Baseball Victoria is proud to introduce a new initiative aimed at encouraging and promoting respect for umpires. 

These individuals have dedicated their time and energy to making baseball games possible at a variety of levels, from juniors to seniors and masters, and it's only fair that they are respected and treated kindly. In an effort to demonstrate greater respect for umpires, BV is calling on clubs to take the PLEDGE and show RESPECT FOR UMPIRES. 

For all the details on how clubs can participate, and get in the running for a $250 gift voucher from Ausport, please see the official letter from Baseball Victoria CEO Justin Huber below. 

We look forward to seeing the results and sharing photos of clubs' pledges and participation with our greater baseball community!

Take The Pledge - Respecting Umpires.pdf

VSBL Division 3 returned to the 2018/19 season in the New Year, doing their very best to climb the ladder and stay in the running for finals. With just six weeks left in the regular season, now is the time for these teams to leave it all out there on the field, as five other teams look to end St. Kilda’s undefeated record. Check out the results and recaps from rounds 13, 14 and 15 below, and good luck to all the clubs and competitors in their upcoming games! 

Round 15 (Jan 27^th)

North Western Titans vs. St. Kilda Saints 1sts

2                                          11

 

It wasn’t an easy one for the Titans, who dropped their 12^th game of the season against this unbelievably unbeatable Saints side. North Western’s pitchers were no match for St. Kilda’s ferocious lineup, as several players racked up multiple hits and did some major damage at the plate. This included Mariano Favia, who had four hits on the day with a double, two singles and his first homer of the season. He came around to score three runs and he recorded 3 RBI’s of his own as he achieved a .833 OBP, his best of the year. Joe Keiper also got had an on base percentage of .833 as he had two HBP and a walk-in addition to his double and single.

 

Other key players included Satoro Adachi with his pair of singles and a walk for 1 RBI, as well as Eduardo Escalona who smashed two singles for 1 RBI. Rob Mescher had a single and a double for 2 RBI’s, while Tom Snowden also had a base hit. All of this offensive production set the scene for Paul Paskar to sail through his 7.1 innings on the mound. Despite giving up eight walks, he allowed zero hits and only two runs – one unearned while striking out four.

 

Daniel Hogg followed up with a scoreless relief appearance as the Saints once again showed why they are the top team in the division. Sitting at 15-0 with just three rounds left, St. Kilda is in prime position heading into the finals, while North Western is in fifth place at 3-12.

 

North Western Titans vs. St. Kilda Saints 2nds

1                                          30

 

It wasn’t a pretty day for the North Western Titans Reserves either, as they struggled against powerhouse St. Kilda. The Saints racked up the runs in ridiculous fashion as they cruised to their seventh straight win and 12^th victory overall. North Western sits at 1-12 with 1 draw, so they will be hoping to get a few more wins on their record as the season wraps up shortly. 

VSBL Division 3 returned to the 2018/19 season in the New Year, doing their very best to climb the ladder and stay in the running for finals. With just six weeks left in the regular season, now is the time for these teams to leave it all out there on the field, as five other teams look to end St. Kilda’s undefeated record. Check out the results and recaps from rounds 13, 14 and 15 below, and good luck to all the clubs and competitors in their upcoming games! 

Round 15 (Jan 27^th)

North Western Titans vs. St. Kilda Saints 1sts

2                                          11

 

It wasn’t an easy one for the Titans, who dropped their 12^th game of the season against this unbelievably unbeatable Saints side. North Western’s pitchers were no match for St. Kilda’s ferocious lineup, as several players racked up multiple hits and did some major damage at the plate. This included Mariano Favia, who had four hits on the day with a double, two singles and his first homer of the season. He came around to score three runs and he recorded 3 RBI’s of his own as he achieved a .833 OBP, his best of the year. Joe Keiper also got had an on base percentage of .833 as he had two HBP and a walk-in addition to his double and single.

 

Other key players included Satoro Adachi with his pair of singles and a walk for 1 RBI, as well as Eduardo Escalona who smashed two singles for 1 RBI. Rob Mescher had a single and a double for 2 RBI’s, while Tom Snowden also had a base hit. All of this offensive production set the scene for Paul Paskar to sail through his 7.1 innings on the mound. Despite giving up eight walks, he allowed zero hits and only two runs – one unearned while striking out four.

 

Daniel Hogg followed up with a scoreless relief appearance as the Saints once again showed why they are the top team in the division. Sitting at 15-0 with just three rounds left, St. Kilda is in prime position heading into the finals, while North Western is in fifth place at 3-12.

 

North Western Titans vs. St. Kilda Saints 2nds

1                                          30

 

It wasn’t a pretty day for the North Western Titans Reserves either, as they struggled against powerhouse St. Kilda. The Saints racked up the runs in ridiculous fashion as they cruised to their seventh straight win and 12^th victory overall. North Western sits at 1-12 with 1 draw, so they will be hoping to get a few more wins on their record as the season wraps up shortly. 

North Western Titans vs. St. Kilda Saints 1sts

2                                          11

 

It wasn’t an easy one for the Titans, who dropped their 12^th game of the season against this unbelievably unbeatable Saints side. North Western’s pitchers were no match for St. Kilda’s ferocious lineup, as several players racked up multiple hits and did some major damage at the plate. This included Mariano Favia, who had four hits on the day with a double, two singles and his first homer of the season. He came around to score three runs and he recorded 3 RBI’s of his own as he achieved a .833 OBP, his best of the year. Joe Keiper also got had an on base percentage of .833 as he had two HBP and a walk-in addition to his double and single.

 

Other key players included Satoro Adachi with his pair of singles and a walk for 1 RBI, as well as Eduardo Escalona who smashed two singles for 1 RBI. Rob Mescher had a single and a double for 2 RBI’s, while Tom Snowden also had a base hit. All of this offensive production set the scene for Paul Paskar to sail through his 7.1 innings on the mound. Despite giving up eight walks, he allowed zero hits and only two runs – one unearned while striking out four.

 

Daniel Hogg followed up with a scoreless relief appearance as the Saints once again showed why they are the top team in the division. Sitting at 15-0 with just three rounds left, St. Kilda is in prime position heading into the finals, while North Western is in fifth place at 3-12.

 

North Western Titans vs. St. Kilda Saints 2nds

1                                          30

 

It wasn’t a pretty day for the North Western Titans Reserves either, as they struggled against powerhouse St. Kilda. The Saints racked up the runs in ridiculous fashion as they cruised to their seventh straight win and 12^th victory overall. North Western sits at 1-12 with 1 draw, so they will be hoping to get a few more wins on their record as the season wraps up shortly. 

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue 1sts

6                                   13

 

The Dolphins were always facing a difficult test against the Hunters, who have been impressive and confident this season since taking home last year’s premiership. They showed this command and control once more on Sunday as they battled the Dolphins, coming out in full force to secure a win on the road.

 

OGH – Blue relied on starter Geoff MacDonald, who threw seven great innings, giving up just three hits, one walk and one unearned run while striking out eight, bringing his season total to 25 K’s. His teammates were superb as well, with Trifon Stafilis sending his second homer of the season over the fence to add to his double and single. Although Michael Sullivan struggled slightly on the mound, his teammates were right there with their bats to back him up, ensuring OGH – Blue had a comfortable lead. Ashley Fisher had 3 RBI’s with a double, single and a walk, while Andrew Clark had two singles for 3 RBI’s and Jarrad Barrow had a base hit.

 

Despite the disappointing loss – their sixth of the season and a tough one after winning so convincingly the week before with a 16-1 rout of OGH Gold, the Dolphins had some highlights. This included Mitch Bowen’s solid day at the plate, where he had a double and a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s. He also covered 4.2 innings on the mound, allowing three earned runs on five hits, two walks and one HBP along with an impressive nine strikeouts. Kyle Burton and Aden Rusden both had a single, walk and an RBI, while Matthew Burton, David Chen, Shane Jeffrey, Steve Tourtsakis and Matthew Minchin all had base hits.

 

While the Hunters certainly made the most of their scoring opportunities, Chelsea still showed some strength and they could be a surprise force as they come into the final few weeks in third place ahead of Pakenham. At 9-6, Chelsea isn’t too far behind OGH – Blue at 11-4, so it will be interesting to see how the last three rounds and finals play out between these two teams.

 

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue 2nds

7                                   13

 

In a similar score line to the 1sts game, the Dolphins fell to the top team on the ladder, thanks to the Hunters’ persistence on the plate and at the mound. With a 13-2 record that puts them just in front of 12-3 St. Kilda, OGH – Blue may be feeling the heat but they’re determined to hold on tight to their preferred position. Chelsea is at 7-8 to keep them in fourth place, with OGH – Gold not far ahead at 8-7. With such intense competition as the finals fixture begins to fall into place, these two teams will be doing their very best to properly prepare for finals and make some big statements. 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold vs. Pakenham Pumas 1sts

1                                                       7

 

The Pumas had a better day at the plate than the Hunters, who struggled to get on base and convert their scoring chances into runs. Pakenham’s lineup enjoyed some easier hitting than they did in their 21-3 loss to St. Kilda the week before. Now sitting at 7-8, the Pumas are in fourth place on the ladder with three regular games to go. It’s possible they could overtake 9-6 Chelsea if they buckle down and win their last three. Sitting at the bottom of the ladder with no wins as of yet, the OGH – Gold side is doing their best to have fun every week and chase their elusive first victory. Next up for the Pumas is a tough test against second-place Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue, while OGH – Gold doesn’t have it easy either with an away game at St. Kilda.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold vs. Pakenham Pumas 2nds

17                                                     0

 

The Hunters wreaked havoc on the Pumas, jumping all over their pitching and proving very tough to retire. It was a great outing for the Hunters after they were nearly shut down by Chelsea 14-1 the previous week. Pakenham hasn’t had a win yet in 2019, and with just two wins thus far this season, they’ll be looking to finish on a strong note. OGH – Gold is in third position now, but they could flip flop with Chelsea if they don’t hold their ground and stay ahead of the game. 

Round 14 (Jan 20^th)

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 1sts

16                                  1

 

The Dolphins are feeling good after their fantastic outing, where they made quite the statement with their hitting and pitching. While OGH – Gold struggled to connect, the Dolphins had no problems, as Aden Rusden led the way with an impressive 5 RBI’s on a double and a single. Rhys Tippett smashed a 2-RBI triple, while Mitch Bowen had a pair of singles and a walk for an RBI and two runs scored.

 

Kyle Burton also came around to score twice, with a double, single and two walks for 2 RBI’s. Teammates Matthew Burton and Jamin Tsai added RBI’s, while Daniel Wong had a pair of singles and Matthew Minchin recorded two base hits and three walks for 2 RBI’s. He also contributed two innings on the mound, allowing just one earned run on one hit and two walks along with two strikeouts. He followed up on Wilson Yeh’s fantastic five innings of scoreless ball, during which he allowed just four hits and one walk.

 

With 14 losses and no wins, OGH – Gold remains determined to get in the win column, while Chelsea is hanging on to their third place position with just four weeks to go in the regular season. 

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 2nds 

14                                 1

The Dolphins delivered another solid performance in round 14 as they dominated the Hunters. Chelsea has now won back-to-back games, a big boost as they look to stay powerful in the playoff picture. With this victory, they are neck and neck with OGH - Gold as both teams have a 7-7 record. The final four games of the regular season will see Chelsea face off against OGH - Blue, North Western and Pakenham, while OGH - Gold is scheduled to play Pakenham, St Kilda, OGH - Blue and North Western.

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. North Western Titans 1sts

16                                                    4

 

The Hunters bounced back after last week’s disappointing 11-6 loss to St Kilda with a big win over the Titans. OGH – Blue relied on their big bats to get the job done, with Geoff MacDonald going 3-for-3 with three hard-hit doubles for 4 RBI’s. Andrew Clark joined in the fun with a double and a single for 2 RBI’s, while Ben Gaplin did a great job of getting on base, taking three walks over the course of the day.

 

Lachlan Carracher threw four innings, allowing eight hits, two walks and one HBP for four runs – three of them earned. He also had a single and a walk for 2 RBI’s in his at-bats. With solid pitching, the Hunters were free to focus on their offense. Other key players included Tim Carracher, who came around to score four times after smashing a triple and a single for 2 RBI’s. He also got on base with a walk and HBP. Ashley Fisher enjoyed an RBI single, while Archie Lygris had a pair of his own base hits and Colin Trigellis-Smith followed up on his scoreless three innings of pitching with a pair of singles and a walk.

 

With this win, the reigning premiers remain in second place behind St Kilda with a 10-4 record. The Titans are in fifth place with just three wins and 11 losses, but the team is still hopeful they can finish their season on a high note. OGH – Blue will face Chelsea, Pakenham, OGH – Gold and St Kilda while North Western is set to play St Kilda, Chelsea, Pakenham and OGH – Gold.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. North Western Titans 2nds

24                                                    0

 

The Titans didn’t fare much better in the 2nds, as they were shutout for the fourth time this season at the hands of the ladder leaders. A 12-2 record puts OGH – Blue in first place in front of St Kilda, with the finals shaping up to be pretty exciting. The Titans are in last place, but they will be looking to get a few more wins on the board with four games to go.

Pakenham Pumas vs. St Kilda Saints 1sts

3                                      21

 

The home team advantage did not help Pakenham much as they fell to the still undefeated St Kilda Saints. With an impressive 14-0 record, the Saints show no signs of slowing down as they look to carry this momentum all the way into finals and secure their third premiership in four years.

 

St Kilda’s formidable offense kept up the pace, with Paul Paskar leading the way with 5 RBI’s on a double, two singles and one walk. Alan Ortiz contributed three hits of his own with a double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Adachi Shotaro had a double and two singles.

 

Pitcher Tom Snowden threw three innings, giving up just two hits, one walk and one HBP along with two unearned runs. His performance was enough to give St Kilda all the room they needed to rack up the runs, supported by singles from Rob Mescher, Robert Lewis, Daniel Hogg, Mariano Favia and Eduardo Escalona. Franco Caramia threw four innings as well, giving up three hits and one run.

 

The Pumas are now 6-8, holding on to their fourth-place position, while St Kilda is on top of their game and could secure an 18-0 record if they keep up the hard work. Next up for St Kilda are games against North Western, OGH – Gold, Chelsea and OGH – Blue, while Pakenham will face OGH – Gold, OGH – Blue, North Western and Chelsea.

 

Pakenham Pumas vs. St Kilda Saints 2nds

2                                      12

 

The reigning premiers from last season continued their string of impressive performances with a big victory over Pakenham. The Saints’ lineup was nearly unstoppable as they cruised to their 11^th victory of the season, while the Pumas have two wins, 10 losses and one draw on the season. Pakenham will try and improve for their final games to wrap up the season on a positive note, while St Kilda will do their best to overcome first-place OGH – Blue in the race toward finals.

Round 13 (Jan 20^th)

North Western Titans vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 1sts

14                                           4

The Titans enjoyed an exciting game as they secured their third victory of the season, a well-earned one after their solid performance. This was led by the strong showing from starter Hayden Walpole, who contributed an RBI single as well as seven innings of good pitching with four runs allowed – three of them unearned – on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

 

Fellow Titan Danny Haymes stood out with his double and single for 3 RBI’s, while Kyle Hodgett got on base twice with a pair of walks. Nathan Axiaq, Nick Jarvis, Kyle Newman and Daniel Taylor all added singles, allowing the Titans to build on their lead. This win allowed the Titans to improve to 3-10, and they’ll be looking to continue their winning ways into the last five games of the regular season. Meanwhile the Hunters are still in search of that elusive first win, and they’ll have another opportunity on Sunday at Chelsea. 

North Western Titans vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 2nds

1                                           11

The OGH – Gold reserves have had some ups and downs this season, but they remain firmly in the playoff picture after this big win over the Titans. Holding the opposition to just a single run allowed the Hunters to reach the 100-run mark for the entire season thus far, and they’ll be eager to have some more 10+ run games in the near future. Currently sitting at 7-6 in third place, the Hunters’ closest competition is fourth place Chelsea at 6-7. With just one win on the season, the Titans’ playoff hopes are over but they’re still eager to end the season on a high note.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. St Kilda Saints 1sts

6                                                      11

 

The Saints started their New Year off right, picking up right where they left off by extending their undefeated streak to 13-0. As the top two teams from last season faced off for the third time in 2018/19, the Saints looked to secure a convincing win after narrowly topping the Hunters in round 8 with a final score of 4-3.

 

This competitive game was highlighted by Tom Snowden, who gave up seven hits and three walks across 5.2 innings for two earned runs and two unearned runs. His teammates got the job done at the plate, with Alan Ortiz racking up 3 RBI’s on two doubles and a single, while Paul Paskar had three singles on the day. Adachi Shotaro contributed 3 RBI’s of his own, while Daniel Hogg smashed a double and had a base hit as well.

 

Plenty of other Saints players joined in the hitting frenzy, with Robert Lewis, Mariano Favia, Eduardo Escalona, Nigel Burrows and Franco Caramia all having singles. Caramia also threw 3.1 innings, giving up four hits, one walk and two HBP for two earned runs.

 

Although the Hunters lost their fourth game of the season, they did have some bright spots in their lineup. Lachlan Carracher had a pair of singles and an RBI, and he covered 3.2 innings on the mound during which he gave up six hits and two walks for four runs – three of them earned. Ben Gaplin took two walks, while Ashley Fisher, Archie Lygris, Jason Maxwell and Colin Trigellis-Smith all had singles.

 

With a 9-4 record, OGH – Blue sits in second place behind 13-0 St Kilda. The next time these two face off is in the final regular season game in round 18 on Sunday, February 17^th. Then it’s off to finals, when these two teams could very well face each other once again as OGH – Blue searches for a second straight premiership.

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. St Kilda Saints 2nds

3                                                      4

It was a close call as both of these teams fought hard, but ultimately the Saints finished strong for their tenth win of the season. The Hunters are just ahead at 11-2, and they will continue to battle it out for prime playoff position in the last five games of the season. They’ll meet again in round 18, and that final regular game could set the finals picture.

Pakenham Pumas vs. Chelsea Dolphins 1sts

7                                       11

The Dolphins did their duty to stay ahead of the Pumas, earning them their eighth win of the season. This victory puts more space between third-place Chelsea and fourth-place Pakenham.

 

The Pumas dropped their seventh overall, losing to a seasoned Chelsea side that made the most of their opportunities when it mattered. Although Mitch Bowen gave up 11 hits and seven runs – four of them unearned – in his nine inning start, he did his job and struck out 9 batters along the way. With Mitch going the distance on the mound, Chelsea’s lineup could focus on knocking in the runs, with Daniel Wong leading the way with three singles and a double for 2 RBI’s. Steve Tourtsakis, Rhys Tippett and Aden Rusden all added 2 RBI’s of their own, while Kyle Burton did a great job of getting on base with two singles and three walks. He came around to score three times, while teammates Trent Wilford and Trevor Johansen adding singles to the offensive firepower.

 

The Dolphins will look to secure back-to-back wins as they face Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold in round 14, while Pakenham hosts the red-hot St Kilda Saints.

Pakenham Pumas vs. Chelsea Dolphins 2nds

8                                       20

Chelsea went wild at the plate, smashing the ball and showing some impressive confidence with finals not far off. The Dolphins have won two out of their last three, while Pakenham has lost two of their last three. With a 6-7 record, Chelsea is in fourth place on the ladder, while Pakenham is far behind in fifth place with a 2-9-1 record. Five games are left in the regular season, and both teams will be eager to go out in winning style.

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue 1sts

6                                   13

 

The Dolphins were always facing a difficult test against the Hunters, who have been impressive and confident this season since taking home last year’s premiership. They showed this command and control once more on Sunday as they battled the Dolphins, coming out in full force to secure a win on the road.

 

OGH – Blue relied on starter Geoff MacDonald, who threw seven great innings, giving up just three hits, one walk and one unearned run while striking out eight, bringing his season total to 25 K’s. His teammates were superb as well, with Trifon Stafilis sending his second homer of the season over the fence to add to his double and single. Although Michael Sullivan struggled slightly on the mound, his teammates were right there with their bats to back him up, ensuring OGH – Blue had a comfortable lead. Ashley Fisher had 3 RBI’s with a double, single and a walk, while Andrew Clark had two singles for 3 RBI’s and Jarrad Barrow had a base hit.

 

Despite the disappointing loss – their sixth of the season and a tough one after winning so convincingly the week before with a 16-1 rout of OGH Gold, the Dolphins had some highlights. This included Mitch Bowen’s solid day at the plate, where he had a double and a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s. He also covered 4.2 innings on the mound, allowing three earned runs on five hits, two walks and one HBP along with an impressive nine strikeouts. Kyle Burton and Aden Rusden both had a single, walk and an RBI, while Matthew Burton, David Chen, Shane Jeffrey, Steve Tourtsakis and Matthew Minchin all had base hits.

 

While the Hunters certainly made the most of their scoring opportunities, Chelsea still showed some strength and they could be a surprise force as they come into the final few weeks in third place ahead of Pakenham. At 9-6, Chelsea isn’t too far behind OGH – Blue at 11-4, so it will be interesting to see how the last three rounds and finals play out between these two teams.

 

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue 2nds

7                                   13

 

In a similar score line to the 1sts game, the Dolphins fell to the top team on the ladder, thanks to the Hunters’ persistence on the plate and at the mound. With a 13-2 record that puts them just in front of 12-3 St. Kilda, OGH – Blue may be feeling the heat but they’re determined to hold on tight to their preferred position. Chelsea is at 7-8 to keep them in fourth place, with OGH – Gold not far ahead at 8-7. With such intense competition as the finals fixture begins to fall into place, these two teams will be doing their very best to properly prepare for finals and make some big statements. 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold vs. Pakenham Pumas 1sts

1                                                       7

 

The Pumas had a better day at the plate than the Hunters, who struggled to get on base and convert their scoring chances into runs. Pakenham’s lineup enjoyed some easier hitting than they did in their 21-3 loss to St. Kilda the week before. Now sitting at 7-8, the Pumas are in fourth place on the ladder with three regular games to go. It’s possible they could overtake 9-6 Chelsea if they buckle down and win their last three. Sitting at the bottom of the ladder with no wins as of yet, the OGH – Gold side is doing their best to have fun every week and chase their elusive first victory. Next up for the Pumas is a tough test against second-place Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue, while OGH – Gold doesn’t have it easy either with an away game at St. Kilda.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold vs. Pakenham Pumas 2nds

17                                                     0

 

The Hunters wreaked havoc on the Pumas, jumping all over their pitching and proving very tough to retire. It was a great outing for the Hunters after they were nearly shut down by Chelsea 14-1 the previous week. Pakenham hasn’t had a win yet in 2019, and with just two wins thus far this season, they’ll be looking to finish on a strong note. OGH – Gold is in third position now, but they could flip flop with Chelsea if they don’t hold their ground and stay ahead of the game. 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold vs. Pakenham Pumas 1sts

1                                                       7

 

The Pumas had a better day at the plate than the Hunters, who struggled to get on base and convert their scoring chances into runs. Pakenham’s lineup enjoyed some easier hitting than they did in their 21-3 loss to St. Kilda the week before. Now sitting at 7-8, the Pumas are in fourth place on the ladder with three regular games to go. It’s possible they could overtake 9-6 Chelsea if they buckle down and win their last three. Sitting at the bottom of the ladder with no wins as of yet, the OGH – Gold side is doing their best to have fun every week and chase their elusive first victory. Next up for the Pumas is a tough test against second-place Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue, while OGH – Gold doesn’t have it easy either with an away game at St. Kilda.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold vs. Pakenham Pumas 2nds

17                                                     0

 

The Hunters wreaked havoc on the Pumas, jumping all over their pitching and proving very tough to retire. It was a great outing for the Hunters after they were nearly shut down by Chelsea 14-1 the previous week. Pakenham hasn’t had a win yet in 2019, and with just two wins thus far this season, they’ll be looking to finish on a strong note. OGH – Gold is in third position now, but they could flip flop with Chelsea if they don’t hold their ground and stay ahead of the game. 

Round 14 (Jan 20^th)

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 1sts

16                                  1

 

The Dolphins are feeling good after their fantastic outing, where they made quite the statement with their hitting and pitching. While OGH – Gold struggled to connect, the Dolphins had no problems, as Aden Rusden led the way with an impressive 5 RBI’s on a double and a single. Rhys Tippett smashed a 2-RBI triple, while Mitch Bowen had a pair of singles and a walk for an RBI and two runs scored.

 

Kyle Burton also came around to score twice, with a double, single and two walks for 2 RBI’s. Teammates Matthew Burton and Jamin Tsai added RBI’s, while Daniel Wong had a pair of singles and Matthew Minchin recorded two base hits and three walks for 2 RBI’s. He also contributed two innings on the mound, allowing just one earned run on one hit and two walks along with two strikeouts. He followed up on Wilson Yeh’s fantastic five innings of scoreless ball, during which he allowed just four hits and one walk.

 

With 14 losses and no wins, OGH – Gold remains determined to get in the win column, while Chelsea is hanging on to their third place position with just four weeks to go in the regular season. 

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 2nds 

14                                 1

The Dolphins delivered another solid performance in round 14 as they dominated the Hunters. Chelsea has now won back-to-back games, a big boost as they look to stay powerful in the playoff picture. With this victory, they are neck and neck with OGH - Gold as both teams have a 7-7 record. The final four games of the regular season will see Chelsea face off against OGH - Blue, North Western and Pakenham, while OGH - Gold is scheduled to play Pakenham, St Kilda, OGH - Blue and North Western.

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. North Western Titans 1sts

16                                                    4

 

The Hunters bounced back after last week’s disappointing 11-6 loss to St Kilda with a big win over the Titans. OGH – Blue relied on their big bats to get the job done, with Geoff MacDonald going 3-for-3 with three hard-hit doubles for 4 RBI’s. Andrew Clark joined in the fun with a double and a single for 2 RBI’s, while Ben Gaplin did a great job of getting on base, taking three walks over the course of the day.

 

Lachlan Carracher threw four innings, allowing eight hits, two walks and one HBP for four runs – three of them earned. He also had a single and a walk for 2 RBI’s in his at-bats. With solid pitching, the Hunters were free to focus on their offense. Other key players included Tim Carracher, who came around to score four times after smashing a triple and a single for 2 RBI’s. He also got on base with a walk and HBP. Ashley Fisher enjoyed an RBI single, while Archie Lygris had a pair of his own base hits and Colin Trigellis-Smith followed up on his scoreless three innings of pitching with a pair of singles and a walk.

 

With this win, the reigning premiers remain in second place behind St Kilda with a 10-4 record. The Titans are in fifth place with just three wins and 11 losses, but the team is still hopeful they can finish their season on a high note. OGH – Blue will face Chelsea, Pakenham, OGH – Gold and St Kilda while North Western is set to play St Kilda, Chelsea, Pakenham and OGH – Gold.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. North Western Titans 2nds

24                                                    0

 

The Titans didn’t fare much better in the 2nds, as they were shutout for the fourth time this season at the hands of the ladder leaders. A 12-2 record puts OGH – Blue in first place in front of St Kilda, with the finals shaping up to be pretty exciting. The Titans are in last place, but they will be looking to get a few more wins on the board with four games to go.

Pakenham Pumas vs. St Kilda Saints 1sts

3                                      21

 

The home team advantage did not help Pakenham much as they fell to the still undefeated St Kilda Saints. With an impressive 14-0 record, the Saints show no signs of slowing down as they look to carry this momentum all the way into finals and secure their third premiership in four years.

 

St Kilda’s formidable offense kept up the pace, with Paul Paskar leading the way with 5 RBI’s on a double, two singles and one walk. Alan Ortiz contributed three hits of his own with a double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Adachi Shotaro had a double and two singles.

 

Pitcher Tom Snowden threw three innings, giving up just two hits, one walk and one HBP along with two unearned runs. His performance was enough to give St Kilda all the room they needed to rack up the runs, supported by singles from Rob Mescher, Robert Lewis, Daniel Hogg, Mariano Favia and Eduardo Escalona. Franco Caramia threw four innings as well, giving up three hits and one run.

 

The Pumas are now 6-8, holding on to their fourth-place position, while St Kilda is on top of their game and could secure an 18-0 record if they keep up the hard work. Next up for St Kilda are games against North Western, OGH – Gold, Chelsea and OGH – Blue, while Pakenham will face OGH – Gold, OGH – Blue, North Western and Chelsea.

 

Pakenham Pumas vs. St Kilda Saints 2nds

2                                      12

 

The reigning premiers from last season continued their string of impressive performances with a big victory over Pakenham. The Saints’ lineup was nearly unstoppable as they cruised to their 11^th victory of the season, while the Pumas have two wins, 10 losses and one draw on the season. Pakenham will try and improve for their final games to wrap up the season on a positive note, while St Kilda will do their best to overcome first-place OGH – Blue in the race toward finals.

Round 13 (Jan 20^th)

North Western Titans vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 1sts

14                                           4

The Titans enjoyed an exciting game as they secured their third victory of the season, a well-earned one after their solid performance. This was led by the strong showing from starter Hayden Walpole, who contributed an RBI single as well as seven innings of good pitching with four runs allowed – three of them unearned – on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

 

Fellow Titan Danny Haymes stood out with his double and single for 3 RBI’s, while Kyle Hodgett got on base twice with a pair of walks. Nathan Axiaq, Nick Jarvis, Kyle Newman and Daniel Taylor all added singles, allowing the Titans to build on their lead. This win allowed the Titans to improve to 3-10, and they’ll be looking to continue their winning ways into the last five games of the regular season. Meanwhile the Hunters are still in search of that elusive first win, and they’ll have another opportunity on Sunday at Chelsea. 

North Western Titans vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 2nds

1                                           11

The OGH – Gold reserves have had some ups and downs this season, but they remain firmly in the playoff picture after this big win over the Titans. Holding the opposition to just a single run allowed the Hunters to reach the 100-run mark for the entire season thus far, and they’ll be eager to have some more 10+ run games in the near future. Currently sitting at 7-6 in third place, the Hunters’ closest competition is fourth place Chelsea at 6-7. With just one win on the season, the Titans’ playoff hopes are over but they’re still eager to end the season on a high note.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. St Kilda Saints 1sts

6                                                      11

 

The Saints started their New Year off right, picking up right where they left off by extending their undefeated streak to 13-0. As the top two teams from last season faced off for the third time in 2018/19, the Saints looked to secure a convincing win after narrowly topping the Hunters in round 8 with a final score of 4-3.

 

This competitive game was highlighted by Tom Snowden, who gave up seven hits and three walks across 5.2 innings for two earned runs and two unearned runs. His teammates got the job done at the plate, with Alan Ortiz racking up 3 RBI’s on two doubles and a single, while Paul Paskar had three singles on the day. Adachi Shotaro contributed 3 RBI’s of his own, while Daniel Hogg smashed a double and had a base hit as well.

 

Plenty of other Saints players joined in the hitting frenzy, with Robert Lewis, Mariano Favia, Eduardo Escalona, Nigel Burrows and Franco Caramia all having singles. Caramia also threw 3.1 innings, giving up four hits, one walk and two HBP for two earned runs.

 

Although the Hunters lost their fourth game of the season, they did have some bright spots in their lineup. Lachlan Carracher had a pair of singles and an RBI, and he covered 3.2 innings on the mound during which he gave up six hits and two walks for four runs – three of them earned. Ben Gaplin took two walks, while Ashley Fisher, Archie Lygris, Jason Maxwell and Colin Trigellis-Smith all had singles.

 

With a 9-4 record, OGH – Blue sits in second place behind 13-0 St Kilda. The next time these two face off is in the final regular season game in round 18 on Sunday, February 17^th. Then it’s off to finals, when these two teams could very well face each other once again as OGH – Blue searches for a second straight premiership.

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. St Kilda Saints 2nds

3                                                      4

It was a close call as both of these teams fought hard, but ultimately the Saints finished strong for their tenth win of the season. The Hunters are just ahead at 11-2, and they will continue to battle it out for prime playoff position in the last five games of the season. They’ll meet again in round 18, and that final regular game could set the finals picture.

Pakenham Pumas vs. Chelsea Dolphins 1sts

7                                       11

The Dolphins did their duty to stay ahead of the Pumas, earning them their eighth win of the season. This victory puts more space between third-place Chelsea and fourth-place Pakenham.

 

The Pumas dropped their seventh overall, losing to a seasoned Chelsea side that made the most of their opportunities when it mattered. Although Mitch Bowen gave up 11 hits and seven runs – four of them unearned – in his nine inning start, he did his job and struck out 9 batters along the way. With Mitch going the distance on the mound, Chelsea’s lineup could focus on knocking in the runs, with Daniel Wong leading the way with three singles and a double for 2 RBI’s. Steve Tourtsakis, Rhys Tippett and Aden Rusden all added 2 RBI’s of their own, while Kyle Burton did a great job of getting on base with two singles and three walks. He came around to score three times, while teammates Trent Wilford and Trevor Johansen adding singles to the offensive firepower.

 

The Dolphins will look to secure back-to-back wins as they face Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold in round 14, while Pakenham hosts the red-hot St Kilda Saints.

Pakenham Pumas vs. Chelsea Dolphins 2nds

8                                       20

Chelsea went wild at the plate, smashing the ball and showing some impressive confidence with finals not far off. The Dolphins have won two out of their last three, while Pakenham has lost two of their last three. With a 6-7 record, Chelsea is in fourth place on the ladder, while Pakenham is far behind in fifth place with a 2-9-1 record. Five games are left in the regular season, and both teams will be eager to go out in winning style.

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 1sts

16                                  1

 

The Dolphins are feeling good after their fantastic outing, where they made quite the statement with their hitting and pitching. While OGH – Gold struggled to connect, the Dolphins had no problems, as Aden Rusden led the way with an impressive 5 RBI’s on a double and a single. Rhys Tippett smashed a 2-RBI triple, while Mitch Bowen had a pair of singles and a walk for an RBI and two runs scored.

 

Kyle Burton also came around to score twice, with a double, single and two walks for 2 RBI’s. Teammates Matthew Burton and Jamin Tsai added RBI’s, while Daniel Wong had a pair of singles and Matthew Minchin recorded two base hits and three walks for 2 RBI’s. He also contributed two innings on the mound, allowing just one earned run on one hit and two walks along with two strikeouts. He followed up on Wilson Yeh’s fantastic five innings of scoreless ball, during which he allowed just four hits and one walk.

 

With 14 losses and no wins, OGH – Gold remains determined to get in the win column, while Chelsea is hanging on to their third place position with just four weeks to go in the regular season. 

Chelsea Dolphins vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 2nds 

14                                 1

The Dolphins delivered another solid performance in round 14 as they dominated the Hunters. Chelsea has now won back-to-back games, a big boost as they look to stay powerful in the playoff picture. With this victory, they are neck and neck with OGH - Gold as both teams have a 7-7 record. The final four games of the regular season will see Chelsea face off against OGH - Blue, North Western and Pakenham, while OGH - Gold is scheduled to play Pakenham, St Kilda, OGH - Blue and North Western.

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. North Western Titans 1sts

16                                                    4

 

The Hunters bounced back after last week’s disappointing 11-6 loss to St Kilda with a big win over the Titans. OGH – Blue relied on their big bats to get the job done, with Geoff MacDonald going 3-for-3 with three hard-hit doubles for 4 RBI’s. Andrew Clark joined in the fun with a double and a single for 2 RBI’s, while Ben Gaplin did a great job of getting on base, taking three walks over the course of the day.

 

Lachlan Carracher threw four innings, allowing eight hits, two walks and one HBP for four runs – three of them earned. He also had a single and a walk for 2 RBI’s in his at-bats. With solid pitching, the Hunters were free to focus on their offense. Other key players included Tim Carracher, who came around to score four times after smashing a triple and a single for 2 RBI’s. He also got on base with a walk and HBP. Ashley Fisher enjoyed an RBI single, while Archie Lygris had a pair of his own base hits and Colin Trigellis-Smith followed up on his scoreless three innings of pitching with a pair of singles and a walk.

 

With this win, the reigning premiers remain in second place behind St Kilda with a 10-4 record. The Titans are in fifth place with just three wins and 11 losses, but the team is still hopeful they can finish their season on a high note. OGH – Blue will face Chelsea, Pakenham, OGH – Gold and St Kilda while North Western is set to play St Kilda, Chelsea, Pakenham and OGH – Gold.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. North Western Titans 2nds

24                                                    0

 

The Titans didn’t fare much better in the 2nds, as they were shutout for the fourth time this season at the hands of the ladder leaders. A 12-2 record puts OGH – Blue in first place in front of St Kilda, with the finals shaping up to be pretty exciting. The Titans are in last place, but they will be looking to get a few more wins on the board with four games to go.

Pakenham Pumas vs. St Kilda Saints 1sts

3                                      21

 

The home team advantage did not help Pakenham much as they fell to the still undefeated St Kilda Saints. With an impressive 14-0 record, the Saints show no signs of slowing down as they look to carry this momentum all the way into finals and secure their third premiership in four years.

 

St Kilda’s formidable offense kept up the pace, with Paul Paskar leading the way with 5 RBI’s on a double, two singles and one walk. Alan Ortiz contributed three hits of his own with a double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Adachi Shotaro had a double and two singles.

 

Pitcher Tom Snowden threw three innings, giving up just two hits, one walk and one HBP along with two unearned runs. His performance was enough to give St Kilda all the room they needed to rack up the runs, supported by singles from Rob Mescher, Robert Lewis, Daniel Hogg, Mariano Favia and Eduardo Escalona. Franco Caramia threw four innings as well, giving up three hits and one run.

 

The Pumas are now 6-8, holding on to their fourth-place position, while St Kilda is on top of their game and could secure an 18-0 record if they keep up the hard work. Next up for St Kilda are games against North Western, OGH – Gold, Chelsea and OGH – Blue, while Pakenham will face OGH – Gold, OGH – Blue, North Western and Chelsea.

 

Pakenham Pumas vs. St Kilda Saints 2nds

2                                      12

 

The reigning premiers from last season continued their string of impressive performances with a big victory over Pakenham. The Saints’ lineup was nearly unstoppable as they cruised to their 11^th victory of the season, while the Pumas have two wins, 10 losses and one draw on the season. Pakenham will try and improve for their final games to wrap up the season on a positive note, while St Kilda will do their best to overcome first-place OGH – Blue in the race toward finals.

Round 13 (Jan 20^th)

North Western Titans vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 1sts

14                                           4

The Titans enjoyed an exciting game as they secured their third victory of the season, a well-earned one after their solid performance. This was led by the strong showing from starter Hayden Walpole, who contributed an RBI single as well as seven innings of good pitching with four runs allowed – three of them unearned – on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

 

Fellow Titan Danny Haymes stood out with his double and single for 3 RBI’s, while Kyle Hodgett got on base twice with a pair of walks. Nathan Axiaq, Nick Jarvis, Kyle Newman and Daniel Taylor all added singles, allowing the Titans to build on their lead. This win allowed the Titans to improve to 3-10, and they’ll be looking to continue their winning ways into the last five games of the regular season. Meanwhile the Hunters are still in search of that elusive first win, and they’ll have another opportunity on Sunday at Chelsea. 

North Western Titans vs. Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold 2nds

1                                           11

The OGH – Gold reserves have had some ups and downs this season, but they remain firmly in the playoff picture after this big win over the Titans. Holding the opposition to just a single run allowed the Hunters to reach the 100-run mark for the entire season thus far, and they’ll be eager to have some more 10+ run games in the near future. Currently sitting at 7-6 in third place, the Hunters’ closest competition is fourth place Chelsea at 6-7. With just one win on the season, the Titans’ playoff hopes are over but they’re still eager to end the season on a high note.

 

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. St Kilda Saints 1sts

6                                                      11

 

The Saints started their New Year off right, picking up right where they left off by extending their undefeated streak to 13-0. As the top two teams from last season faced off for the third time in 2018/19, the Saints looked to secure a convincing win after narrowly topping the Hunters in round 8 with a final score of 4-3.

 

This competitive game was highlighted by Tom Snowden, who gave up seven hits and three walks across 5.2 innings for two earned runs and two unearned runs. His teammates got the job done at the plate, with Alan Ortiz racking up 3 RBI’s on two doubles and a single, while Paul Paskar had three singles on the day. Adachi Shotaro contributed 3 RBI’s of his own, while Daniel Hogg smashed a double and had a base hit as well.

 

Plenty of other Saints players joined in the hitting frenzy, with Robert Lewis, Mariano Favia, Eduardo Escalona, Nigel Burrows and Franco Caramia all having singles. Caramia also threw 3.1 innings, giving up four hits, one walk and two HBP for two earned runs.

 

Although the Hunters lost their fourth game of the season, they did have some bright spots in their lineup. Lachlan Carracher had a pair of singles and an RBI, and he covered 3.2 innings on the mound during which he gave up six hits and two walks for four runs – three of them earned. Ben Gaplin took two walks, while Ashley Fisher, Archie Lygris, Jason Maxwell and Colin Trigellis-Smith all had singles.

 

With a 9-4 record, OGH – Blue sits in second place behind 13-0 St Kilda. The next time these two face off is in the final regular season game in round 18 on Sunday, February 17^th. Then it’s off to finals, when these two teams could very well face each other once again as OGH – Blue searches for a second straight premiership.

Ormond Glenhuntly – Blue vs. St Kilda Saints 2nds

3                                                      4

It was a close call as both of these teams fought hard, but ultimately the Saints finished strong for their tenth win of the season. The Hunters are just ahead at 11-2, and they will continue to battle it out for prime playoff position in the last five games of the season. They’ll meet again in round 18, and that final regular game could set the finals picture.

Pakenham Pumas vs. Chelsea Dolphins 1sts

7                                       11

The Dolphins did their duty to stay ahead of the Pumas, earning them their eighth win of the season. This victory puts more space between third-place Chelsea and fourth-place Pakenham.

 

The Pumas dropped their seventh overall, losing to a seasoned Chelsea side that made the most of their opportunities when it mattered. Although Mitch Bowen gave up 11 hits and seven runs – four of them unearned – in his nine inning start, he did his job and struck out 9 batters along the way. With Mitch going the distance on the mound, Chelsea’s lineup could focus on knocking in the runs, with Daniel Wong leading the way with three singles and a double for 2 RBI’s. Steve Tourtsakis, Rhys Tippett and Aden Rusden all added 2 RBI’s of their own, while Kyle Burton did a great job of getting on base with two singles and three walks. He came around to score three times, while teammates Trent Wilford and Trevor Johansen adding singles to the offensive firepower.

 

The Dolphins will look to secure back-to-back wins as they face Ormond Glenhuntly – Gold in round 14, while Pakenham hosts the red-hot St Kilda Saints.

Pakenham Pumas vs. Chelsea Dolphins 2nds

8                                       20

Chelsea went wild at the plate, smashing the ball and showing some impressive confidence with finals not far off. The Dolphins have won two out of their last three, while Pakenham has lost two of their last three. With a 6-7 record, Chelsea is in fourth place on the ladder, while Pakenham is far behind in fifth place with a 2-9-1 record. Five games are left in the regular season, and both teams will be eager to go out in winning style.

VSBL Women’s Division One picked up right where they left off, with the four teams returning in the new year with their sights set on some big wins in the weeks leading up to finals. Springvale is continuing their dominance, and it’s possible they could bring home their seventh straight premiership if they keep on rolling the way they are. Catch up on everything that’s happened in the past two weeks below, and good luck to all four teams as the season continues! 

VSBL Women’s Division One picked up right where they left off, with the four teams returning in the new year with their sights set on some big wins in the weeks leading up to finals. Springvale is continuing their dominance, and it’s possible they could bring home their seventh straight premiership if they keep on rolling the way they are. Catch up on everything that’s happened in the past two weeks below, and good luck to all four teams as the season continues! 

Round 15 – Jan 23^rd

Essendon Bombers vs. Doncaster Dragons

11                                       3

 

The Bombers have bounced back from a tough 4-2 loss at the Lions on Sunday, thanks to a strong outing against a struggling Dragons side. Essendon shut down Doncaster for the most part, cruising to their eighth win of the season as they hold steady in second place. Meanwhile the Dragons are 4-11, but they show plenty of promise despite dropping some close games.  Doncaster has held their own for the most part against Essendon this season, even securing a huge 19-9 rout in round 9, but they fell short in their efforts Thursday night. Next up for these two teams is Doncaster’s away game at ladder-leading Springvale, while Essendon will visit Footscray. 

 

Footscray Bulldogs vs. Springvale Lions

6                                       16

 

The Lions have continued their streak of strong showings with their eighth win in a row, keeping the Bulldogs at bay with another impressive outing. Springvale is leading the way with a stellar 13-2 record, and they are proving to be the toughest team to beat in the division. Springvale is the only team left that’s allowed less than 100 runs against them. Now sitting at a winning percentage of 86.67, the Lions are in great shape to keep their prime position. Footscray finds themselves in third place with a 5-10 record, which they will have the chance to improve upon in the final four games, with their next one at home vs. Essendon. 

 

Round 14 – Jan 19^th

Doncaster Dragons vs. Footscray Bulldogs

10                                       9

 

It was a close call for Doncaster as they narrowly managed to get the better of Footscray, hanging on four their fourth victory of the season. The Dragons had a good day at the plate to complement their strong pitching, with Jamie Bastian going 5-for-5 with a triple and four singles for 4 RBI’s. Ellen Goodrope had a double and a run scored, while Ursula Howard came home twice and Kate Lethborg had an RBI single.

 

Erin Collins joined in the fun with a pair of singles for 2 RBI’s, while Bronwyn Gell went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and 3 RBI’s. She also had a scoreless relief appearance, stepping up to keep the Dragons in the game.

Footscray managed to stay right in the game, with Morgan Doty throwing four innings and giving up seven hits, one walk and six runs – three of them earned. She also managed four singles and 2 RBI’s for her highest batting average so far this season. Famke Gildemacuer also had a solid performance, with 3 RBI’s to support her two innings of work on the mound. She allowed seven hits, one walk, one HBP and four earned runs.

 

Jody Hamilton went 3-for-4 with several base hits, while Alanna Kappler had a single and Sabrina Kinlough smashed two doubles for an RBI and one run scored. Abbey McLellan hit a single and a double for 2 RBI’s of her own. Despite the Bulldogs’ best efforts at the plate, they couldn’t quite close the gap and ended up with their ninth loss on the season. These two teams will see each other twice more in the regular season, with a round 17 home game for the Dragons before the round 18 return game at Footscray.

Springvale Lions vs. Essendon Bombers

4                                   2

 

The Bombers kept the Lions’ offense to a minimum, but it wasn’t enough in the end as this competitive game finished with Springvale on top. Essendon did a great job of shutting down the normally potent Springvale lineup, holding them to under five runs for just the third time this season.

 

Gabby Bevan had another solid start for Springvale, tossing seven innings and giving up seven hits and two runs – one unearned while striking out five. She was backed up by her hard-hitting teammates, including Emily Devine with a single and a triple and Siobhan Stephenson with a 2-RBI double. Hanami Campitelli had an RBI while Shirley Loon added a single.

 

Essendon’s Kayla Adams had a great game, with three singles and 1 RBI to bring her hit total to 20 on the season and her overall batting average up to .488. Despite the disappointing final result, Essendon can be proud that they held their own against such a dominant force, and they’ll get two more chances against Springvale in rounds 17 and 18. This win puts Springvale at 12-2, while Essendon remains in second place at 7-7.

Round 13 – Jan 12^th

Doncaster Dragons v. Essendon Bombers

6                                     11

 

Essendon hit the ground running in their first game of 2019, made possible by a great start from Abbey Kelly. She covered six innings, giving up just four hits and four walks for three earned runs along with seven strikeouts. If her strong pitching wasn’t enough, she also had a single and a double for 5 RBI’s. Jasmine Bentley contributed a pair of singles to raise her hit tally to 15 on the season, and she came around to score twice.

 

Other key contributors for the Bombers included Claire Costa with a single and two walks, Kira Jansen with a pair of singles and two runs scored and Vibeke Pederson with an RBI single in her first appearance of the season. Courtney Foura went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple to collect 4 RBI’s in one of her best offensive performances all year. She also stepped in to cover an inning of relief, conceding three runs on three hits.

 

Essendon challenged Doncaster’s pitcher Kirsten Bezzina, who gave up 11 hits, two walks and nine earned runs across five innings. Belinda Cannington threw a scoreless inning of relief on top of her stunning 2-RBI triple, while Bronwyn Gell also pitched, allowing two earned runs. She collected three hits, two singles and a double, for 3 RBI’s. Ursula Howard had a pair of singles and a run scored, while Hannah Sowden had a base hit as well.

 

Despite these promising offensive moments from Doncaster, it wasn’t enough to catch up to Essendon. The Dragons are now 3-10 in fourth place while the Bombers are two spots ahead with a 7-6 record. 

Footscray Bulldogs vs. Springvale Lions

12                                     15

 

It was a crazy, high-scoring affair as Footscray and Springvale faced off in the opening game of 2019. The Bulldogs gave it their best shot, eager to secure a repeat victory similar to their wild 17-16 win over the Lions in round 7. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff was not able to hold up against the hard-hitting Lions.

 

Leading the offensive onslaught for Springvale was Shae Lillywhite with two doubles and Anna Kimbrell with a double, single and walk for 2 RBI’s. Kellie Manzie collected two hits, while Jade Hough and Siobhan Stephenson each had one apiece. Hanami Campitelli had 2 RBI’s on a pair of singles and a walk, while Sinead Flanigan batted in two runs with her base hits.

 

Although their offense was quite busy, Springvale’s pitchers didn’t have the best outings. Maddy Patrick was roughed up on the mound, conceding seven hits, four earned runs, four unearned runs and seven hits in less than two innings. In her four innings of work, Gabby Bevan allowed six hits, three walks and two HBP batters for four runs – three of them earned.

 

Footscray’s pitchers struggled as well, with Brittney Cedelland tossing three innings during which she allowed eight hits, four walks and two strikeouts for five earned runs. Her defense wasn’t there to back her up as they also allowed eight unearned runs to score. Away from the mound, she had better luck with a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s and a total of 14 hits thus far this season.

 

Morgan Doty smashed a single and a triple, getting on base consistently to score three runs. She also stepped in to cover three innings on the mound, allowing three hits, two walks and two unearned runs while striking out three.

 

Other key players for Footscray included Famke Gildemacuer, Jody Hamilton, Holly Howard, Alanna Kappler and Sabrina Kinlough, who all had singles, as well as standout leader Abbey McLellan, who sent her first home run of the year over the fence as she collected 5 RBI’s on the day.

 

Following this game, Footscray sits in third place with a 5-8 record, while Springvale hang on to their first-place spot with an impressive 11-2 record on the season. These two will meet again in round 15 as Footscray looks to redeem themselves after this close finish.

Round 14 – Jan 19^th

Doncaster Dragons vs. Footscray Bulldogs

10                                       9

 

It was a close call for Doncaster as they narrowly managed to get the better of Footscray, hanging on four their fourth victory of the season. The Dragons had a good day at the plate to complement their strong pitching, with Jamie Bastian going 5-for-5 with a triple and four singles for 4 RBI’s. Ellen Goodrope had a double and a run scored, while Ursula Howard came home twice and Kate Lethborg had an RBI single.

 

Erin Collins joined in the fun with a pair of singles for 2 RBI’s, while Bronwyn Gell went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and 3 RBI’s. She also had a scoreless relief appearance, stepping up to keep the Dragons in the game.

Footscray managed to stay right in the game, with Morgan Doty throwing four innings and giving up seven hits, one walk and six runs – three of them earned. She also managed four singles and 2 RBI’s for her highest batting average so far this season. Famke Gildemacuer also had a solid performance, with 3 RBI’s to support her two innings of work on the mound. She allowed seven hits, one walk, one HBP and four earned runs.

 

Jody Hamilton went 3-for-4 with several base hits, while Alanna Kappler had a single and Sabrina Kinlough smashed two doubles for an RBI and one run scored. Abbey McLellan hit a single and a double for 2 RBI’s of her own. Despite the Bulldogs’ best efforts at the plate, they couldn’t quite close the gap and ended up with their ninth loss on the season. These two teams will see each other twice more in the regular season, with a round 17 home game for the Dragons before the round 18 return game at Footscray.

Springvale Lions vs. Essendon Bombers

4                                   2

 

The Bombers kept the Lions’ offense to a minimum, but it wasn’t enough in the end as this competitive game finished with Springvale on top. Essendon did a great job of shutting down the normally potent Springvale lineup, holding them to under five runs for just the third time this season.

 

Gabby Bevan had another solid start for Springvale, tossing seven innings and giving up seven hits and two runs – one unearned while striking out five. She was backed up by her hard-hitting teammates, including Emily Devine with a single and a triple and Siobhan Stephenson with a 2-RBI double. Hanami Campitelli had an RBI while Shirley Loon added a single.

 

Essendon’s Kayla Adams had a great game, with three singles and 1 RBI to bring her hit total to 20 on the season and her overall batting average up to .488. Despite the disappointing final result, Essendon can be proud that they held their own against such a dominant force, and they’ll get two more chances against Springvale in rounds 17 and 18. This win puts Springvale at 12-2, while Essendon remains in second place at 7-7.

Round 13 – Jan 12^th

Doncaster Dragons v. Essendon Bombers

6                                     11

 

Essendon hit the ground running in their first game of 2019, made possible by a great start from Abbey Kelly. She covered six innings, giving up just four hits and four walks for three earned runs along with seven strikeouts. If her strong pitching wasn’t enough, she also had a single and a double for 5 RBI’s. Jasmine Bentley contributed a pair of singles to raise her hit tally to 15 on the season, and she came around to score twice.

 

Other key contributors for the Bombers included Claire Costa with a single and two walks, Kira Jansen with a pair of singles and two runs scored and Vibeke Pederson with an RBI single in her first appearance of the season. Courtney Foura went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple to collect 4 RBI’s in one of her best offensive performances all year. She also stepped in to cover an inning of relief, conceding three runs on three hits.

 

Essendon challenged Doncaster’s pitcher Kirsten Bezzina, who gave up 11 hits, two walks and nine earned runs across five innings. Belinda Cannington threw a scoreless inning of relief on top of her stunning 2-RBI triple, while Bronwyn Gell also pitched, allowing two earned runs. She collected three hits, two singles and a double, for 3 RBI’s. Ursula Howard had a pair of singles and a run scored, while Hannah Sowden had a base hit as well.

 

Despite these promising offensive moments from Doncaster, it wasn’t enough to catch up to Essendon. The Dragons are now 3-10 in fourth place while the Bombers are two spots ahead with a 7-6 record. 

Footscray Bulldogs vs. Springvale Lions

12                                     15

 

It was a crazy, high-scoring affair as Footscray and Springvale faced off in the opening game of 2019. The Bulldogs gave it their best shot, eager to secure a repeat victory similar to their wild 17-16 win over the Lions in round 7. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff was not able to hold up against the hard-hitting Lions.

 

Leading the offensive onslaught for Springvale was Shae Lillywhite with two doubles and Anna Kimbrell with a double, single and walk for 2 RBI’s. Kellie Manzie collected two hits, while Jade Hough and Siobhan Stephenson each had one apiece. Hanami Campitelli had 2 RBI’s on a pair of singles and a walk, while Sinead Flanigan batted in two runs with her base hits.

 

Although their offense was quite busy, Springvale’s pitchers didn’t have the best outings. Maddy Patrick was roughed up on the mound, conceding seven hits, four earned runs, four unearned runs and seven hits in less than two innings. In her four innings of work, Gabby Bevan allowed six hits, three walks and two HBP batters for four runs – three of them earned.

 

Footscray’s pitchers struggled as well, with Brittney Cedelland tossing three innings during which she allowed eight hits, four walks and two strikeouts for five earned runs. Her defense wasn’t there to back her up as they also allowed eight unearned runs to score. Away from the mound, she had better luck with a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s and a total of 14 hits thus far this season.

 

Morgan Doty smashed a single and a triple, getting on base consistently to score three runs. She also stepped in to cover three innings on the mound, allowing three hits, two walks and two unearned runs while striking out three.

 

Other key players for Footscray included Famke Gildemacuer, Jody Hamilton, Holly Howard, Alanna Kappler and Sabrina Kinlough, who all had singles, as well as standout leader Abbey McLellan, who sent her first home run of the year over the fence as she collected 5 RBI’s on the day.

 

Following this game, Footscray sits in third place with a 5-8 record, while Springvale hang on to their first-place spot with an impressive 11-2 record on the season. These two will meet again in round 15 as Footscray looks to redeem themselves after this close finish.

Springvale Lions vs. Essendon Bombers

4                                   2

 

The Bombers kept the Lions’ offense to a minimum, but it wasn’t enough in the end as this competitive game finished with Springvale on top. Essendon did a great job of shutting down the normally potent Springvale lineup, holding them to under five runs for just the third time this season.

 

Gabby Bevan had another solid start for Springvale, tossing seven innings and giving up seven hits and two runs – one unearned while striking out five. She was backed up by her hard-hitting teammates, including Emily Devine with a single and a triple and Siobhan Stephenson with a 2-RBI double. Hanami Campitelli had an RBI while Shirley Loon added a single.

 

Essendon’s Kayla Adams had a great game, with three singles and 1 RBI to bring her hit total to 20 on the season and her overall batting average up to .488. Despite the disappointing final result, Essendon can be proud that they held their own against such a dominant force, and they’ll get two more chances against Springvale in rounds 17 and 18. This win puts Springvale at 12-2, while Essendon remains in second place at 7-7.

Round 13 – Jan 12^th

Doncaster Dragons v. Essendon Bombers

6                                     11

 

Essendon hit the ground running in their first game of 2019, made possible by a great start from Abbey Kelly. She covered six innings, giving up just four hits and four walks for three earned runs along with seven strikeouts. If her strong pitching wasn’t enough, she also had a single and a double for 5 RBI’s. Jasmine Bentley contributed a pair of singles to raise her hit tally to 15 on the season, and she came around to score twice.

 

Other key contributors for the Bombers included Claire Costa with a single and two walks, Kira Jansen with a pair of singles and two runs scored and Vibeke Pederson with an RBI single in her first appearance of the season. Courtney Foura went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple to collect 4 RBI’s in one of her best offensive performances all year. She also stepped in to cover an inning of relief, conceding three runs on three hits.

 

Essendon challenged Doncaster’s pitcher Kirsten Bezzina, who gave up 11 hits, two walks and nine earned runs across five innings. Belinda Cannington threw a scoreless inning of relief on top of her stunning 2-RBI triple, while Bronwyn Gell also pitched, allowing two earned runs. She collected three hits, two singles and a double, for 3 RBI’s. Ursula Howard had a pair of singles and a run scored, while Hannah Sowden had a base hit as well.

 

Despite these promising offensive moments from Doncaster, it wasn’t enough to catch up to Essendon. The Dragons are now 3-10 in fourth place while the Bombers are two spots ahead with a 7-6 record. 

Footscray Bulldogs vs. Springvale Lions

12                                     15

 

It was a crazy, high-scoring affair as Footscray and Springvale faced off in the opening game of 2019. The Bulldogs gave it their best shot, eager to secure a repeat victory similar to their wild 17-16 win over the Lions in round 7. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff was not able to hold up against the hard-hitting Lions.

 

Leading the offensive onslaught for Springvale was Shae Lillywhite with two doubles and Anna Kimbrell with a double, single and walk for 2 RBI’s. Kellie Manzie collected two hits, while Jade Hough and Siobhan Stephenson each had one apiece. Hanami Campitelli had 2 RBI’s on a pair of singles and a walk, while Sinead Flanigan batted in two runs with her base hits.

 

Although their offense was quite busy, Springvale’s pitchers didn’t have the best outings. Maddy Patrick was roughed up on the mound, conceding seven hits, four earned runs, four unearned runs and seven hits in less than two innings. In her four innings of work, Gabby Bevan allowed six hits, three walks and two HBP batters for four runs – three of them earned.

 

Footscray’s pitchers struggled as well, with Brittney Cedelland tossing three innings during which she allowed eight hits, four walks and two strikeouts for five earned runs. Her defense wasn’t there to back her up as they also allowed eight unearned runs to score. Away from the mound, she had better luck with a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s and a total of 14 hits thus far this season.

 

Morgan Doty smashed a single and a triple, getting on base consistently to score three runs. She also stepped in to cover three innings on the mound, allowing three hits, two walks and two unearned runs while striking out three.

 

Other key players for Footscray included Famke Gildemacuer, Jody Hamilton, Holly Howard, Alanna Kappler and Sabrina Kinlough, who all had singles, as well as standout leader Abbey McLellan, who sent her first home run of the year over the fence as she collected 5 RBI’s on the day.

 

Following this game, Footscray sits in third place with a 5-8 record, while Springvale hang on to their first-place spot with an impressive 11-2 record on the season. These two will meet again in round 15 as Footscray looks to redeem themselves after this close finish.

Round 13 – Jan 12^th

Doncaster Dragons v. Essendon Bombers

6                                     11

 

Essendon hit the ground running in their first game of 2019, made possible by a great start from Abbey Kelly. She covered six innings, giving up just four hits and four walks for three earned runs along with seven strikeouts. If her strong pitching wasn’t enough, she also had a single and a double for 5 RBI’s. Jasmine Bentley contributed a pair of singles to raise her hit tally to 15 on the season, and she came around to score twice.

 

Other key contributors for the Bombers included Claire Costa with a single and two walks, Kira Jansen with a pair of singles and two runs scored and Vibeke Pederson with an RBI single in her first appearance of the season. Courtney Foura went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple to collect 4 RBI’s in one of her best offensive performances all year. She also stepped in to cover an inning of relief, conceding three runs on three hits.

 

Essendon challenged Doncaster’s pitcher Kirsten Bezzina, who gave up 11 hits, two walks and nine earned runs across five innings. Belinda Cannington threw a scoreless inning of relief on top of her stunning 2-RBI triple, while Bronwyn Gell also pitched, allowing two earned runs. She collected three hits, two singles and a double, for 3 RBI’s. Ursula Howard had a pair of singles and a run scored, while Hannah Sowden had a base hit as well.

 

Despite these promising offensive moments from Doncaster, it wasn’t enough to catch up to Essendon. The Dragons are now 3-10 in fourth place while the Bombers are two spots ahead with a 7-6 record. 

Footscray Bulldogs vs. Springvale Lions

12                                     15

 

It was a crazy, high-scoring affair as Footscray and Springvale faced off in the opening game of 2019. The Bulldogs gave it their best shot, eager to secure a repeat victory similar to their wild 17-16 win over the Lions in round 7. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff was not able to hold up against the hard-hitting Lions.

 

Leading the offensive onslaught for Springvale was Shae Lillywhite with two doubles and Anna Kimbrell with a double, single and walk for 2 RBI’s. Kellie Manzie collected two hits, while Jade Hough and Siobhan Stephenson each had one apiece. Hanami Campitelli had 2 RBI’s on a pair of singles and a walk, while Sinead Flanigan batted in two runs with her base hits.

 

Although their offense was quite busy, Springvale’s pitchers didn’t have the best outings. Maddy Patrick was roughed up on the mound, conceding seven hits, four earned runs, four unearned runs and seven hits in less than two innings. In her four innings of work, Gabby Bevan allowed six hits, three walks and two HBP batters for four runs – three of them earned.

 

Footscray’s pitchers struggled as well, with Brittney Cedelland tossing three innings during which she allowed eight hits, four walks and two strikeouts for five earned runs. Her defense wasn’t there to back her up as they also allowed eight unearned runs to score. Away from the mound, she had better luck with a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s and a total of 14 hits thus far this season.

 

Morgan Doty smashed a single and a triple, getting on base consistently to score three runs. She also stepped in to cover three innings on the mound, allowing three hits, two walks and two unearned runs while striking out three.

 

Other key players for Footscray included Famke Gildemacuer, Jody Hamilton, Holly Howard, Alanna Kappler and Sabrina Kinlough, who all had singles, as well as standout leader Abbey McLellan, who sent her first home run of the year over the fence as she collected 5 RBI’s on the day.

 

Following this game, Footscray sits in third place with a 5-8 record, while Springvale hang on to their first-place spot with an impressive 11-2 record on the season. These two will meet again in round 15 as Footscray looks to redeem themselves after this close finish.

Footscray Bulldogs vs. Springvale Lions

12                                     15

 

It was a crazy, high-scoring affair as Footscray and Springvale faced off in the opening game of 2019. The Bulldogs gave it their best shot, eager to secure a repeat victory similar to their wild 17-16 win over the Lions in round 7. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff was not able to hold up against the hard-hitting Lions.

 

Leading the offensive onslaught for Springvale was Shae Lillywhite with two doubles and Anna Kimbrell with a double, single and walk for 2 RBI’s. Kellie Manzie collected two hits, while Jade Hough and Siobhan Stephenson each had one apiece. Hanami Campitelli had 2 RBI’s on a pair of singles and a walk, while Sinead Flanigan batted in two runs with her base hits.

 

Although their offense was quite busy, Springvale’s pitchers didn’t have the best outings. Maddy Patrick was roughed up on the mound, conceding seven hits, four earned runs, four unearned runs and seven hits in less than two innings. In her four innings of work, Gabby Bevan allowed six hits, three walks and two HBP batters for four runs – three of them earned.

 

Footscray’s pitchers struggled as well, with Brittney Cedelland tossing three innings during which she allowed eight hits, four walks and two strikeouts for five earned runs. Her defense wasn’t there to back her up as they also allowed eight unearned runs to score. Away from the mound, she had better luck with a pair of singles for 3 RBI’s and a total of 14 hits thus far this season.

 

Morgan Doty smashed a single and a triple, getting on base consistently to score three runs. She also stepped in to cover three innings on the mound, allowing three hits, two walks and two unearned runs while striking out three.

 

Other key players for Footscray included Famke Gildemacuer, Jody Hamilton, Holly Howard, Alanna Kappler and Sabrina Kinlough, who all had singles, as well as standout leader Abbey McLellan, who sent her first home run of the year over the fence as she collected 5 RBI’s on the day.

 

Following this game, Footscray sits in third place with a 5-8 record, while Springvale hang on to their first-place spot with an impressive 11-2 record on the season. These two will meet again in round 15 as Footscray looks to redeem themselves after this close finish.

Baseball Australia would like to congratulate Rowan Edmunds, our Brut Little Leaguer of the Week!

Rowan has won $500 for his baseball club.

Rowan is 11 years old, plays for the Swan Districts Baseball Club, and supports the Perth Heat.

As the older little league player of his club great to see the encouragement Rowan gives to all of the younger kids in his team. This is a testament to the clubs’ philosophy of goals towards developing kids’ skills over results.

Rowan understands this approach also and loves trying to be a role model for the younger ones. He gets huge enjoyment out of catching for a younger kid and praising their results.

To go into the draw to become the Brut Little Leaguer of the Week and win $500 just like Rowan, enter your details HERE.

Stay tuned next week as we announce another Brut Little Leaguer of the Week!

Baseball Victoria sends condolences to the family and friends of Les Polson, who passed away on Saturday at age 88.

Les was an instrumental figure in Victorian baseball, particularly with the development of junior competitions and representative opportunities. Affectionately referred to as the “Godfather of Junior Baseball,” Les will be greatly missed and remembered fondly by all who knew him.

An iconic individual with a deeply-rooted love for the game, Les spent decades at the helm of junior competitions and Victorian state teams. He took his players to great heights, even leading multiple team trips to the U.S. alongside close friend Ray Baker.

Les was welcomed as a Baseball Victoria Life Member in 1992, and he was also a life member of the Moorrabin Panthers, his beloved local club where he coached juniors. He served on the BV Board for many years as he strived to make a difference in the baseball world and grow the sport, especially at the junior level. Hundreds of young players looked up to Les, learning from his positivity and never-ending determination that he displayed so greatly as the longtime U16 State Team Manager.

Les was a member of the VBA Junior League and treasurer/finance manager of VBA for many years. Known as a guru of Victorian U16s baseball, Les had an uncanny ability to spot talented players and promote their growth and development, which has undoubtedly had a long-lasting impact on junior baseball throughout Victoria. 

Baseball Victoria's VSBL clubs observed a moment's silence on Sunday, as the Melbourne Aces did on Saturday night. Many of these players and families have been directly or indirectly affected by the mighty effort of Les over many years.

Baseball Victoria's VSBL clubs observed a moment's silence on Sunday, as the Melbourne Aces did on Saturday night. Many of these players and families have been directly or indirectly affected by the mighty effort of Les over many years.

On behalf of the baseball community, we would like to extend our condolences and remember Les for his true love of baseball and his contributions to his favourite sport. We send our well wishes to his grieving family and friends at this time.

Please note that at the request of Les and his family, there will be no funeral service. 

 

After seven years and over 650 innings in the Detroit Tigers organisation, Warwick Saupold is getting a major change of scenery in 2019.

Some 10,700km away from Detroit’s Comerica Park is Daejeon Hanbat Baseball Stadium, where Saupold will suit up for the Hanwha Eagles, one of 10 teams competing in Korea’s premier baseball league, the KBO.

2019 is shaping as a crucial year for Saupold, who says his deal with Hanwha was somewhat unexpected.

“The deal came out of nowhere,” Saupold said.

“My agent called me one afternoon and told me there was some interest from Asia and in the blink of an eye there was a contract in front of me.

“I’m looking forward to a new chapter and helping Hanwha win a championship.”

As well as donning the orange, black and grey of Hanwha, Saupold is looking toward putting on the green and gold of Team Australia in the very near future.

Despite being unavailable for Team Australia’s four day camp in Canberra, Saupold continues to be an unabashed advocate of competing for the national team.

“There’s a different kind of feeling playing for your country,” he says.

“I will do everything in my power to represent Australia at the Premier12, and play a role in qualifying for Tokyo2020.”

Saupold’s last stint in Australian colours was at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, where he tossed four spectacular innings in a heartbreaking one run loss against Cuba.

Since then, a number of Saupold’s teammates have retired from national team duties, including former MLBers Trent Oeltjen, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Brad Harman.

Despite losing a combined 226 games of MLB experience with those three absences alone, Saupold believes Team Australia are building towards greatness.

“There is a lot of talent in the country right now,” Saupold says.

“It has been exciting to see the next generation develop over the last few years, and I think we will be in a position to challenge and get some good results at the Premier12.”

TEAM AUSTRALIA CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT

Two dominant performances highlighted the #AYC2019 awards, which were given out at the conclusion of the gold medal games. Read all about each winner below!

U18 Most valuable player and hitting champion: Conor Myles (Victoria Blue)

Myles put together a tournament for the ages, as he claimed both the MVP and batting champion.

Myles hit .452 in his 10 games, with seven of his 19 hits going for extra bases. Myles drove in a tournament-high 24 runs, and recorded a slugging percentage of .762.

In yesterday's gold medal game, Myles was a key part of Victoria Blue's drought-breaking championship, going 2-for-4 with a team-high three RBI.

U16 Most valuable player: Charlie Collins (Victoria Blue)

Collins was a star at the top of the Victoria Blue lineup, hitting .462 in eight games. 

Picking up 12 hits in his eight games, Collins homered, nailed three triples and two doubles to record an .846 slugging percentage.

Collins proved himself as an all-rounder throughout, swiping five bags and picking up 22 total bases in eight games.

U18 pitching champion: Blake Townsend (Victoria Blue)

Blake Townsend etched his name into the record books, claiming back-to-back U18 pitching champion awards.

Townsend did not give up an earned run in his 13 innings of work, leading all comers with 16 strikeouts. 

Hitters only managed a .174 average against Townsend, who is a farmhand with the Seattle Mariners.

Townsend's statistics across the last two U18 championships have been incredible, as the lefty hasn't conceded a run in his last 28 innings of work.

U16 pitching champion: Tom Stancic (NSW)

In his first Australian Youth Championship, Stancic made a fine contribution to his team's back-to-back championships. 

Stancic made three appearances, tossing eight scoreless innings.

Hitters only managed a .143 batting average against Stancic, who only allowed four total hits for the championship.

U16 hitting champion: Luke Smith (Queensland)

From the first game to the last, Queensland's Luke Smith was on fire.

Smith went 14-for-22 in his nine appearances this week, which is good for a .636 batting average.

Smith collected four doubles and five RBI, en route to a championship-high .680 on base percentage.

U18 fielding champion: Chris Burke (Victoria Blue)

Burke was a force behind the plate for Victoria Blue, claiming 12 assists and throwing out three of eight runners. 

Burke recorded a perfect fielding percentage, and chimed in with a .359 batting average from 10 games.

U16 fielding champion: Lachlan Wilson (Queensland)

Wilson recorded a championship high 22 assists and made 12 putouts en route to the U16 fielding award.

Wilson also chimed in with a .313 batting average, including a double, a triple and three RBI. 

Australia will take on the best Oceania has to offer this week in hope of qualifying for the 2019 U18 World Cup.

18 of Australia's best and brightest stars will travel to Guam to compete in the Oceania Qualifier, with the winning team earning their place at the U18 World Cup in Gijang, South Korea.

The Australian squad will face Guam, American Samoa, New Zealand and Palau across the next six days at the Paseo Stadium in Agana, Guam.

 

AUSTRALIA'S U18 OCEANIA QUALIFIER SCHEDULE:

23 January
3 pm American Samoa vs. Australia

24 January
7 pm Australia vs. Guam

25 January
11 am Australia vs. New Zealand
3 pm Palau vs. Australia

26 January-semifinals
1 pm No 1 seed-No 2 seed (a)
6 pm No 3 seed-No 4 seed (b)

27 January-medal games
12 pm loser (a)-winner (b)-bronze medal game (c)
5 pm winner (a)-winner (c)-championship game

(all times local - UTC +10)

 

U18 OCEANIA QUALIFIER SQUAD:
Travis Bazzana (NSW)
Brandan Bidois (QLD)
Chris Burke (VIC)
Liam Evans (VIC)
Blake Farr (SA)
Jack Lee (NSW)
Liam MacDonald (QLD)
Liam McCallum (NSW)
Conor Myles (VIC)
Cayden Nicoletto (WA)
Jaylin Rae (NSW)
Nicholas Riley (WA)
Caleb Shepherd (NSW)
William Sherriff (WA)
Alex Skepton (QLD)
Aidan Torpey (NSW)
Blake Townsend (VIC)
Tristan Watts (NSW)

Steve Fish - Head Coach
Scott Mitchinson - Pitching Coach
Gareth Jones - Assistant Coach
Shaun Smith - Assistant Coach
Neil Barrowcliff - Executive Officer

Victoria Blue claimed their first Australian Championship in 15 years, as they defeated New South Wales 14-2 on Diamond 1.

Blake Townsend set the platform for Victoria Blue early, as the Mariners farmhand tossed five stellar innings.

Townsend, who was named the 2019 Golden Arm, only allowed three hits and allowed two unearned runs in his third quality start of the championship.

The seventh inning proved the difference, as Victoria Blue made the most of their opportunities. Both NSW and Vic Blue had two runners on base with no outs, but NSW failed to capitalise. Vic Blue on the other hand plated for and put the game beyond reach.

Relief pitcher Lachlan Hockey was immense for Victoria Blue, and was overjoyed after the game.

"The coaches just told me to pound strikes and let the defence work behind me," Hockey said.

"I've been playing with these guys together for the past few years, we're all really good mates and I couldn't be prouder."

Conor Myles capped off his MVP tournament with two hits and three RBI for Victoria Blue, while catcher Chris Burke picked up two hits of his own.

Aidan Torpey kept NSW in the ballgame through the middle innings, as the reliever only allowed one hit and striking out three.

Victoria Blue jumped on NSW starting pitcher Luke Krkovski early and kept the pressure on throughout, claiming their first championship since the 2004 Australian Championship in Geelong.