Baseball Victoria, Author at Baseball Victoria

Sunshine maintains top spot as plenty of teams push for a finals birth in the 2019/20 VSBL Division 1 season. Blackburn and Cheltenham are battling for top spot in the reserves while the top four in the thirds could go any way but is lead by Blackburn. In the fourths, Melbourne has cemented top spot while Essendon continues to make a statement.

Division 1 Firsts - Round 21

Fitzroy Lions 4 v Sandringham Royals 10

The Royals got the jump on the Lions at the start of this game and managed a 3-0 lead after five as a five-run eighth inning exploded their lead to a 10-2 margin.

Fitzroy scored two runs in the sixth and seventh before the Lions' bats put up another two in the ninth as they were tasked with a big margin to reach.

Riley Hill picked up the loss for the Lions when he went through six innings for 11 hits and five runs with three strikeouts.

Fitzroy's James Little picked up a double RBI in his one at bat, Gavin Juchnevicius getting a run from his one hit of the game too. Tyler Trevaskis got himself a double and Brock Pawley picked up two hits and two RBIs.

Cody Anderson for the Royals got the win, going the full nine innings, only giving up seven hits and three earned runs with a whopping 10 strikeouts. It's the fourth time in five games that Anderson has scored 10 or more strikeouts.

Anderson also worked the bat, getting a hit that he converted into a run as Jai Lyttleton batted 1.000 with an RBI in his second game. Zac Skinner had three hits from five at bats that included a double as he had a run and two RBIs mixed in there.

Branden Stenhouse was another standout for Sandringham who went 2-for-4 including a huge home run with two RBIs. Declan Ferguson went 3-for-4 as he picked up two doubles to go along with three runs and an RBI. Harrison Wills collected two hits, one run and an RBI while Paul Rutgers picked up an RBI double. Will Tucker had two runs off two hits, one of which was a double while Declan Crocker had the same amount of hits and runs with an added RBI.

The Royals got one back on the Lions, who they lost to in the midweeks to keep ninth spot, one place above Fitzroy.

Sandringham and Fitzroy will face each other at Melbourne Ballpark in the final series game between these two as midweek fixtures continue on Tuesday night.

Cheltenham Rustlers 4 v Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 3

The Tigers gave themselves every chance of winning this one but fell short at the last hurdle.

Upwey Ferntree Gully got the first run of the game in the opening dig, and the score stayed that way through four. It was until the fifth that the Rustlers added two runs, and they followed up with two more in the seventh to take a 4-1 lead.

Shutting the Tigers out since the first inning and heading into the final chance to score for the home team, the Rustlers almost lost all that they'd worked up so far.

Upwey Ferntree Gully scored two runs before Cheltenham closed the game for good to get back at the Tigers for the one-all draw last round.

For the Tigers, Donovan Hendricks picked up the loss as he lasted 6.2 innings for 10 hits and three earned runs. Jarrod Turner closed it out for the Tigers in 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and zero runs.

Nicholas Rice had an RBI single, Justin Swanton an RBI double which he came home on later while Jordan Elliot had a double also. Michael Oxworth got himself two hits including a double and an RBI from it.

Cheltenham plays Upwey Ferntree Gully at home in a midweek fixture as the Rustlers keep pushing for a top-four spot. The Rustlers are oh-so-close, sitting at 11-9-1 while fourth-place Blackburn is 11-8-1. Upwey Ferntree Gully isn't far off either, with a 8-8-2 record keeping the Tigers in sixth place.

Photo: Donovan Hendricks of Upwey Ferntree Baseball Club - Baseball Victoria

Berwick City Cougars 16 v Melbourne Demons 3

Berwick claimed a huge win over Melbourne to improve to a 9-10-1 record.

The Cougars took an early 4-1 lead, adding another in the third before a massive 10-run fourth inning. Melbourne mustered just two more runs in the sixth, giving up one more to this hard-hitting, fast-finishing Berwick side as the game drew to a close.

Jordan Bradley got the win for the Cougars, giving up five hits and two runs with two strikeouts. He was helped along by Matthew West and Aaron Ouwehand who combined for five innings, three hits and one run.

Mark Surtees had two hits on the day which allowed him to get a run and an RBI as Bradley had a good day at the plate too with two runs, a double and and two RBIs. Lucas Taylor had two runs from one hit with an RBI.

Cain Bumpstead had a field day with three hits from four at bats, all converted into runs and all bringing in runners too as he had three RBIs. Craig Barnett followed suit with two hits from three at bats, as he scored two runs himself with two RBIs also. Aiden Willis went had a 2-for-3 day and was able to score three times.

Coach Shaun Surtees noted that the Cougars started this game with great pace, a valuable benefit when they're playing away from home. "We had RBIs across the board and QAB's throughout the day from the whole team," Surtees said. "Luc Taylor was excellent at SS for us on Sunday, while our outfield was flawless again."

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, the Cougars are ready to finish strong. "QAB’s and executing with RISP are the keys, especially in a timed mid-week game when one run early could be the difference," Surtees added. "We are excited for the game on Tuesday against Melbourne and our two remaining series. We are getting close to achieving some of our key goals for the season but we will remain focused on the old cliché of one game at a time."

This marked the Berwick's third win in a row while the Demons are on a four-game losing streak ahead of a crucial midweek matchup.

Essendon Bombers 1 v Sunshine Eagles 8

Sunshine won over Essendon on the weekend as the Eagles tighlty hang on to top spot, sitting there with a 16-4 record.

Sunshine scored four runs in the third to take a comfortable lead, getting another in the sixth and three in the seventh while only allowing Essendon to score that one time in the top of the seventh.

Jeremy Young got the win for the Eagles, going eight innings and only giving up five hits and one run with four strikeouts.

Jordan Young went two from three with two runs and an RBI, Rory Meddick had a double on top of two runs and an RBI. Jeremy Young went three from four with two RBIs but could just convert one of his hits to a run. Adam Irons had three hits including a double that he converted into a run. Nikau Pouaka-Grego had an RBI double while Jason Tutt had a two RBI single.

The Bombers will look to turn things around after a three-game losing streak in the midweek game and the following series, with Esssendon now sitting at 10-11.

Waverley Wildcats v Blackburn Orioles - WASHOUT

This game was washed out between these two top-four teams who will face each other again in a midweek matchup at Waverley. Waverley is 12-8 and Blackburn is 11-8-1. The Orioles won the first game 2-1.

Newport Rams v Geelong Baycats - WASHOUT

A washout between Newport and Geelong has dampened the Baycats chances of taking the top spot, as they sit three wins behind first-place Sunshine.

However, Geelong will hope for better weather in their mid-week game against the Rams this week as the Baycats look to bridge the gap.

Division 1 Reserves - Round 16

Essendon Bombers 3 v Sunshine Eagles 4

Essendon was on the winning end of a one-run margin last week however the Bombers found themselves on the other end this week as the Eagles prevailed in an upset.

Sunshine scored one in the second as Essendon answered with two in the thirds. It was a back-and-forth battle with both teams chipping away to a tied ball game after four. It wasn't until the final frame in the bottom of the seventh that Sunshine was able to break free and score the winning run.

The Eagles were second-last heading into this clash with sixth-placed Essendon, however they have recorded their fourth win of the season and jumped up a spot.

Essendon will hope to bounce back against Blackburn next week while Sunshine is away to Berwick.

Newport Rams 1 v Geelong Baycats 4

All of the runs in this game were scored in the first inning as both teams defence was the main element of the four-inning, weather-affected game.

Lachlan Hockey and Emerson Rickard shared duties on the mound for Geelong and restricted the Rams to a single run the entire game as Will Brennan was terrific behind the plate.

Dion Kirschener was a standout bat for the Baycats with three hits, all from quality at bats. Blake Witham picked up two hits for the home team while Rickard, Angus McNee and Chris Durston each picked up one hit.

Geelong is 5-8-2 after this game as the Baycats prepare to travel to Waverley this weekend while Newport hits the road to play Upwey Ferntree Gully.

Fitzroy Lions 4 v Sandringham Royals 3

Fitzroy was out to a 4-0 lead after two innings but couldn't score after that as Sandringham pressed for runs.

The Royals scored three runs throughout the fourth and fifth innings as each side didn't give the other a sniff heading into the final couple of innings as the Lions held on to win.

Both sides were on three wins heading into this game as they look to end the final few rounds on a high, with Fitzroy now holding a 4-11-1 record.

Next weekend, Fitzroy faces Cheltenham while Sandringham is away to Melbourne.

Cheltenham Rustlers 7 v Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 2

Cheltenham had three single-run digs in a row before the Tigers scored two in the fifth.

The Rustlers steadied in the seventh and final inning to add four more runs to their tally, a feat that the TIgers couldn't replicate at the bottom.

Cheltenham is hanging onto second place with a 13-3 record, a couple of wins in front of third-placed Upwey Ferntree Gully.

The Rustlers will take on Fitzroy this week while the Tigers host Newport.

Berwick City Cougars 0 v Melbourne Demons 5

Melbourne got a shutout over Berwick, marking the Demons' second shutout win in a row as they sit fifth with a 9-6 record.

Melbourne's runs came in the second and the third innings, with the rest of the game being pretty quiet.

The Cougars meanwhile have a 7-7-1 record as they broke a two-game winning streak.

The Demons will host Sandringham in the next round while Berwick will host Sunshine.

Waverley Wildcats v Blackburn Orioles - WASHOUT

This washout results affects both Waverley and Blackburn as these top-four teams are fourth and first respectively, with a few teams hot on their tail to knock them out. In the next round the Wildcats host Geelong while the Orioles host Essendon.

Division 1 Thirds - Round 16

Sandringham Royals 4 v Fitzroy Lions 2

Sandringham had a four-run lead at the completion of the fifth dig thanks to a three-run third inning however Fitzroy scored two runs at the bottom of the fifth.

The Royals didn't let that small period of Lions momentum continue as both teams defences overpowered the offences to end the game in Sandringham's favour.

The Royals have improved their season record to an even 8-8 and sit sixth but will need some more wins on the board in the final weeks, starting with Melbourne. Fitzroy is 4-11-1 and takes on Cheltenham next.

Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 5 v Cheltenham Rustlers 13

The Tigers had a good start to this game, putting two runs on the board, but the Rustlers went a step above and got seven in the opening frame.

When Uwpey Ferntree Gully scored one more in the third, Cheltenham put up four. Both sides managed two additional runs as the game drew to a close, but the Rustlers remained far in front. Cheltenham is now on a two-game winning streak with this victory while the Tigers have slipped a few places on a back of a string of losses within the past few rounds.

Upwey Ferntree Gully will hope to get its season back on track at home this week against Newport while Cheltenham will travel to Fitzroy.

Sunshine Eagles 1 v Essendon Bombers 7

The Bombers were steady in their approach to this game as they scored a singular run in each of the first four innings before the Eagles scored their one and only run of the game in the fifth.

The Bombers ended their game with three runs in the sixth which the Eagles weren't able to come back from when they played the seventh.

Essendon is third with a 10-4-2 record ahead of a tough matchup against Blackburn in this upcoming round, while Sunshine will want to improve on a 1-12-1 record at home to Berwick.

Melbourne Demons 7 v Berwick City Cougars 2

Melbourne came out of the blocks early with three runs in the first, followed by a further three runs in the following three innings to see a 6-1 lead after four.

The Cougars scored one of their two runs in the first and the other in the fifth before the Demons took one back in the sixth.

The two evenly-placed teams still have some way to go before entering finals calculations however Melbourne is closer with a 7-7-1 record. The Demons are hoping to make it a three-game winning streak this weekend against Sandringham while Berwick will be away to Sunshine.

Waverley Wildcats v Blackburn Orioles - WASHOUT

These top-four teams got washed out which could affect the standings come the end of the season.

For now, first-place Blackburn is just barely ahead of second before facing Essendon while fourth-place Waverley will take on Geelong this weekend.

Geelong Baycats v Newport Rams - WASHOUT

The Baycats had the chance for top spot but unfortunately, the game got washed out but it still sets up a big game against Waverley this weekend while Newport will travel to Upwey Ferntree Gully.

Division 1 Fourths - Round 16

Newport Rams 5 v Geelong Baycats 15

The Baycats blitzed through this game with plenty of runs, a nine-run second inning going a long way to claiming their eighth win of the season.

Geelong was up 12-1 after two innings before the Rams mounted a small comeback, recording four runs in their third turn at the plate while keeping the home side scoreless.

To finish the game in the fourth inning, Geelong scored a further three runs as the Rams struggled to keep up all the way through and recorded their 15th game without a win.

Travis Duxson was on the mound to start for Geelong, going three innings as Cooper Rickard close the game out 1.2 innings.

Jackson Viney was good at the plate for the Baycats, going three from three with four RBIs. Duxson went two from three while Alex Hockey and Jake Elderfield hit a triple and double respectively.

For the Baycats, it's their second 10-run win in a row and sixth consecutive win which has seen them shoot up the standings from 11th at round 10 to fifth at the completion of this round.

Newport plays Upwey Ferntree Gully next and Geelong travels to Waverley.

Sandringham Royals 1 v Fitzroy Lions 4

In this matchup, it was Fitzroy that prevailed in a game that was even after four and a half innings until the home team took control.

Each team failed to score in the first two innings, but that changed in the third when each team got on the board once in their respective appearances.

The Lions were in desperate need for a win, with their last coming in round eight, and they recorded their third of the season and moved up a spot on the ladder to 10th. It was a bitter blow to the Royals who had only lost once in their last five games as they remain in contention for a finals berth.

Sandringham will hope they can get back to winning against Melbourne this weekend while Fitzroy will be full of confidence at home against Cheltenham.

Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 10 v Cheltenham Rustlers 11

It was a game with plenty of surprises and big hits as Cheltenham scored a walkoff win over Upwey Ferntree Gully.

The first inning ended with a 6-3 scoreline in the Tigers' favour as the sides added one more run each in the second. It wasn't until the Rustlers came to within one run at the bottom of the fifth that saw both teams desperate to win even more.

The Tigers battled hard to extend their lead to four after a three run dig, however Cheltenham refused to go down without a fight.

The Rustlers scored five runs in an epic walkoff victory as they square their season record to 8-8 leading into a game with Fitzroy this weekend. Upwey Ferntree Gully plays Newport at home.

Sunshine Eagles 5 v Essendon Bombers 15

In a largely tight game, Essendon got away in the final dig of the game which saw the final scoreline balloon out to 10 runs.

Those 10 runs that the margin ended up being were all scored in that final inning for the Bombers after Sunshine did well to come back from a 2-5 deficit after the first inning, scoring three in the fourth to even it up.

The big win for the Bombers sees them jump ahead of Waverley, up to third place ahead of a tough matchup against Blackburn this weekend. For the Eagles, they'll host Berwick, looking for a win.

Melbourne Demons 9 v Berwick City Cougars 5

Berwick never looked out of this game even as Melbourne scored five runs in fourth in reply to the first run of the game, which the Cougars brought around in the second.

The Cougars came close to evening the score in the fifth but they could just muster up three runs before the Demons scored another four runs in the sixth, leaving the home team needing six for victory. Unfortunately for the Cougars, they just scored the one as Melbourne kept their place on top.

Berwick remains in the hunt for a place in the finals and will need a win over Sunshine this weekend while Melbourne takes on Sandringham.

Waverley Wildcats v Blackburn Orioles - WASHOUT

The top-four teams got washed out on the weekend just gone, as Blackburn turns their attention to Essendon while Waverley hosts Geelong.

The majority of this round's games were affected by rain which saw many wash outs across VSBL Women's Division 1, 2 and 3. Springvale remains on top in Women's Division 1 while Doncaster maintains a perfect 12-0 record in Women's Division 2. Melbourne has a couple of games leverage in Women's Division 3 East, while Cheltenham is holding onto first by the smallest of margins in the South conference and Sunshine has control in the West.

Women's Division 1 - Round 16

Doncaster Dragons v Essendon Bombers - WASH OUT

Sitting in second place, the Dragons would've liked to have distanced themselves further from third-placed Essendon, however the game was called off because of rain.

The 6-7 Bombers will face Footscray as they continue a fine season while it'll be a battle of the top-two when the Dragons take on Springvale who are only two wins in front.

Footscray Bulldogs v Springvale Lions - WASH OUT

Springvale is still atop the standings with an impressive 11-2-2 record while Footscray is searching for a win after this wash out due to the heavy downpour.

The Bulldogs will take to the field at home to Essendon next time around while the Lions host Doncaster in an exciting matchup.

Women's Division 2 - Round 14

Doncaster Dragons v Essendon Bombers - WASH OUT

The clash between the top-of-the-ladder Doncaster and the bottom team Essendon was washed out, meaning the Dragons keep their perfect 12-0 record intact and will want to make it 13-0 against fellow top-two team Springvale.

Meanwhile the Bombers will want to improve on their one win of the season when they take on Fitzroy next.

Footscray Bulldogs v Springvale Lions - WASH OUT

The Lions sit at 10-2 in second place after this wash out, while Footscray is 4-7-1. Next the Lions meet first place Doncaster in what is set to be a challenging matchup while Footscray will host Wheelers Hill, as the Bulldogs look to cement themselves in the top four.

Fitzroy Lions v Wheelers Hill Warriors - WASH OUT

Fitzroy and Wheelers Hill's game was called a washout as the Warriors keep pushing for a top-two spot.

The Lions sit at 2-10-1 ahead of a game against Essendon while Wheelers Hill has a 7-5, preparing to face Footscray.

Women's Division 3 East - Round 14

Doncaster Dragons 11 v Springvale Lions 4

Doncaster prevailed to put some distance in between them and the Lions on the ladder.

The third-placed Dragons had lost two in a row prior to this and will want to get back into the top two with a win over Mulgrave this weekend while for the Lions, they'll have to wait another week for a gameday due to the bye.

Mulgrave Rebels v Melbourne Demons - WASH OUT

Melbourne remains on top with a 9-1 record after this game was washed out, with Mulgrave sitting at 1-7 as the team's contention for finals runs out with three rounds to go.

Looking forward for these two teams though is Doncaster for the Rebels and Moorabbin for the Demons.

Moorabbin Panthers v BYE

Moorabbin had the bye this week and would be happy with the washouts, as they haven't affected the Panthers' standing on the ladder.

The second-placed Panthers are 7-3 heading into the next round where they'll play Melbourne away hoping to continue a three game winning streak with 10 plus runs in each of their past few games.

Women's Division 3 South - Round 14

Bonbeach St Chads Blue 13 v Bonbeach St Chads White 3

This game was able to be played, with the Blue team taking an early lead and never looking back.

Blue scored six in the first inning to White's three before managing a further seven in the second, all while keeping White scoreless at the bottom.

It was a win Blue definitely wanted to stay hot in the race, currently just short of first place by .091%. Bonbeach Blue has a 9-1 record ahead of a meeting with Berwick. Bonbeach White is at the other end of the ladder with a 2-9 record ahead of a bye.

Bronwyn James of Bonbeach says there were several key players in the game, including Maddy Raccosta as a relief pitcher. "She came in to close the game with her token cool, calm collectedness. Jess Walters as catcher never lets a thing through, and Brooke Tolley at short stop," James said. "All the Blue ladies got hits, putting the ball in play and running aggressively on base."

While there were plenty of good moments in this particular game, one fantastic play especially stands out to James. "Absolute highlight of the game was a ground ball fielded by Tolley at short stop with a hard slide on her knees to reach it and a behind the back glove flick to second, with Jo Myers turning the double play," James said. "There was a great team effort throughout and it was good to be back on the field, having not had a game since 2019."

The White team worked hard as well. "There was some great pitching by Lucy Appleton, carrying the team and putting the ball into play," James added. "Nicole Muller did a great job catching - she's a lefty and a learner so doing amazing. They also started making some good contact with the ball, facing up to two formidable pitchers."

Both teams are looking to finish strong, with the Blue side staring down finals. "It's been a pretty spectacular season for the Blue ladies so far and they are working hard to continue to improve every week. With a large contingent of girls who are new to the sport, I'm blown away every week at the skill and dedication that they are showing to their game," James said. "It's also very exciting as Bonbeach hasn't had a women's team make it to the grand final since the 90s, taking out the flag in 1995, so it would be something pretty amazing to get there and make a little bit of history!"

Bonbeach expects to make the most of the remainder of the season. "The next few weeks we plan to knuckle down, train hard, work on the fundamentals and continue to keep the great spirit of the Lady Jays flying high - lots of fun and lots of laughs!"

Pakenham Pumas Black FORFEIT v Sandringham Royals

The Royals are in third place with a 7-4 record, while the Pumas are still searching for their first win of the season and it could come against Pakenham White this weekend. Sandringham takes on a tough top Cheltenham side that's fresh off a break.

Pakenham Pumas White v Berwick City Cougars - WASH OUT

Two mid-placed teams searching for a positive result, the falling rain not helping either team's cause.

Pakenham White's 4-6 record can still see them play finals however they will need to start with a win over Pakenham Black this weekend. Berwick takes on Bonbeach and sit one place ahead of White with a 5-5 record.

Cheltenham Rustlers v BYE

The Rustlers will be fresh off a bye for their clash with fellow top-four challenger Sandringham.

The 9-1 Rustlers have bounced back from their round 10 loss to lead the competition and will want to stay ahead of the game.

Women's Division 3 West - Round 14

Geelong Baycats Blue 6 v North Western Titans 15

North Western Titans recorded a huge win over Geelong Blue on the weekend.

North Western's Coach Cameron Wilson says the team had all their bases covered, defensively and offensively with great plays and pitching. Kim Borg at shortstop and Julia Klieve at second base made a difference, as did pitcher Kate Rigby. Borg joined Debbie Said with big hits. "Deb broke the game open with a clutch two-out single scoring two whilst the game was in the balance," Wilson said. "Kim Borg came back into the lineup smoking the ball, hitting a double and a couple of singles to help break open the game. She also made some great plays in the later innings to keep Geelong off the base paths."

Wilson was pleased with the team's effort overall, which is important in the coming weeks with finals not far off. "It was another great outing on the hill from Kate Rigby, who continued to pound the zone in trying conditions to keep us in it all game," Wilson added. "The girls just need to keep focusing on having quality at bats and to continue to back themselves in the batters box."

While a few games away from first place, the Titans are second with a 5-4-1 record ahead of a clash with Fitzroy. Baycats Blue hasn't won in three games and will have the bye to ponder how they'll approach the rest of the season as they sit third with a 6-5-1 record.

Fitzroy Lions 4 v Sunshine Eagles 9

A big come-from-behind victory for Sunshine kept the Eagles winning streak alive, with their last loss coming in round four.

Fitzroy drew first blood on the day, having three runs cross the plate at the top of the first, to which Sunshine could only managed two in response.

The Lions doubled the lead with one more run in the second before the Eagles unleashed, securing seven runs as they hit double digits in wins.

Facing the prospect of their second loss of the season, the Eagles ability to comeback highlighted their prowess on the league, sitting first ahead of a game with Geelong White.

Fitzroy meanwhile sits fourth with a 4-5-1 record and the Lions look comfortable to play finals although would like some momentum heading into that part of the season and will start with North Western Titans this weekend.

Geelong Baycats White v BYE

Baycats White had a bye this round as they collected their thoughts on how to end a season in which they've failed to win a game.on a high note, now facing a tough competitor in Sunshine this weekend.

The 2020 Charter Player Development Program (CPDP) will begin this Saturday, 1 February, with approximately 180 players across four charters taking the field. The 2020 CPDP encompasses Little League, Junior League and Intermediate League competitions.

Athletes were selected to CPDP squads following tryouts at the start of December. These players will train over eight weeks, led by dedicated charter coaches from Baycats, Eastern Athletics, Southern Mariners and Twins. The program will also will include two CPDP Lightning Premierships and All-Star team selection for the 2020 Charter State Championships.

Baseball Victoria Talent Development Manager Damian Shanahan says this will be an excellent opportunity for these young players to take their training to the next level with skills development and further practice.

“The Charter Player Development Program is designed to develop skills that scale so that these players have the right fundamentals to support an exciting future in baseball,” Shanahan said. “We will focus on teaching players how to be efficient in key movements such as hitting, throwing and fielding. This is the entry level into the Baseball Victoria Talent Development Pathway, and we are confident these charter players will continue to improve and gain new skills in the coming months.”

The 2020 CPDP will culminate in the 2020 Charter State Championships, with the Senior League, Junior League and Intermediate League Championships taking place from 28-30 March at Geelong. The Little League State Championships are set for the following weekend, 3-5 April at Knox.

Thursday night's midweek action included four exciting games for VSBL Division 2 as the race towards finals gets even closer. Williamstown holds first place but Werribee and Moorabbin are trying to catch up, with Malvern looking to bounce back after a couple of tough losses. The series continue this weekend as teams look to make the most of their chances with seven rounds to go.

Division 2 Firsts

Preston Pirates 6 v Doncaster Dragons 19

Preston won 5-0 on the weekend but that commanding form was nowhere to be found on Thursday night as the Pirates struggled, conceding double-digit runs for the first time in over a month.

Five pitchers took to the mound for Preston to try and stop Doncaster's offensive outburst, but it wasn't to be as the Dragons just kept on rolling. The game started to turn early on with a three-run double from Brendan McDonald, and from there on out Doncaster dominated, racking up 10 hits for the night. Adam Marshall, Callum Lethborg, Brian Chen and John Britton all had two hits apiece, something Doncaster head coach Nic Unland was pleased with, as well as solid team pitching by Simon Fitzmaurice and Angus Stals.

"We had a great relief outing from Stals, who gave up zero earned and showed real maturity in his first senior outing after returning from the U18 junior national championships," Unland said. "Brian Chen was impressive defensively and was sharp all game and had a nice back door 6-5 in the first to help shut out Preston."

Turning their attention to Sunday's big game, when the Dragons have a chance to improve to 8-12 and further distance themselves from the bottom of the ladder, Unland says they need to stay focused. "The team will need to bring last night's confidence and controlled aggression at the plate on Sunday when they face off against Preston's ace - Benjamin Donnell."

Although the scoreline is one Preston would rather forget, there were some highlights including Jaycob Pascuzzi hitting his first home run of the season. Jean Alvarado, Ben Donnell, Luke Williams and Oscar Hargreaves all had base hits, while Cam Deeble singled and doubled and Matt Fordham had an RBI with two singles.

11-8 Preston is just shy of the top four ahead of the round 21 game at Doncaster.

Malvern Braves 4 v Mulgrave Rebels 7

The Rebels have won back-to-back games over a top four side thanks to strong team efforts all-around.

The first inning was quiet before the Braves got on the board with two in the second. Mulgrave was right there to back it up with four in the bottom frame. Malvern tied it back up in the third but the Rebels weren't deterred. Mulgrave made it 7-4 in the fourth and kept it that way for the rest of the game.

Tyler Dale took the loss for Malvern after giving up eight hits and seven runs - five of them unearned. Dale and Scott Ashton both singled, while Henry Hayman and Lachlan Fuda had RBI base hits and Tye Wilson knocked in a run too.

Jayson Arthur recorded the win for Mulgrave, striking out four in 2.2 innings with no hits or runs allowed. Malvern got two runs off of Liam Richardson and Zeke Howie but that didn't squash Mulgrave's winning formula. Nick Burridge knocked in two runs with a big hit, while Howie and Michael Morgan both had RBI doubles. Caleb Poole had a double and a single for an RBI and Nick Thompson doubled to give Mulgrave a boost.

The Rebels are in seventh place with a 7-11 record while Malvern is 11-7 in fourth place ahead of Sunday's game.

Port Melbourne Mariners 9 v St Kilda 0

The Saints didn't have much to offer offensively in this game as the Mariners cruised to a big shutout victory. After a solid 6-2 win on the weekend, Port Melbourne came into this game in search of an 11-8 record and the Mariners got it on the back of two four-run innings to open the game.

The Mariners added one more in the third to bring their runs scored tally to 100 on the season, compared to 62 given up.

Jock Allen, Sam Morris and Billy Parsons all had two hits apiece for Port Melbourne, with Morris knocking in three runs. Allen and Chavez were among the other players with RBIs on the night. Parsons covered two great innings on the mound as the Mariners proved challenging for St Kilda pitcher's Tom Snowden and Daniel Hogg.

Port Melbourne hosts on Sunday as the club celebrates Pink Sports Day in support of Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Werribee Giants 3 v Moorabbin Panthers 9

After a string of losses it was nice for the Panthers to get another win on the board, their first since round 14 back on 14 December.

Moorabbin improved to 12-6 to stay in third place, thanks to an impressive team performance. Coach Ben Laux says Zack Kamerman's relief effort was a strong point, as well as the work of some younger players. "There's the continued rise of our junior players playing firsts baseball, namely Nic Bertucci, Travis Finney and Adam Harris last night," Laux said. "Harris made a great play from third running across the field, and Finney, Kamerman, Bertucci and Mitch Barr all hit the ball hard."

The game was tied at one heading into the second when Moorabbin tacked on two more. Werribee briefly tied things up again before Moorabbin pulled away for good with six more runs. "We’ve being doing a lot of things right this season," Laux added. "We’ve had 10 juniors rotate through our firsts with some great results, and the addition of Nick Veale back into our rotation sures up our pitching."

The Panthers know they need to make the most of their scoring opportunities, especially against a top two team like Werribee with just a few rounds to go. "We continue to barrel the ball and pound the strike zone so we give ourselves a solid chance every week," Laux said. "We go about every week the same. For us this season was about developing our young squad. Currently our firsts squad are all under the age of 28 and down to 15 years old. So if we continue to work hard off the field and stay aggressive on the field then the rest takes care of itself."

Moorabbin capitalised on scoring chances against a tired Werribee side, with John Curnow pitching three innings, giving up five earned runs with five hits and three walks. Trent Pantalleresco gave up four runs, three of them earned, in two innings with eight hits and two walks.

Werribee's Ryan Balzer singled and Wade Balzer and Evan McPherson doubled as Justin Gil homered for his 18th RBI of the season. The Giants are 14-5 and the Panthers are right behind them at 12-6 as the series continues this weekend.

Bonbeach Bluejays v Williamstown Wolves - POSTPONED to Wednesday, 5 February.

Port Melbourne Baseball Club is making a difference to Australians affected by breast cancer through a special Pink Sports Day this weekend.

On Sunday, 2 February, the Port Melbourne baseball community will come together to raise much-needed funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia as part of their first Pink Sports Day. This cause hits close to home for many of the Mariners who have gone through the challenges of breast cancer in recent times.

“Throughout the years the club has been affected by breast cancer on several occasions, be it committee members, former women’s players, wives, mothers or sisters of players being diagnosed with breast cancer,” Port Melbourne Club Secretary Alan Morris said. “When we looked at our social calendar and considered having an event, raising money and awareness for BCNA while celebrating and recognising the amazing women behind our junior and senior players at the same time was a no-brainer.”

This is an important cause and senior players are getting involved, with VSBL Division 2 firsts, reserves and thirds all playing at home in a triple header against St Kilda. The Mariners will be decked out in pink accessories to show their support as Port Melbourne looks to have a successful event that can be turned into a beloved yearly tradition at the club.

“Just about every family has or knows someone who is dealing with breast cancer,” Morris added. “Anything we can do as a club to raise some money and raise breast cancer awareness is vital to eventually preventing breast cancer from happening or get us closer to finding more effective ways of treating breast cancer.”

The Mariners are looking forward to sharing a special day on Sunday with their fellow club and community members. “We hope that everyone involved enjoys the day and does their bit to raise a few dollars and raise awareness at home, in the community and the workplace.”

Port Melbourne’s Pink Sports Day will start at 1pm on Sunday at Longstaff Field at Murphy Reserve on Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne. Bookings are $30 and includes food and drinks from 1-4pm. For more details and to RSVP, please EMAIL the club.

Shannon Crawford has thoroughly enjoyed her first season as head women’s coach at Fitzroy Baseball Club, and it isn’t over yet.

The Lady Lions have been putting together strong team performances week in and week out, with teams in both VSBL Women’s Division 2 and 3.

Shannon relies on comradery and team unity as she leads the Lions through the season. “I just want to provide a learning environment where everyone’s comfortable to ask the silly questions and do their own thing to get better,” Shannon said.

After playing at Latrobe University in the winter, Shannon’s friends encouraged her to join Fitzroy for the summer season. She has had a great experience playing in Australia, especially as she’s taken on coaching opportunities with Latrobe Uni and Fitzroy that help her grow as a player and a person.

Even though Shannon has tried to take a break in between seasons, she always finds herself ready to get back on the field. “By the end of the break I’m like I got to get back on a field," Shannon said. “I just keep coming back and I can’t get away.”

As the 2019/20 VSBL season turns toward finals, Shannon and the Lions are in high spirits. “I’m trying to challenge the girls that I’m coaching to better themselves and learn a lot in baseball.”

Although the Lions would love to make finals, no matter what there will be plenty they can take away from this season, most importantly amazing memories of playing together. “I was amazed at how quickly I was welcomed into the fold since I only joined last season,” Shannon said. “Everyone’s just so kind, ready to go the extra step to help out anyone new or take on a new responsibility.”

As Fitzroy embraces new players with open arms, Shannon encourages new players to give it a shot and keep working hard during training and gamedays. “Take the leap of faith and do it if you haven’t done sport before, if you’ve never done baseball before, it’s a super welcoming community,” Shannon added. “Everyone’s always ready to help you learn and improve and just clap you on the back when you do something well.”

Working with a diverse and determined group of women has been eye-opening and exciting for Shannon and her fellow Lions. “This season in particular, we’ve got a lot of brand new girls and they’re a bit shy and in their shell still,” Shannon said. “I hope I can teach them to assert themselves, at least on the baseball field, to give them that first step into growing as people. I think baseball is a great atmosphere to provide for that kind of stuff.”

Shannon is no stranger to challenges herself, including being cut from her college team in Iowa. “It pushed me into throwing Javelin for the track team, which made me grow and learn from that failure,” Shannon said. “I saw another door open when that one had shut, and it paved the way for me to move to Australia which has been fantastic.”

Baseball has taught Shannon many things that she applies to her life both on and off the diamond. “I’ve really learned you’ve got to fight for what you want, and you’ve got to keep pushing,” Shannon said. “As everyone says, baseball is a game of failure. Learn to celebrate the little wins and when there’s a big one, really take your time to appreciate it, acknowledge it and keep persevering through.”

Fitzroy’s Women’s Division 2 team plays Wheelers Hill next while the Women’s Division 3 West team heads to Sunshine.

Port Melbourne Baseball Club is making a difference to Australians affected by breast cancer through a special Pink Sports Day this weekend.

Addison Bishop-Worn and his brother Cooper share an undeniable love of baseball, something that grows stronger with each season at Werribee Giants Baseball Club.

The boys have been playing for a few years now, and 13-year-old Addison and 10-year-old Cooper have no plans to stop anytime soon. Addison is a big fan of playing shortstop, and he picked up on the sport right away. “I loved it instantly, it was the best sport I’d ever played,” Addison said. “I like playing with my friends.”

Playing for Werribee’s Junior League team in the Twins charter, Addison is committed to continuing his hard work and helping his teammates during training. He has his sights set on hitting more home runs. “My favourite memory is probably hitting my first home run because the rush of energy was awesome,” Addison said.

As an infielder, Addison recognises how important his role his for his team. “I need to be focused on fielding because a missed ground ball might cost the winning run,” Addison added. “I keep trying but I also have fun with all my friends.”

Addison’s team is in third place at 9-6 with two games to go. His younger brother Cooper is also having a good season with Werribee’s Little League team, which is currently in fourth place at 8-5-2. The enthusiastic catcher also aims to hit home runs when he gets into the batter’s box. “I really enjoy it baseball, it’s quite challenging because you never know what’s going to happen next,” Cooper said. “The best moment was when I first started catching.”

Cooper says other kids his age should get involved and give baseball a try. “Werribee is really friendly and we make people enjoy it baseball.”

Good luck to Addison and Cooper in the rest of their seasons!

The top 12 teams in the 2019/20 VSBL season took to the field for midweek games in round 20. Sunshine still proved their prowess, while Cheltenham and Upwey Ferntree Gully settled for a hard-fought one-all draw. A top-four clash between Waverely and Blackburn will be a series to watch in the coming week.

Division 1 Firsts

Waverley Wildcats 1 v Blackburn Orioles 2

In a low-scoring game, Blackburn scored first in the first and doubled the lead after scoring one more run in the fourth.

The Wildcats responded with a run of their own in the fifth but couldn't bring another run in as the game wound up after six innings.

Liam Hopkins scored a run for the Orioles after reaching first on an error, advancing to third on a hit by Ben Leslie before Jacob Evans drove in a single to bring Hopkins home.

Andrew Jones and Jamie Papanicoloau from Waverley traded zero run digs for three innings before Nick Rossell broke through with a big double to drive in a second run for Blackburn.

The Wildcats have lost three of their last four outings but are still etched into the top four with a 12-8 record. The Orioles haven't lost a game for six weeks as their climb up the ladder is evident, sitting fourth with a 11-8-1 record.

These teams now turn their attention to Saturday as Waverley again travels to Blackburn.

Essendon Bombers 2 v Sunshine Eagles 5

Sunshine continues to be a powerhouse, taking care of Essendon in the mid-week game as the Eagles stay in the top spot with a 15-4 record.

The game was tied 1-1 after the first, but the Eagles kept chipping away, eventually putting one more up in the third and three in the fifth. The Bombers got one back in the final frame but their comeback was halted by solid Sunshine offense and pitching from Riley Barr, who gave up three hits and two earned runs in seven innings.

Sunshine coach Stuart Clayton noted that to beat Essendon, it took a team effort with many good hits and great plays. "It's good this time of the season to try and keep everyone fresh for a run at the finals," Clayton said.

Allan De San Miguel was praised for his work in the batting box that set the Eagles on their way to a good win, including a double, a single and a walk for two RBIs.

Gareth Formisano took the loss for Essendon, giving up four earned runs across 4.1 innings with four hits and three walks allowed along with four strikeouts. Luke Abels and Kyle Bedford also pitched for Essendon, while Ross Bament and Peter Stokes doubled, Jared Cruz singled and Scott McIntyre and Brodie Wise knocked in runs.

The Bombers have lost five of their last six games as they sit seventh now with a 10-10 record but could find themselves jumping up a few places if they beat Sunshine this weekend.

Berwick City Cougars 4 v Melbourne Demons 2

With both teams on seven wins heading into this game, Berwick moved up one place with the win while Melbourne slid down a place due to the loss.

This was a tight matchup through the first three innings, with Melbourne finally getting one on the board in the fourth before Berwick evened the score in the fifth.

Things got interesting in the sixth when the Cougars tacked on three runs, putting the game out of reach for the Demons who only scored one in the sixth.

Craig Barnett got the win for Berwick, giving up two earned runs over six innings with three hits and one walk given up along with eight strikeouts. Cameron Gibbens earned a save with a solid inning of quiet work on the mound. Barnett also tripled at the plate while Jordan Bradley, Lucas Taylor and John King all singled. Brad Kmet knocked in two of Berwick's runs while Aaron Ouwehand had a base hit and Mark Surtees scored a run off his bat too.

Liam Davine pitched five innings for Melbourne, giving up three hits and one earned run with five strikeouts, while Adam Pahos and Kurtis Smith also put in work on the mound. Jarryd Rogers picked up two singles for Melbourne, bringing his total to 18 on the season, while Tim Sullivan got the run in.

The Cougars have won four of the past five games as they look to rise up the ladder and currently sit with an 8-10-1 record.

The Demons have lost three in a row now but will want to come back strongly against Berwick this weekend.

Geelong Baycats 7 v Newport Rams 0

The middle part of this game is where Geelong really performed, scoring seven runs within three innings including four in the fourth, all the while shutting Newport out.

With four U18 players taking the field for Geelong, the Baycats were pleased with a strong team performance on the back of Sam Gibbon's one-hit shutout game. He had nine strikeouts on the day as he gave the Baycats all the breathing room they needed to get their offense moving.

Geelong had 24 quality at-bats as a team, with Harper Rickard laying down a beautiful sacrifice bunt in his first start in the ones. Kelli Zablan had three hits, followed by two apiece for Tyler Luther-Wilson and Josh Davies. Zablan knocked in three of Geelong's runs while Ryan Darcy and Troy Snarey both had two RBIs.

The 13-7 Baycats managed to get plenty of batters on base as they made sure of their 13th win of the season and will be looking to do the same this weekend when they play the Rams once more.

Fitzroy Lions 12 v Sandringham Royals 3

Fitzroy made light work of Sandringham in this mid-week fixture to reach win number seven of the season, although the Lions are still behind the Royals on the ladder.

The Lions led 2-1 after two innings, and they heated things up in the third with a seven-run spot. The Royals answered with two runs, but the game was out of reach for them. Fitzroy scored three more in the fifth to showcase some strong offense against a tough competitor.

Brock Pawley was the winning pitcher, giving up seven hits for three earned runs across six innings. Pawley also singled in one of his turns at the plate as his teammates backed him up with their bats too. Ethan Epifanio had three hits - two singles and a double - as Riley Hill doubled and singled for three RBIs. Danny King had two singles and a double to knock in three runs and Tyler Trevaskis had a pair of base hits and an RBI.

Fitzroy's Austin Walker had an RBI while Tom Wilson came around to score three times, getting on base with walks.

On Sandringham's side of things, Branden Stenhouse, Jack Wills, and Aiden Flynn pitched in support of Declan Croker, who took the loss after giving up nine unearned runs in four innings. Wills had an RBI double in his turn up to bat while Paul Rutgers knocked in the other two runs. Zac Skinner had two hits including a double as Will Tucker doubled and singled. Harrison Wills brought his hit tally to 21 on the season with another base hit.

Sandringham has lost the last four games and will look to change that as the two teams will battle it out again this weekend.

Cheltenham Rustlers 1 v Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 1

This was a frustrating night for both teams as neither could find an avenue to score a go-ahead run and therefore had to settle for a one-all draw.

Things moved quickly in this game as the first three innings were scoreless before the Rustlers got one on in the fourth. The Tigers tied it up in the bottom of the sixth, with the final frame proving impossible for either side to break through and get the win.

Andrew Campbell threw 4.2 innings for Cheltenham, facing 20 batters and giving up just four hits and two walks with one strikeouts. Lars Ligouri gave up that lone unearned run in his 2.1 innings of work, also allowing four hits. Jack Daniels singled while Conor Myles doubled to bring in Cheltenham's only run of the game. Dylan Trevorah doubled too while Mac Turley had an extra-bases hit in addition to his single, bringing his hit total to 23 on the season.

On the Tigers side, Jarrod Turner threw six solid innings with just four hits and one run scored and our strikeouts. Donovan Hendricks handled one inning as well. Justin Swanton and Harvey Chinn singled and Jordan Elliot got on base to score Upwey Ferntree Gully's only run of the game. Josh Hendricks had a pair of singles as did Wade McConnon and Travis Murphy.

Upwey Ferntree Gully and Cheltenham are fifth and sixth on the ladder respectively so the stakes will be even higher when the two teams meet again on Sunday especially since the Rustlers were on a three-game win streak prior to this result.