves, including a hit by pitch and walk, saw McPherson score. Josh Lee singled up the middle which brought Oliver Box and Balzer to score as the innings ended with a flyout.
Malvern brought in two runs at the top of the third, seeing the bases loaded after two walks and a single. Gavin Woolger singled up to centre field and scored Chris Godfrey and Justin Burke.
Werribee was on a mission to continue the run-scoring and put this game to bed with another two runs scoring in the third dig. Balzer again scored from a McPherson single and as McPherson had reached second on an error by the catcher, he scored on a Gil double.
The events that started the third dig for the Braves replicated themselves in the fourth, as two walks and a single loaded the bases and Malvern was finally able to get going after a Dale double scored three. Soon after, Dale came home himself thanks to a Mitch Kennedy single, and it was back to a two-run ballgame.
It wasn’t long before the Braves had the bases loaded again, to the loss of no more outs. A Werribee error allowed for Geoff Holland’s connection to score three more, the Braves taking the lead for the first time.
The margin stayed at 9-8 in Malvern’s favour until the visiting side added more to the total in the sixth, a sacrifice bunt from Woolger advancing Kennedy who’d singled earlier. A double from Jack Hanger scored Kennedy as Holland provided another RBI when he singled to let Hanger score.
The bottom of the sixth saw Werribee try and take back the lead, but the Giants were still behind by one at the completion of the inning. Lee doubled to score Box while Christou scored before Simon Riches grounded out.
The seventh and eighth innings didn’t produce any further scores to either side until Malvern forced another run of a fielder’s choice that saw Henry Hayman scoring after he doubled at the start of the inning, Dale credited with the RBI.
While things looked good for the Giants at the bottom of the ninth when Harry Garrett singled and a sacrifice bunt was laid down to their advantage, two consecutive ground outs left Garrett on third and the Giants rueing a blown series lead all in the space of a few hours.
Kennedy had three hits for Malvern while Lee led the way with three hits for Werribee, Dale recording a game-high four RBIs for the Braves.
Kennedy was also good on the mound for the Braves, lasting 6.2 innings that had three strikeouts and 21 first-pitch strikes while on the other end, Werribee's Trent Pantalleresco and Lee combined in the middle for 7.2 innings, a total of seven strikeouts between them.
Malvern will now be heading to the grand final to face Williamstown in a best-of-three series, riding plenty of momentum from knocking off the ladder-leaders from this division.
After a wash out at Melbourne Ballpark on Thursday, the first game of the semi-final series was played on Saturday, with Werribee gaining the upper hand with a crucial win.
The Giants started strong with a two-run effort at the top of the first. Justin Gil, the second batter of the game, hit a shot deep over the right field fence scoring two runs as Ryan Balzer was on base via an error to lead off the game.
Malvern was able to cut the margin in half in the bottom of the fifth when, with two outs, Gavin Woolger scored on a wild pitch with Justin Burke at the plate, Burke eventually lining out for the final out of the inning.
At the top of the seventh, the Giants got that run back as Andrew Christou scored on an error from the catcher after he drew a walk and advanced on a single from Trent Pantalleresco and a fielder’s choice to end up at third.
A couple of pitches after that Christou run, Sean Cruz struck out Jon Lowe looking for the final out, the Braves needing to pick up a few consecutive hits in the coming innings.
While Malvern got runners on base in the seventh, neither came home, the same result in the eighth after a positive defensive showing saw them remain in-touch with the Giants.
The Giants couldn’t extend their lead anymore in the ninth, leaving the equation quite clear for Malvern. Two singles to Jack Hanger and Geoff Holland to start things off in their ninth dig was a good result as the Braves brought in a pinch hitter, H Hayman, who flew out to centre field, however Hanger was left at third.
A fielder’s choice saw Hanger scoring as Ryan Othen was the second out on his attempt to get to second before Ryan Dale popped it up to shortstop who caught it and started celebrating as Werribee took a 1-0 series lead on their quest to the grand final.
Holland led the way for hits on the day with four for the Braves as Woolger and Kennedy picked up two each. Malvern had 11 hits for the game, compared to three for the Giants. But it was the Giants who were more clinical in getting their runners home when on base.
Wesley de Jong and Cruz each pitched nine innings for Werribee and Malvern respectively and were very similar on the stat sheet, Cruz edging out his opponent with 25 to 24 first-pitch strikes and 12 to seven strikeouts.
Game 2: Malvern Braves 2 v Werribee Giants 0
Werribee saw an early deficit after Malvern picked up the first run of the game within the first inning, an RBI double from Mitch Kennedy paving the way for Ryan Dale to score after he singled in the at-bat prior.
The following seven innings were a great defensive showing from both teams that kept the contest close, each dig providing the three outs in five batters or less.
The Braves secured another run at the top of the ninth to give themselves a bit more of a buffer going into the final dig of the game. Justin Burke was the runscorer this time around as he lead off the dig with a single before gaining third due to a Dale double. The bases were loaded when Kennedy drew a walk and as Gavin Woolger grounded out, Burke crossed home.
Evan McPherson tried to lift the Giants to a chance when he singled with one out at the bottom of the ninth, advancing on a wild pitch but the ensuring next two batters after him were struck out swinging, seeing the game end with a two-run win to Malvern.
Jon Kennedy and Joshua Lee pitched nine innings for their respective teams as Kennedy threw 14 strikeouts to help his side to the win. Lee, still competitive, sat seven batters down via strikeout.
While the Giants had more hits than the Braves – seven to four - Dale had half of his team’s hits as he scored on one, while McPherson and Justin Gil each led the way for Werribee with two apiece.
Malvern’s win confirmed that this semi-final series would go to a third game on Sunday afternoon with the series split at 1-1 after a Werribee 3-2 win the day before.
Game 3: Malvern Braves 12 v Werribee Giants 10
A grand final berth was on the line as Malvern and Werribee faced off to see who would play Williamstown in the deciding series to start on Thursday night at Melbourne Ballpark.
The Giants were eager to make up for their loss the game before, and they came out swinging early on, catching the Braves off guard with six runs within the first two innings, while shutting their opponents out during that time.
The determination from the Giants looked promising from the outset as lead-off Ryan Balzer singled before Evan McPherson put down a sacrifice bunt, getting thrown out at first as Balzer took second. The next batter up was Justin Gil who singled, and the speedy running of Balzer saw the Giants take the first run of the game. Gil scored a couple of batters later as Andrew Christou singled on a fly ball to left field.
A three-up, three-down dig for Malvern started a massive second inning when the Braves gave up four runs to Werribee at the bottom. Reece Haywood singled and scored from a McPherson hit, where after that the Braves changed their pitcher, Stephen Hunter coming onto the mound to try and change things.
The move started well as Gil flew out to left field for the second out however a few unforced errors from the Braves, including a hit by pitch and walk, saw McPherson score. Josh Lee singled up the middle which brought Oliver Box and Balzer to score as the innings ended with a flyout.
Malvern brought in two runs at the top of the third, seeing the bases loaded after two walks and a single. Gavin Woolger singled up to centre field and scored Chris Godfrey and Justin Burke.
Werribee was on a mission to continue the run-scoring and put this game to bed with another two runs scoring in the third dig. Balzer again scored from a McPherson single and as McPherson had reached second on an error by the catcher, he scored on a Gil double.
The events that started the third dig for the Braves replicated themselves in the fourth, as two walks and a single loaded the bases and Malvern was finally able to get going after a Dale double scored three. Soon after, Dale came home himself thanks to a Mitch Kennedy single, and it was back to a two-run ballgame.
It wasn’t long before the Braves had the bases loaded again, to the loss of no more outs. A Werribee error allowed for Geoff Holland’s connection to score three more, the Braves taking the lead for the first time.
The margin stayed at 9-8 in Malvern’s favour until the visiting side added more to the total in the sixth, a sacrifice bunt from Woolger advancing Kennedy who’d singled earlier. A double from Jack Hanger scored Kennedy as Holland provided another RBI when he singled to let Hanger score.
The bottom of the sixth saw Werribee try and take back the lead, but the Giants were still behind by one at the completion of the inning. Lee doubled to score Box while Christou scored before Simon Riches grounded out.
The seventh and eighth innings didn’t produce any further scores to either side until Malvern forced another run of a fielder’s choice that saw Henry Hayman scoring after he doubled at the start of the inning, Dale credited with the RBI.
While things looked good for the Giants at the bottom of the ninth when Harry Garrett singled and a sacrifice bunt was laid down to their advantage, two consecutive ground outs left Garrett on third and the Giants rueing a blown series lead all in the space of a few hours.
Kennedy had three hits for Malvern while Lee led the way with three hits for Werribee, Dale recording a game-high four RBIs for the Braves.
Kennedy was also good on the mound for the Braves, lasting 6.2 innings that had three strikeouts and 21 first-pitch strikes while on the other end, Werribee's Trent Pantalleresco and Lee combined in the middle for 7.2 innings, a total of seven strikeouts between them.
Malvern will now be heading to the grand final to face Williamstown in a best-of-three series, riding plenty of momentum from knocking off the ladder-leaders from this division.
Grand Final matchups are set for VSBL Women's Division 1, 2 and 3 after an exciting round of preliminary finals. The 2019/20 VSBL Women's Finals will take place on Women's Super Saturday, held at Springvale Baseball Club where all five finals will be played as teams look to end the season on a high note.
Women's Division 1: Essendon Bombers 2 v Doncaster Dragons 9
Doncaster lost to Springvale 15-9 in the semi-finals, but the Dragons are set to encounter the Lions once more in the Grand Final after overpowering Essendon on Saturday.
After last year's surprise grand final glory, Essendon was hoping to do the same again this year but the Bombers fell short, giving up too many chances to Doncaster's speedy offense.
Doncaster is booked in for the big dance, with first pitch at 3:30 PM on Saturday as the Lions look to return to their premiership winning ways after six straight from 2013-2018.
Women's Division 2: Footscray Bulldogs 4 v Springvale Lions 11
Doncaster lost to Springvale 15-9 in the semi-finals, but the Dragons are set to encounter the Lions once more in the Grand Final after overpowering Essendon on Saturday.
After last year's surprise grand final glory, Essendon was hoping to do the same again this year but the Bombers fell short, giving up too many chances to Doncaster's speedy offense.
Doncaster is booked in for the big dance, with first pitch at 3:30 PM on Saturday as the Lions look to return to their premiership winning ways after six straight from 2013-2018.
Undetered by last week's 12-2 loss to Doncaster, Springvale booked a Grand Final berth to play the Dragons once more this Saturday.
Springvale was ahead by ten as the third rolled around, and although Footscray scored a few in the final frame, the Lions still cruised to a big victory.
Springvale won last year's Women's Division 2 Grand Final, and the Lions will be eager to see the same success against a nearly undefeated Doncaster side.
Women's Division 3 East: Doncaster Dragons 3 v Moorabbin Panthers 17
The Panthers pounced in this game, eager to make their way into the Grand Final after a 10-4 loss the round before to Melbourne, their opponents in the upcoming final.
Moorabbin got the job done and will go after the club's second Women's Division 3 flag in four years, with first pitch at 10:30am on Saturday at Springvale.
Women's Division 3 South: Berwick City Cougars 1 v Cheltenham Rustlers 23
The Rustlers came out of the gates early, determined to get into the grand final against Bonbeach Blue, a side that narrowly beat them 6-5 in the semi-finals.
Eight runs in the first and 13 in the second gave Cheltenham quite the comfortable cushion to work with, and two more runs in the third helped as well. The Cougars lone run came in the second.
After a very strong and highly competitive season in which they finished second with an 11-3 record under head coach Michelle Ogilvie, the Rustlers are ready to bring home a highly-anticipated flag, but they will have to overcome Bonbeach Blue. The Rustlers were the only team to beat the Bluejays this year, an 8-5 victory back in round three, and they will need to bring that same form this weekend.
Women's Division 3 West: North Western Titans 7 v Fitzroy Lions 10
The Titans started off strong, scoring four in the opening frame but the Lions came back with two. North Western scored one more in the top of the second and one more in the third before Fitzroy came back fighting, putting up seven in the third with both teams scoring one in the fourth.
The Titans had three hits and Fitzroy had just one, with the Lions making six errors in the field to give North Western plenty of scoring chances.
Julia Klieve, Kim Borg and Tess Warner accumulated North Western's hits, while Fitzroy's Sophia Stensholt, Michelle Anderson and Megan Wiseman had two walks each. Wiseman led the way with three quality at-bats for Fitzroy, while Bridget Byrne and Stensholt had two.
Amy Burnham knocked in two runs for Fitzroy as Warner and Deb Said had RBIs for the Titans.
Leah Trebilcock pitched four innings for Fitzoy with 13 first-pitch strikes, two strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP.
In 2.2 innings of pitching work, Katie Rigby struck out three as Kim Borg got two strikeouts for two key outs in her short and sweet relief appearance.
Fitzroy will face Sunshine in the Grand Final, a team that beat them 17-4 in the semi-finals. The Lions will look to bring their very best form against the Eagles and stay in the game early to have a shot at premiership glory.
It will be a Sunshine v Blackburn Grand Final in VSBL Division 1 Firsts after thrilling comebacks for both teams on Saturday. Both teams won the semi-final series 2-0 and will be gearing up to battle for premiership glory. Game one is on Tuesday, 10 March at 7pm at Melbourne Ballpark, followed by a 4pm game on Saturday and a 4pm game on Sunday if necessary in Altona.
Cheltenham Rustlers 4 v Blackburn Orioles 5
Cheltenham started off strong in this must-win game, but Blackburn came back in the end to get the job done.
The Rustlers battled hard, not only in this game but throughout the entire season. To do so well after being promoted from VSBL Division 2 was really something special and a testament to Cheltenham's dedication and determination, which was on full display in this game.
The first inning was quiet with neither side scoring, although Cheltenham's Andrew Gribbin led off with a big hit but was thrown out trying to steal second by Ryan Berg. Mack Turley made it to first on an infield single, and hits from Michael Leslie and Sam Michael loaded the bases with two outs. Blackburn starter Blake Hodgson kept it together, getting Lars Liguori to fly out to end the top of the first.
In the bottom of the first, back-to-back singles from Liam Hopkins and Ben Leslie made things exciting, but Cheltenham starer Jack Enciondo quickly retired the next three to end the inning. Hodgson settled in and had a 1-2-3 second inning with a popup, strikeout and ground ball.
Blackburn tacked on two in the second, thanks to Cooper Goodman's leadoff walk, Charlie Collins' HBP and Tom Kerr-Chapman's single. Those three at-bats loaded the bases with none out, and then Hopkins came up to bat to open the scoring with a hard-hit RBI single to left. With two outs Luke Hughes took a bases-loaded walk, but a key strikeout allowed Enciondo to end the inning with minimal damage.
Cheltenham had an answer, tying the game in the top of the third to stay firmly in the contest. Another base hit from Gribbin and a Conor Myles walk put Turley in good position for a beautiful sacrifice bunt, moving the runners over. Michael Leslie had an RBI groundout as the Rustlers hopped on the board, and Sam Michael's RBI single tied the game. Hodgson held steady, getting the final out on Liguori's pop-up.
Enciondo had a quick 1-2-3 inning to get the Rustlers back up to bat, but Hodgson was better than the inning before and retired the side before too long. In Blackburn's next turn up, Hopkins had his third hit of the game, this time a double down the right field line. Although Leslie got a walk afterwards, Enciondo was able to keep the runners from scoring and moved the game along.
Gribbin started the fifth inning with his third hit of the game, although three outs on three groundballs made it impossible for him to score. Goodman took a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all Blackburn could muster in that frame.
Cheltenham scored one in the sixth and one in the seventh to go ahead by two although Blackburn quickly tied it up in the bottom of the seventh. Sam Michael's lead-off single and Ben Fierenzi's solid connection on a sinking line drive allowed the Rustlers to score that run in the sixth. That's when Scott Mitchinson entered the game, shutting down the scoring and getting Blackburn back up-to-bat.
Tom Kerr-Chapman had a lead-off single, followed by a fielders choice and an error to load the bases, although with two outs Lars Liguori took the mound and struck out Jacob Evans to end the threat. In the top of the seventh, Turley and Leslie got on and one run scored on Michael's RBI single, although he was thrown out trying to get to third.
Ryan Berg led off Blackburn's next turn with a single, as Goodman had a base hit as well. Charlie Collins' groundout and David Dicker's sacrifice fly brought Blackburn back to within one, before Nick Rossell tied the game with an RBI single and a stolen base.
At the top of the eighth Liguori led off with a single to left field but Mitchinson struck out two and had a line out to complete the inning. Blackburn scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run homer from Luke Hughes and held on to keep Cheltenham at bay in the ninth. Despite Gribbin's hit up the middle, Mitchinson retired three on a sacrifice bunt, strikeout and fly out to end the game and book a spot in the grand final as the Orioles will pursue back-to-back premierships.
Blackburn tacked on two in the second, thanks to Cooper Goodman's leadoff walk, Charlie Collins' HBP and Tom Kerr-Chapman's single. Those three at-bats loaded the bases with none out, and then Hopkins came up to bat to open the scoring with a hard-hit RBI single to left. With two outs Luke Hughes took a bases-loaded walk, but a key strikeout allowed Enciondo to end the inning with minimal damage.
Cheltenham had an answer, tying the game in the top of the third to stay firmly in the contest. Another base hit from Gribbin and a Conor Myles walk put Turley in good position for a beautiful sacrifice bunt, moving the runners over. Michael Leslie had an RBI groundout as the Rustlers hopped on the board, and Sam Michael's RBI single tied the game. Hodgson held steady, getting the final out on Liguori's pop-up.
Enciondo had a quick 1-2-3 inning to get the Rustlers back up to bat, but Hodgson was better than the inning before and retired the side before too long. In Blackburn's next turn up, Hopkins had his third hit of the game, this time a double down the right field line. Although Leslie got a walk afterwards, Enciondo was able to keep the runners from scoring and moved the game along.
Gribbin started the fifth inning with his third hit of the game, although three outs on three groundballs made it impossible for him to score. Goodman took a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all Blackburn could muster in that frame.
Cheltenham scored one in the sixth and one in the seventh to go ahead by two although Blackburn quickly tied it up in the bottom of the seventh. Sam Michael's lead-off single and Ben Fierenzi's solid connection on a sinking line drive allowed the Rustlers to score that run in the sixth. That's when Scott Mitchinson entered the game, shutting down the scoring and getting Blackburn back up-to-bat.
Tom Kerr-Chapman had a lead-off single, followed by a fielders choice and an error to load the bases, although with two outs Lars Liguori took the mound and struck out Jacob Evans to end the threat. In the top of the seventh, Turley and Leslie got on and one run scored on Michael's RBI single, although he was thrown out trying to get to third.
Ryan Berg led off Blackburn's next turn with a single, as Goodman had a base hit as well. Charlie Collins' groundout and David Dicker's sacrifice fly brought Blackburn back to within one, before Nick Rossell tied the game with an RBI single and a stolen base.
At the top of the eighth Liguori led off with a single to left field but Mitchinson struck out two and had a line out to complete the inning. Blackburn scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run homer from Luke Hughes and held on to keep Cheltenham at bay in the ninth. Despite Gribbin's hit up the middle, Mitchinson retired three on a sacrifice bunt, strikeout and fly out to end the game and book a spot in the grand final as the Orioles will pursue back-to-back premierships.
Both sides made two errors on the day as Blackburn collected 10 hits and Cheltenham had 13. Gribbin and Sam Michael both had four hits apiece for Cheltenham, while Liam Hopkins led the way for Blackburn with three. Cooper Goodman took two walks for Blackburn and Ben Leslie had one while Conor Myles got on base via a walk for Cheltenham. Hopkins had four quality-at-bats to lead his team while Cheltenham's Myles and Dante Caruso both had three.
Sam Michael had two RBIs for Cheltenham, Luke Hughes had two for Blackburn and Michael Leslie knocked in one of Cheltenham's runs as well.
Blake Hodgson pitched 5.2 innings for the Orioles, before handing the ball over to Scott Mitchinson. In his time on the mound Hodgson threw 21 first-pitch strikes with a 1.76 WHIP. Jack Enciondo pitched 5.1 innings for Cheltenham, throwing 17 first-pitch strikes and striking out nine with a 1.88 WHIP.
Once Mitchinson came on he struck out four with 12 first-pitch strikes and a 1.20 WHIP. In his 3.1 innings he gave up four hits and one run.
Geelong Baycats 1 v Sunshine Eagles 2
After Sunshine won the first game 2-0, this one looked to be going in favour of Geelong until the last inning.
It was a pitcher's duel to say the least, with Sunshine determined to make it past the semi-finals after losing in the first round of finals last year.
This quick, fast-paced game was dominated by fantastic pitching on both sides. The first three innings were short and sweet before Geelong scored one in the fourth. The Baycats held that narrow lead through to the bottom of the ninth, when Sunshine scored two to take out the win and secure that highly-anticipated spot in the VSBL Division 1 Grand Final, for the first time in 32 years.
Both teams had six hits and Sunshine made three errors on the day, something the Eagles will want to get control of against Blackburn.
Lewis Weldon had two hits for Geelong while Kobe Greenhalgh had one. Sunshine's Allister Lovelock had two hits and one RBI as Rory Meddick knocked in the other run Jand ason Tutt had three quality at-bats for Sunshine.
Ryan Darcy and Jordan Young both had two quality at-bats for Geelong as well.
Sunshine's ace Jeremy Young pitchd a terrific nine inning game, hurling 31 first-pitch strikes with four strikeouts and a 0.67 WHIP.
Rudy Jaramillo was impressive as well, covering 8.2 innings for Geelong with 25 first-pitch strikes, seven strikeouts and a 0.69 WHIP.
This comeback win is yet another highlight in a fabulous season for Sunshine, in which the Eagles finished on top the ladder with an 18-7-1 record. The Eagles will go up against last year's winners, a team that finished 16-8-2 this season, in what promises to be an amazing VSBL Division 1 Grand Final.
Please be advised that tonight’s VSBL Division 2 semi-final game between Werribee and Malvern at Melbourne Ballpark has been deemed a wash out due to persistent heavy rain in Altona.
As of 4:00PM Thursday, the Moorabbin v Williamstown game will be going ahead, and this decision will be at the discretion of the umpire.
Baseball Victoria will confirm options in regards to the lost fixtures as required tomorrow.
The schedule for the 2020 Australian Women's and Youth Women's Championships has been released.
The Victorian Women's and Youth Women's State Teams will travel to Canberra for the national tournament from 10-17 April.
The Victorian Women's team will chase back-to-back gold medals by opening their campaign against South Australia and Queensland, while the Victorian Youth Women's team will look to build on a bronze medal finish from last year with the first game against South Australia.
Victorian teams will continue their training in preparation for the tournament in the next few weeks, and we wish them all the best at #AWC2020.
It's finals time and Sunshine, Geelong, Blackburn and Cheltenham are putting in their best efforts to make it through the VSBL Division 1 Firsts semi-finals. The opening night semi-finals saw Sunshine and Blackburn enjoy shutout victories to take 1-0 series leads. Saturday's games are now do-or-die for Cheltenham and Geelong as finals continue.
Cheltenham Rustlers 0 v Blackburn Orioles 5
Cheltenham and Blackburn took the field at Mulgrave Baseball Club, with Andrew Jones starting on the mound for second place Blackburn and Lars Liguori throwing for Cheltenham.
Liam Hopkins and Ben Leslie wasted no time, getting back-to-back singles to open the game but Liguori settled things down.
It was on to the top of the second, when Hopkins made a fantastic diving catch to record the first out. Jones gave up a base hit to Conor Myles but he picked him off at first to end the inning. In the bottom of the second Cooper Goodman got on base on an error, moving around thanks to a beautiful bunt by Charlie Collins. A single from Dave Dicker and a double by Nick Rossell opened the scoring. By the end of the inning, the Orioles had a 3-0 lead after Hopkins' RBI groundout and Ben Leslie's RBI infield single.
Solid defense played a part in the third as Jones kept Cheltenham off the base paths. Blackburn added two more runs in the bottom of the third, with a lead-off single from Jacob Evans, followed by a bunt by Ryan Berg and Charlie Collins' RBI single. Collins went to second on a passed ball and Dicker came back up to bat, getting the job done with an RBI double.
Liguori reached on a single in the fourth but he was picked off by Jones, and despite getting on base with a huge double, Cheltenham's Andrew Gribbin was left stranded without scoring. Jones' terrific pitching performance continued, shutting down any Rustlers' scoring attempts quickly and efficiently.
Liguori had his first three up, three down inning in the fifth, and the game would stay scoreless for the rest of the night. Mac Turley doubled to left field in the top of the sixth and a walk by the next batter had runners in scoring position, but Cooper Goodman and Luke Hughes made some great defensive plays to sustain the shutout.
Andrew Campbell appeared in relief for Cheltenham, giving up a walk to Rossell to start things off but settling in from there on out. Blake Hodgson took the mound in the seventh for Blackburn, giving up an infield single to Ben Fierenzi but quickly getting in the groove with a strikeout and a double play.
Scott Mitchinson was tasked with getting the final six outs for the Orioles, and he succeeded as Cheltenham was left searching for offence. Liguori led off with a hit by pitch in the top of the ninth, and a walk to Gribbin looked like a Cheltenham rally could be in the works. Mitchinson faced the pressure just fine and got a fly ball and two ground balls to end the game on a high note.
Ben Leslie went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Dicker went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Rossell went 1-for-3 with a double, stolen base, walk and an RBI.
Blackburn now has a1-0 series lead, with game two scheduled to start at 2pm on Saturday.
Blackburn now has a1-0 series lead, with game two scheduled to start at 2pm on Saturday.
Geelong Baycats 0 v Sunshine Eagles 2
In a great effort by both sides, two runs made all the difference for Sunshine.
Riley Barr hurled eight scoreless innings for Sunshine ahead of Jeremy Young closing out the shutout victory, which gave the Eagles a crucial 1-0 advantage in the semi-finals series.
Sunshine had a 1-0 lead after the bottom of the first when Bryce Aldridge smashed a two-out double and Rory Meddick singled to score him.
The game continued quickly and quietly until Sunshine scored one more in the sixth, thanks to a lead-off walk from Josh Byrne who later came around on Meddick's ground ball.
Barr scattered four hits and three walks along with four strikeouts across eight impressive innings, while Geelong's Sam Gibbons gave up just two hits in six innings. Gibbons struck out seven as his Baycats offence struggled to break into the game, collecting only four hits and three walks. Kelli Zablan had half of Geelong's hits while Tyler Luther-Wilson and Josh Davies had one apiece.
The series continues at Sunshine from 2pm on Saturday, with the Eagles hoping to go one step further than they did last year as a grand final spot is on the line.
Riley Barr hurled eight scoreless innings for Sunshine ahead of Jeremy Young closing out the shutout victory, which gave the Eagles a crucial 1-0 advantage in the semi-finals series.
Sunshine had a 1-0 lead after the bottom of the first when Bryce Aldridge smashed a two-out double and Rory Meddick singled to score him.
The game continued quickly and quietly until Sunshine scored one more in the sixth, thanks to a lead-off walk from Josh Byrne who later came around on Meddick's ground ball.
Barr scattered four hits and three walks along with four strikeouts across eight impressive innings, while Geelong's Sam Gibbons gave up just two hits in six innings. Gibbons struck out seven as his Baycats offence struggled to break into the game, collecting only four hits and three walks. Kelli Zablan had half of Geelong's hits while Tyler Luther-Wilson and Josh Davies had one apiece.
The series continues at Sunshine from 2pm on Saturday, with the Eagles hoping to go one step further than they did last year as a grand final spot is on the line.
Twelve teams entered this weekend but only six remain, with premiership flags up for grabs this weekend across VSBL Division 4 East, North West and South.
Division 4 East
Fitzroy Lions Gold 12 v Waverley Wildcats Black 22
Waverley Black produced more big run-scoring digs compared to Fitzroy Gold and that’s what got them over the line in this contest.
While the Lions were able to put four runs up at the top of the first, Waverley Black responded by scoring seven at the bottom.
Fitzroy Gold tied things up during the second dig but couldn’t get ahead, just scoring three runs, the clash still being close as the Lions kept their opponent to just one at the bottom.
The third inning didn’t see Fitzroy Gold’s score change but Waverley Black capitalised and scored five themselves and that’s when the dominance from the Wildcats started.
Another seven-run dig in the fourth compared to Fitzroy Gold’s one started to give the Wildcats a handy lead, although it was cut down by two after the final fifth inning where the Lions got onto a few pitches to score four. Two final runs for Waverley Black further sealed the deal as the second place Wildcats booked a grand final meeting with the undefeated Demons.
Monash University Farmers 8 v Melbourne Demons 19
A couple of big innings by Melbourne at the front and end of the game decided this result, a six-run first inning helped the Demons turn this into a 7-0 lead after two.
Monash Uni got on the board and back in the game with a string of runs to end the third inning with four, the Demons able to just peg one back.
However, consecutive two-run efforts wasn't going to cut it for the Farmers in the fourth and fifth innings, especially considering Melbourne scored four and seven in the same time.
Paul Blakeney did a solid job pitching against a very tough and determined undefeated side, but the Farmers still fell to the Demons. Now Melbourne is preparing for a home grand final clash with Waverley Black this weekend as the Demons look to preserve a perfect season.
Division 4 North West
North Coburg Rebels Gold 6 v Footscray Bulldogs Red 7
The Rebels battled hard but ultimately fell in extra innings to the Bulldogs side that finished second with a 15-2-1 record.
North Coburg Gold wasted no time jumping on the board, taking a 1-0 lead after the opening frame, with a fantastic shoestring catch by Patrick Kennedy to end the Bulldogs' time in the box. Footscray Red took over with a 2-1 advantage at the end of the second, and it was a back-and-forth battle from there.
The Rebels tied it up in the top of the third and recaptured the lead, going ahead by two in the top of the fourth but the Bulldogs tied it right back up in the bottom frame. A quiet fifth gave way to the sixth when Footscray Red scored two more, but North Coburg Gold held strong and got two runs back in the top of the seventh.
As the tied ballgame went into extras, the Rebels came up empty in the top frame but the Bulldogs managed to piece one run together to win this hard-fought game and book a spot in the grand final.
Footscray Red will chase a second premiership in three years but the Bulldogs will have to beat Footscray White to do it.
Mitchell Majors Yellow 7 v Footscray Bulldogs White 17
The top team in Footscray White put themselves through to a grand final on the back of an impressive 10-run win over Mitchell Majors Yellow.
With the Bulldogs’ first two innings seeing seven and six runs respectively, it was enough of a lead that Mitchell Majors Yellow couldn’t recover.
Despite that, Mitchell Majors Yellow did find some runs as they were the first side to score on the day, seeing three runs to their tally in the first inning.
The third inning started with the visitors getting four runs, although so did the home side at the bottom before two scoreless innings kept the result the same.
Footscray White will play Footscray Red in the grand final at home, with first pitch slated for 1:00pm Sunday.
Division 4 South
St Kilda Saints 2 v Cheltenham Rustlers 23
The Saints were kept quiet by a hard-hitting Cheltenham side that was clicking on all cylinders.
The Rustlers scored early and didn't stop, putting up 14 runs in the first and eight in the second. St Kilda scored two in the third and Cheltenham got one in the fourth as the Rustlers cruised to a grand final berth, now set to play rivals and reigning premiers Berwick City Cougars.
Cheltenham finished on top the ladder with a 12-1-1 record, while Berwick came third at 13-4. These two teams just played each other a few weeks ago in round 18, when Cheltenham won 9-3. The Rustlers also won 10-6 in round 11.
Cheltenham hosts the 1:00pm grand final on Sunday.
Berwick City Cougars 2 v Monash University Farmers 1
In a superb close battle with strong pitching on both sides, the Cougars narrowly got the win.
Berwick scored one in the second and one in the sixth while Monash Uni had a one-run fourth. Both teams made two errors in the field while the Cougars collected four hits and the Farmers had six.
Tim Kibell had two hits for Monash Uni while Mark Hawkins and Paul Quinn had one each for Berwick. James Upfill had two quality at=bats for Monash Uni as well.
Michael Nakai was fantastic on the mound for the Farmers, keeping them firmly in the game with 23 first-pitch strikes, four strikeouts and a 0.57 WHIP across seven innings. The Cougars relied on six innings from Hudson Hyde, who 17 first-pitch strikes with six strikeouts and a 1.17 WHIP. Wayne Porter filled in for an inning with a strikeout and four first-pitch strikes.
The Cougars have a chance to go two in a row on Sunday's grand final against Cheltenham.
After high-energy, high-scoring semi-finals, teams have secured their spots in the VSBL Division 3 Firsts and Reserves grand finals. After dominating all season long, Springvale will pursue a premiership in the top nine, while Pakenham and Ormond Glenhuntly Blue will battle it out in the reserves.
Division 3 Firsts
Ormond Glenhuntly Blue 6 v Springvale Lions 10
A huge six-run effort at the bottom of the second set the Lions up for a big win in this semi-final but Ormond Blue did keep up the pressure.
Although Springvale added two more runs at the bottom of the third to lead 8-0, Ormond Blue found some runs and was back in the contest courtesy of a four-run fifth dig.
Springvale was good on the defense thereafter, not allowing another Ormond Blue run until the ninth inning when the Hunters were chasing after the Lions had added two more along the way.
Springvale starter Lucas Anderson threw three smooth innings and he would have had nine straight outs except for an error. The Hunters also struggled with errors, and Springvale jumped on those scoring opportunities with a few unearned runs in the mix.
Geoff MacDonald pitched in relief for Ormond Glenhuntly and did a good job of making sure Springvale runners were left on base, with the Lions stranding 13 in total for the game.
Scott Baillie came in to relieve Anderson and struck out two in his first inning. It wasn't long before Springvale was back to scoring with Adam Thatcher stealing second and scoring on a double from Rydge Hogan. Chris Davies opened the seventh with a double, advancing to third on a wild pick-off throw before coming home on a ground ball.
The Hunters did get a second hit off of Baillie in the top of the ninth, with the runner scampering home on an infield error.
Five players in the Lions lineup had multiple hits: Lucas Anderson, Rydge Hogan, Lucas Price, Chris Davies and Scott Baillie. Price had four RBIs while Matt Cameron and Adam Thatcher also had hits.
Springvale finished the regular season far in front with a 18-1 record, meaning Ormond Glenhuntly Gold has a big task ahead for the grand final clash.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold 20 v Pakenham Pumas 4
This would have been a relatively even contest if not for two monstrous innings from Ormond Glenhuntly Gold.
The first inning yielded a two-all scoreline while the sixth produced the same result for each side.
However, it was a six-run fourth inning and a 10-run ninth inning that saw the score catapult into a 16-run margin.
The Hunters will take that run-scoring ability into the grand final where they’ll need it against Springvale. After all, the Lions scored 238 runs in the regular season while giving up only 29, and the Hunters scored 127 runs and gave up 155.
Springvale won 3-2 in their last meeting back in round 17, but the Hunters did hand the Lions their only loss of the season in round 12 with a final score of 5-4 in favour of Ormond Glenhuntly Gold.
Division 3 Seconds
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold 3 v Ormond Glenhuntly Blue 13
In a fantastic Ormond Glenhuntly classic, Ormond Glenhuntly Blue has bragging rights and a spot in the grand final at home against Pakenham this weekend.
Ormond Glenhuntly Blue shot out to a 7-1 lead after four innings with back-to-back three-run digs in the third and fourth.
Ormond Glenhuntly Gold came back briefly in the fifth, scoring two but one run to Ormond Glenhuntly Blue in the sixth and a whopping five runs in the seventh to end the game sealed the deal.
The Hunters will play Pakenham in the grand final, and throughout the regular season Ormond Glenhuntly Blue won just one out of four meetings, that victory coming in round one with a 7-0 win. Pakenham won 16-15 in round 11 and 11-8 in round 16, with a 6-6 draw between the two teams in round six.
Pakenham Pumas 12 v Springvale Lions 8
Pakenham beat the ladder-leaders Springvale in a high-scoring contest to make it into the grand final.
Springvale left the scoring too late in this game, as the Pumas were already out to a nine-run lead after their second inning, thanks to a first inning that produced four runs and a second inning that saw six runs come in.
Bit-by-bit, the Lions looked like charging, first scoring two runs at the bottom of the third but their runs were quickly cancelled out later down the track when Pakenham was scoring too.
Pakenham scored one more run at the top of the eighth, leaving an eight-run margin that Lions had to chase in their final two innings, however the home side was just able to score four in the ninth inning.
Pakenham is through to a grand final now where the Pumas will take on Ormond Glenhuntly Blue.
Six exciting semi-finals had teams working hard to take their seasons even further in the VSBL Division 2 Reserves, Thirds and Fourths competitions. Now the Grand Final matchups are set for Sunday, 8 March with premiership titles up for grabs.
Division 2 Reserves
Doncaster Dragons 6 v Moorabbin Panthers 13
Ladder-leaders Moorabbin made sure to enter into a grand final with a five-run win over Doncaster getting them there.
Getting out of the gates early was key for Moorabbin, as the 14-4-1 Panthers kept the 11-7-1 Dragons at bay. "I think the keys to Moorabbin's success was our hot start," player Tom Brookes said. "We came ready to play and scored early, and even later in the game when Doncaster challenged us we rallied and kept scoring runs."
After finishing top of the ladder by a few games, Brooks and his teammates are determined to win the grand final. "I think we have to go out and play our own style of baseball," Brooks added. "All year we have proved ourselves to be the team that doesn't stop fighting. This week we need to play a full nine innings and even if we don't start well, we keep battling until things go our way."
The Panthers will take on Williamstown in the deciding game this weekend. Williamstown won a 7-6 nailbiter in round 10 after Moorabbin one the first game 6-2, and a final meeting between these teams will definitely be exciting.
St Kilda Saints 9 v Williamstown Wolves 10
Second place Williamstown took care of the Saints in a win for the ages, seeing them into a grand final.
With four runs in both the first and the second, St Kilda was in prime position early on in the game. Leading 8-2, the Saints kept things under control until the bottom of the fourth when the Wolves got one back. Williamstown scored another three in the bottom of the fifth to keep things interesting, mounting a comeback that wouldn't be complete until the bottom of the ninth.
Despite the Saints' commendable efforts, the walk off win was huge for Williamstown and sets the Reserves up to chase a highly-anticipated flag.
First pitch for the grand final is slated for 3:30 pm Sunday as both teams look to give it all they've got.
Division 2 Thirds
Williamstown Wolves 3 v St Kilda Saints 7
St Kilda was leading 3-0 after three innings, and the Saints continued to dominate thoughout the course of the game.
Williamstown finally got on the board at the top of the fourth but just managed one run. St Kilda added one to the score in the fifth before the Wolves came out with two at the top of the sixth and it was back to a one-run ballgame.
The Saints made sure of a result in their favour after they batted in three runs at the bottom before closing out with a good defensive inning.
St Kilda will play Moorabbin in the grand final this weekend. The Saints finished in second place at 13-5-1 while Moorabbin ended at 12-6, with the Panthers winning 6-4 over St Kilda back in round four. St Kilda won the second meeting 7-4 but Moorabbin ended up taking the series with a 5-4 victory in game three, meaning this upcoming grand final will be a highly competitive one.
Moorabbin Panthers 8 v Malvern Braves 7
This was a game that had it all, including going into a 10th inning to decide the result, Moorabbin holding up strong to earn the win over Malvern.
The Braves took a two-run lead after the first inning but the Panthers struck back in the next few to lead 4-2 after four.
Throughout the fifth to seventh innings, each team had two one-run digs but Malvern had added two runs to the score in the sixth, helping them to draw level at the end of the seventh.
Moorabbin scored two runs at the top of the 11th while there was also scoring chances for Malvern at the bottom, however the Braves fell short by one run. Mitchell Johnston's double to right propelled Moorabbin in front.
Moorabbin coach Andrew Bloomfield says solid pitching from starter Otto Moje, reliever Adrian (Gus) Fielden and closer Wesley Ka made the win possible. "In the field we made important plays when they had to be made, and this was massive when in the eighth or ninth innings Malvern had bases loaded with none out," Bloomfield said. "Hitting was steady with the main priority of getting on base, letting things happen and executing in major situations."
Now the Panthers are preparing for the big dance. "Plans for the grand final are very simple with keeping the game as one inning at a time," Bloomfield said. "We are looking forward to a tough battle."
The shock win over the top-placed Braves will see Moorabbin with plenty of momentum to take on the Saints in the grand final.
Division 2 Fourths
St Kilda Saints 2 v Malvern Braves 3
The deciding run came in the sixth inning as the Braves took the lead, and later the win with that run after each team scored within the first two innings.
St Kilda scored first with one run coming in at the top of the first, that one-run lead being reversed when Malvern came up to bat. The Braves scored two at the bottom before the Saints levelled the scores at the top half of the second inning.
After a close and highly competitive game, the Braves have booked their place in the grand final against Williamstown. The Wolves will be going after their third straight flag, and it's up to Malvern to stop them.
Geelong Baycats 5 v Williamstown Wolves 15
Williamstown cruised to a big win, earning a home grand final on Sunday after beating the Baycats by 10 runs in a one-sided game.
While the scores were tied at two-apeice after the first inning, constant runs from the Wolves allowed them to have a large enough buffer, especially after scoring five in their fourth inning.
At the top of the fifth, Geelong got back on the board with two runs but the might of Williamstown saw them take three in the bottom. It was much the same for the next inning as the away side scored another one run to Williamstown’s two to see an end to the game.
Williamstown is eager to win yet another premiership, but first the Wolves will have to overcome Malvern, a team they lost to by three runs in round 19.
Division 2 Reserves
Doncaster Dragons 6 v Moorabbin Panthers 13
Ladder-leaders Moorabbin made sure to enter into a grand final with a five-run win over Doncaster getting them there.
Getting out of the gates early was key for Moorabbin, as the 14-4-1 Panthers kept the 11-7-1 Dragons at bay. "I think the keys to Moorabbin's success was our hot start," player Tom Brookes said. "We came ready to play and scored early, and even later in the game when Doncaster challenged us we rallied and kept scoring runs."
After finishing top of the ladder by a few games, Brooks and his teammates are determined to win the grand final. "I think we have to go out and play our own style of baseball," Brooks added. "All year we have proved ourselves to be the team that doesn't stop fighting. This week we need to play a full nine innings and even if we don't start well, we keep battling until things go our way."
The Panthers will take on Williamstown in the deciding game this weekend. Williamstown won a 7-6 nailbiter in round 10 after Moorabbin one the first game 6-2, and a final meeting between these teams will definitely be exciting.
St Kilda Saints 9 v Williamstown Wolves 10
Second place Williamstown took care of the Saints in a win for the ages, seeing them into a grand final.
With four runs in both the first and the second, St Kilda was in prime position early on in the game. Leading 8-2, the Saints kept things under control until the bottom of the fourth when the Wolves got one back. Williamstown scored another three in the bottom of the fifth to keep things interesting, mounting a comeback that wouldn't be complete until the bottom of the ninth.
Despite the Saints' commendable efforts, the walk off win was huge for Williamstown and sets the Reserves up to chase a highly-anticipated flag.
First pitch for the grand final is slated for 3:30 pm Sunday as both teams look to give it all they've got.
Division 2 Thirds
Williamstown Wolves 3 v St Kilda Saints 7
St Kilda was leading 3-0 after three innings, and the Saints continued to dominate thoughout the course of the game.
Williamstown finally got on the board at the top of the fourth but just managed one run. St Kilda added one to the score in the fifth before the Wolves came out with two at the top of the sixth and it was back to a one-run ballgame.
The Saints made sure of a result in their favour after they batted in three runs at the bottom before closing out with a good defensive inning.
St Kilda will play Moorabbin in the grand final this weekend. The Saints finished in second place at 13-5-1 while Moorabbin ended at 12-6, with the Panthers winning 6-4 over St Kilda back in round four. St Kilda won the second meeting 7-4 but Moorabbin ended up taking the series with a 5-4 victory in game three, meaning this upcoming grand final will be a highly competitive one.
Moorabbin Panthers 8 v Malvern Braves 7
This was a game that had it all, including going into a 10th inning to decide the result, Moorabbin holding up strong to earn the win over Malvern.
The Braves took a two-run lead after the first inning but the Panthers struck back in the next few to lead 4-2 after four.
Throughout the fifth to seventh innings, each team had two one-run digs but Malvern had added two runs to the score in the sixth, helping them to draw level at the end of the seventh.
Moorabbin scored two runs at the top of the 11th while there was also scoring chances for Malvern at the bottom, however the Braves fell short by one run. Mitchell Johnston's double to right propelled Moorabbin in front.
Moorabbin coach Andrew Bloomfield says solid pitching from starter Otto Moje, reliever Adrian (Gus) Fielden and closer Wesley Ka made the win possible. "In the field we made important plays when they had to be made, and this was massive when in the eighth or ninth innings Malvern had bases loaded with none out," Bloomfield said. "Hitting was steady with the main priority of getting on base, letting things happen and executing in major situations."
Now the Panthers are preparing for the big dance. "Plans for the grand final are very simple with keeping the game as one inning at a time," Bloomfield said. "We are looking forward to a tough battle."
The shock win over the top-placed Braves will see Moorabbin with plenty of momentum to take on the Saints in the grand final.
Division 2 Fourths
St Kilda Saints 2 v Malvern Braves 3
The deciding run came in the sixth inning as the Braves took the lead, and later the win with that run after each team scored within the first two innings.
St Kilda scored first with one run coming in at the top of the first, that one-run lead being reversed when Malvern came up to bat. The Braves scored two at the bottom before the Saints levelled the scores at the top half of the second inning.
After a close and highly competitive game, the Braves have booked their place in the grand final against Williamstown. The Wolves will be going after their third straight flag, and it's up to Malvern to stop them.
Geelong Baycats 5 v Williamstown Wolves 15
Williamstown cruised to a big win, earning a home grand final on Sunday after beating the Baycats by 10 runs in a one-sided game.
While the scores were tied at two-apeice after the first inning, constant runs from the Wolves allowed them to have a large enough buffer, especially after scoring five in their fourth inning.
At the top of the fifth, Geelong got back on the board with two runs but the might of Williamstown saw them take three in the bottom. It was much the same for the next inning as the away side scored another one run to Williamstown’s two to see an end to the game.
Williamstown is eager to win yet another premiership, but first the Wolves will have to overcome Malvern, a team they lost to by three runs in round 19.