Baseball Victoria is pleased to share that the upcoming weekend of the VSBL competition will be dedicated to the Pat Cronin Foundation and their efforts to end the coward punch and unnecessary violence once and for all.
The VSBL Pat Cronin Round on the weekend of Dec 7th – 9th will bring junior and senior players, as well as spectators, club volunteers and officials together in support of a fantastic cause. Following the devastating loss of their son Pat after he was punched from behind at a local bar on a quiet night out, Matt and Robyn Cronin created this foundation in his honor, with the hopes of raising awareness and educating the public about these cowardly attacks and how to prevent such horrible violence.
This special round comes on the heels of their education session at Newport Baseball Club and their successful third annual Walk to the Valley fundraiser, which saw more than 1,800 people walk 8.2 km to pay tribute to Pat and promote respect. This gives the foundation the chance to spread their important message through the local baseball community. “Our recent presentation to NBC shows that our message is just as relevant in the baseball community as it is in schools, football clubs, and any other community groups,” Matt said.
This commitment to positive change can benefit local clubs, teams, players and spectators who want to make a difference and stand up for what’s right. “This is a great opportunity for the baseball community to send a message to society that they are standing with us and our message to Be Wise and to End the Coward Punch,” Matt added. “Pat was a 19-year-old boy who went out for a quiet Saturday night and never came home due to a senseless act of violence. This should never have happened and we know with the help of the community we can stop it from happening again.”
As part of the VSBL Pat Cronin Round, the foundation has provided wristbands for each VSBL club to sell and collect donations this weekend and in the following weeks. All participants are encouraged to shake hands before the game as well as after as a sign of respect to one another. “A simple gesture like shaking hands both before and after each game can show genuine respect for your opponent, and respect is what we need more of,” Matt said.
Clubs are also invited to showcase their support on social media with photos and videos that Baseball Victoria will be happy to repost. To get involved, clubs can include the hashtags #PC12, #BeWise and #Endthecowardpunch.
Baseball Victoria CEO Justin Huber says the organisation is pleased to be shining a light on such an important issue alongside a family who has turned their devastating loss into a determined mission. “The Pat Cronin Foundation has such a valuable message to share, and we completely support their initiatives to stop the spread of violence in our communities to make everywhere, whether it’s a local pub or a sports field, a safe space for all,” Huber said. “We look forward to this upcoming round and seeing our VSBL clubs take part in such an important cause.”
For more information on the Pat Cronin Foundation, please visit the official website: https://www.patcroninfoundation.org.au/
Baseball Victoria is thrilled to confirm Mildura will be hosting the Australian Intermediate League Championship (AILC) for the next four years in a joint partnership between Baseball Australia and the Sunraysia Baseball League.
This is a fantastic achievement for a regional baseball association that has contributed so much to the sport and provided countless opportunities for those outside of Victoria’s main metropolitan areas.
Following the championship’s successful debut on the Australian Little League calendar earlier this year, the Aerodrome Sporting Complex will welcome hundreds of players and fans for the second AILC from 17-21 June 2019.
Since its inception in 1979, Sunraysia Baseball League has a long history of hosting local, state and national tournaments, with the most recent being the 2018 U12 and U14 Victorian State Championships.
Baseball Australia chief executive officer Cam Vale said the tournament was another chance to showcase baseball in regional Australia.
“We have made a concerted effort to expose more regional Australians to high quality baseball,” Vale said. “The Sunraysia Baseball League has a long and proud history of hosting successful tournaments, and we’re looking forward to bringing the Australian Intermediate League Championship to Mildura.”
Sunraysia Baseball League president Nick Carroll said hosting the championship is an amazing opportunity for Mildura and regional baseball as a whole.
“We are thrilled and honoured to be chosen by Baseball Australia to host the Australian Intermediate League Championship,” Carroll said. “The support we have received from the Mildura Rural City Council has been fantastic, and we look forward to their continued support during the Australian Intermediate League Championship.”
This exciting event will draw new interest to the sport and expose local baseball players to the possibilities of representative teams. “This will be a great boost to our local baseball community and we are excited to be able to witness Australia’s best kids play some great baseball.”
This is a prime example of how, with the support and backing of Baseball Victoria, regional baseball organisations can achieve great exposure and have the chance to play a major role in some of the sport’s biggest moments across Australia. Baseball Victoria is committed to securing more events and national championships throughout the state to ensure all Victorians have access to incredible baseball experiences.
Baseball Victoria CEO Justin Huber says he’s beyond pleased with this result, which will recognise the Sunraysia Baseball League for the positive progress they’re making in growing the sport at a grassroots level, particularly in less populated regions where there’s so much potential for competitive teams and close-knit clubs.
“We are so pleased that Mildura will be hosting this national championship for the next four years. This demonstrates the commitment to our strategic plan for regional growth. Hosting state and national events to increase the focus on facility development, and the economic impact these initiatives bring regional communities, will continue be a major focus for our organisation long into the future.” Huber said. “This is a big accomplishment for the Sunraysia Baseball League, and a testament to their unwavering dedication to increasing interest and participation in baseball across the region.”
Baseball Victoria President Myles Foreman says he’s looking forward to the bright future ahead for Mildura and regional baseball. “This is an exciting step in a positive direction for our regional baseball community, and it will be wonderful to see so many members of the national baseball community visit Mildura for this championship. We are hopeful this will open new doors for future growth in the area, and we are proud to have supported Sunraysia Baseball League along the way.”
Perth’s Northern Metros were crowned champions of the inaugural AILC in May 2018, and represented the Australia Region at the Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California.
Baseball Victoria is pleased to share that the upcoming weekend of the VSBL competition will be dedicated to the Pat Cronin Foundation and their efforts to end the coward punch and unnecessary violence once and for all.
The VSBL Pat Cronin Round on the weekend of Dec 7th – 9th will bring junior and senior players, as well as spectators, club volunteers and officials together in support of a fantastic cause. Following the devastating loss of their son Pat after he was punched from behind at a local bar on a quiet night out, Matt and Robyn Cronin created this foundation in his honor, with the hopes of raising awareness and educating the public about these cowardly attacks and how to prevent such horrible violence.
This special round comes on the heels of their education session at Newport Baseball Club and their successful third annual Walk to the Valley fundraiser, which saw more than 1,800 people walk 8.2 km to pay tribute to Pat and promote respect. This gives the foundation the chance to spread their important message through the local baseball community. “Our recent presentation to NBC shows that our message is just as relevant in the baseball community as it is in schools, football clubs, and any other community groups,” Matt said.
This commitment to positive change can benefit local clubs, teams, players and spectators who want to make a difference and stand up for what’s right. “This is a great opportunity for the baseball community to send a message to society that they are standing with us and our message to Be Wise and to End the Coward Punch,” Matt added. “Pat was a 19-year-old boy who went out for a quiet Saturday night and never came home due to a senseless act of violence. This should never have happened and we know with the help of the community we can stop it from happening again.”
As part of the VSBL Pat Cronin Round, the foundation has provided wristbands for each VSBL club to sell and collect donations this weekend and in the following weeks. All participants are encouraged to shake hands before the game as well as after as a sign of respect to one another. “A simple gesture like shaking hands both before and after each game can show genuine respect for your opponent, and respect is what we need more of,” Matt said.
Clubs are also invited to showcase their support on social media with photos and videos that Baseball Victoria will be happy to repost. To get involved, clubs can include the hashtags #PC12, #BeWise and #Endthecowardpunch.
Baseball Victoria CEO Justin Huber says the organisation is pleased to be shining a light on such an important issue alongside a family who has turned their devastating loss into a determined mission. “The Pat Cronin Foundation has such a valuable message to share, and we completely support their initiatives to stop the spread of violence in our communities to make everywhere, whether it’s a local pub or a sports field, a safe space for all,” Huber said. “We look forward to this upcoming round and seeing our VSBL clubs take part in such an important cause.”
The VSBL 2018/19 season is in full swing, with the Division 1 competition showcasing some of Victoria’s best baseball players and local clubs. Despite two recent losses, the reigning premiers of the Geelong Baycats are still leading the way, with Upwey Ferntree Gully, Sandringham and Melbourne in full pursuit. The final weeks before Christmas are shaping up to be intense as teams aim to finish off the first half of the season in top form prior to the New Year. Good luck to all players, teams and clubs in the next few rounds!
Round 12 - Tuesday, November 27th
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 1sts
0 2
Sunshine came into this game feeling confident after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead. The past two games between these two have been low-scoring affairs as both sides have relied on great pitching performances to keep them in the running. Following Sunday's disappointing one-run loss that came in the bottom of the 9th, Preston started Drew Janssen, the versatile import who is good with the bat as well, knocking in the Pirates' lone run on Sunday. Despite his solid efforts, which spanned most of the game before he handed things over to Mitch Heyward, the Eagles managed to put together enough scoring to get the win.
Jeremy Young was dependable as always, quickly shutting down the Pirates without too much trouble. As was the case throughout the whole series, Preston struggled to get on the board when they had their chances, with Sunshine’s pitchers doing their jobs well. Hits from Allan De San Miguel and Brian Lane helped the Eagles pull ahead of the Pirates to improve to 8-4 on the season, with seven straight victories giving the team a big boost heading into the last few weeks before Christmas break. Preston is now 2-10 with their sights set on improving during their next series at Melbourne.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 1sts
6 2
After two strong showings gave Melbourne a 2-0 series lead, the Demons headed to Berwick in search of their second sweep of the season. The Cougars had other plans, though, and they battled hard to secure their third win of the season – their first victory since round 7 vs. Blackburn back on Nov. 4th. Highlights of Berwick’s solid offense included 2017/18 Div 2 MVP Craig Barnett, who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and one run scored, and shortstop Aaron Ouwehand who hit a 2-run single. Ciaran Palmer, Nick O’Shea, Cain Hillier and Sam Gillenwater all recorded singles as well, giving pitcher Mark Surtees the offensive production, he needed to comfortably handle the fierce Melbourne lineup. Throughout his 4.1 innings pitched, he gave up just one hit, but walked seven batters to give the Demons the chance to score two earned runs. Cameron Gibbens came in to face three batters, striking out two of them, before the game was over.
Meanwhile Melbourne’s Steven Bookluck didn’t fare as well on the mound, giving up six hits and five runs – four of them earned – in two innings of work. His teammates struggled to produce runs, with an RBI sacrifice fly from Ryan Booth and Jarryd Rogers’ perfect on base percentage – for the second time this year thanks to two walks and a HBP – being some of the team’s only bright spots. Ryan Phillips came in to pitch two innings, giving up two hits, two walks and one earned run.
After this win, Berwick will set their sights on back-to-back wins as they host Sandringham, while 8-4 Melbourne will try and bounce back when Preston comes to visit.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. 1sts
1 4
After Blackburn won the first game between these two with a final score of 5-2, the Tigers answered with a good performance on Tuesday night that quieted the Orioles offense. Upwey had the upper hand at the plate, with Joshua Hendricks leading the way with a home run and a single to go 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s on the day. Staci Rogers had an RBI double, while Jordan Elliot had a pair of singles and Ashley Winton, Donovan Hendricks and Wade McConnon joined in the fun with hits of their own. Pitcher Sean Meldrum threw six fantastic innings of one-run ball with six hits, two walks and five strikeouts, giving the Tigers the room they needed to get ahead and stay there.
On the Blackburn side, Luke Hughes hit a home run and a single, while Thomas Kerr-Chapman had two singles and Ben Leslie had a double and a single. Pitcher Andrew Jones threw five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Blackburn will be looking to get back to their winning ways when Essendon comes to visit this weekend, while the Tigers will aim for back-to-back wins against ladder-leading Geelong.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 1sts
1 6
A 10-0 win on Sunday gave Waverley the momentum to make it three wins in a row. The Wildcats’ were much busier at the plate than their opponents, with Liam Evans going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Ryan Dale followed with a pair of singles and 1 RBI to go 2-for-3, while Glenn Mascoll knocked in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. Pitcher Luke Papanicoloau looked good on the mound, throwing 4.2 innings during which he gave up just three hits and one earned run with no walks and five strikeouts. The Wildcats have enjoyed getting the job done these past few weeks, and they will look to put their losing ways behind them as they approach this next series vs. red-hot Sunshine. Meanwhile 2-9 Moorrabin will need to step it up and bring their A-game if they want to have a chance against Fitzroy.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 1sts
1 1
This close game ended in the division’s first draw of the season, thanks to spot-on pitching from both sides. The Bombers put their faith in Michael Formisano, who not only had an RBI single but also pitched his second complete game of the season, giving up just four hits and two walks for one earned run. He also struck out six batters to bring his total to 24 after six appearances, and his accuracy was impressive with 22 first-pitch strikes. Jared Cruz had a double and run scored, while Gareth Formisano had a hit and a walk on an otherwise quiet day for the Bombers’ lineup.
On the Sandringham side, American import pitcher Peter Gehle threw eight remarkable innings with just two hits, one walk and one unearned run with eight big strikeouts, including his 40th of the season! His team supported him with an RBI single from Harrison Wills, along with a pair of hits from Will Tucker and a single and run scored by Joshua Meyer. Brandon Stenhouse came in to throw the last inning, giving up one hit and striking out three on 24 pitches. After such a competitive showing for the Bombers following a three-game skid, they will be looking to get their fifth win, while the Royals will be eager to improve to 9-3 to stay comfortably in third place in the standings.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 1sts
5 4
The first two games between these teams have been competitive and exciting, with Fitzroy winning the first game 3-1 and Geelong pulling away with an 8-7 win in the second game. This was another close matchup, with the Baycats narrowly edging the Lions after an up-and-down game. The early innings were quiet on both sides, before Fitzroy got the better of Sam Gibbons with a three-run frame at the top of the 3rd. The Baycats answered with two runs of their own off of Alex Merithew. A single run in both the 4th and the 5th allowed Geelong to take a 4-3 lead, which remained the score going into the 8th. That’s when Fitzroy came back with the tying run, which wasn’t enough for the Lions with Geelong bringing home their winning run in the bottom frame.
The Lions had 10 hits compared to the Baycats’ 9 hits, but they were unable to secure their sixth win of the season, instead dropping to a 5-7 record. Merithew pitched five innings on the day, with five hits, four earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. He handed the ball over to Travis Murphy, who followed up by allowing four hits, one run and two strikeouts to keep the Lions in the game.
On the Geelong side, Gibbons gave up seven hits and three earned runs across five innings before passing the ball to Kelli Zablan, who allowed three hits and one unearned run in three innings while striking out four. The team’s offense was led by Elliot Biddle with a pair of singles, as well as hits for Jarryd Wood, Ryan Darcy, Josh Davies, Brock Wells, Kelli Zablan, Kobe Greenhalgh and James Wood.
For Fitzroy, Tom Dicker, Damian Preston and Danny King had two hits apiece, while Murphy, Tom Wilson, Jordan Walker and Joel Mackenzie had one each. Dicker brought his home run total to six with his big blast, while Geelong’s Greenhalgh had his first homer of the season.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Fitzroy heads to Moorrabin in an effort to get back to .500, while Geelong remains at the top of the ladder with ten wins and two losses before their visit to second-place Upwey on Sunday.
Sunday, November 25th
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 1sts
2 1
At first, this game looked like it could potentially go in Preston’s favour, with the Pirates getting the first run of the game and holding the Eagles back. Hayden Godbold was once again confident and comfortable on the mound as he kept Preston right in the game, with the team determined to bounce back from a 3-1 midweek loss at Sunshine. Eventually though, the Eagles managed to get on the board with an RBI double from Brian Lane.
Heading into the bottom of the 9th with a tied game, the Eagles stepped it up a notch, getting the winning run in scoring position with a stolen base. The Sunshine crowd was thrilled to get their second run home, extending the team’s streak to seven wins in a row ahead of Tuesday’s midweek at Preston.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 2nds
7 3
After last week's strong showing at Berwick in which the Pirates kept battling back to edge the Cougars, Preston came into this game hoping to put their long and laborious losing streak behind them. It wasn't to be, due in large part to the Pirates once again giving up their lead later in the game. Despite a solid pitching performance from Masa Hashiguchi, mistakes in the field killed Preston's chances as Sunshine took back the lead to bring their record to 3-6. The Pirates remain at the bottom of the ladder with just one win and eight losses as they look ahead to their next series vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
7 2
Back at the Pirate ship, Preston's 3rds side had an exciting win after a seven-game skid. The team came together to put on a good show, making the most of their scoring opportunities. Although the Pirates have been producing runs in recent weeks, their pitching and defense wasn’t able to silence their opponents, but their patience paid off when they were able to shut down Sunshine for most of this game. While the Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season, they’ll have another chance as the host Waverley this weekend. The Pirates will take their 2-7 record into round 10 vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
12 4
The Pirates were pleased to get their third win on the board after dropping their past seven. Preston got out to a 2-0 start but has struggled since, so the team was eager to make their mark against Sunshine. Considering the Pirates were painfully beat by Berwick 17-6 last weekend, they bounced back with an impressive offensive outburst that left the Eagles struggling and ultimately failing to keep up. Now Preston is 3-6 going into December, while Sunshine is still looking good in third place with a 6-3 record that puts them behind Geelong and Essendon.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
2 1
A big 9-3 midweek win following a surprise 14-0 shutout of Geelong put the Demons in high spirits as they hosted the Cougars. Despite an intense pitcher’s duel, Melbourne managed to win their third game in a row, thanks to a single and a home run from Jarryd Rogers as well as an RBI from Ryan Booth. The Demons depended on Ryan Simpler’s complete game performance, highlighted by 12 strikeouts to bring his season total to 66. He gave up just one unearned run in this big victory, with Berwick’s Craig Burnett, Cameron Gibbens, Bradley Kmet, Nick O’Shea, Aaron Ouwehand, Ciaran Palmer and Aiden Willis all having one hit each, although they couldn’t string much offense together to make any damage.
Berwick’s Craig Barnett threw the first five innings, giving up three hits and four walks for one earned run and one unearned run along with six strikeouts. The Cougars are currently at the bottom of the ladder with a 2-9 record, but they will have some upcoming chances to change things up if they can carry on with their strong pitching, while Melbourne is looking good with an 8-3 record.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 2nds
3 1
After a 6-6 draw last weekend, the Demons returned to their winning habits with their fourth win of the season. Now 4-4-1, Melbourne will have a chance for back-to-back wins when they face Preston at home this weekend, while Berwick will try to even out their 4-5 record as they host Sandringham on Sunday.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 3rds
5 9
The Demons bounced back from their tough 10-1 loss at the hands of the Geelong Baycats last weekend with their first win in three games. Despite some offensive outburst from Berwick, Melbourne had the upper hand with their bats. Now 3-6, the Cougars will try to change things up at Sandringham, while Melbourne will head to Preston in search of their fourth win.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 4ths
5 5
With both teams hungry for a win, the battle was fierce as each side kept in the game. Ultimately, neither one could pull ahead in the end. Now Melbourne is 5-3-1, while Berwick is 4-3-2 heading into their road game at Sandringham this weekend in which they’ll be eager to get another win on the board.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 1sts
7 8
Back at home, Fitzroy gave up six runs in the first two innings which proved to be too much of a hurdle in the end. Cooper De Haan came to the mound in the 3rd inning for his pitching debut in Div 1, and he was able to restore the Lions’ confidence with four innings of shutout baseball. Fitzroy’s Ben Wilson also stepped up, taking to the mound for two innings in which he gave up just two runs, followed by Jordan Walker’s debut in the scoreless 9th.
On the Baycats’ side, Rudy Jaramillo performed at his best to get the win with six complete innings, giving up just one run while scattering four hits. He struck out 10 batters to bring his total to 43 throughout six appearances.
The Lions fought until the end, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the 9th to put up six runs. Tom Dicker homered with two out to reduce the difference to a lone run. Travis Murphy then came to the plate and hit the ball hard but Jaramillo was there, taking a great running catch in right field to end the game. Now 5-6, the Lions will have another shot when they play Geelong once more on Tuesday, while the Baycats will be looking for a series win.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 2nds
5 10
After tough results for both these teams in round 8, each side came out ready to win. The Baycats had the better day at the plate, though, with more players capitalising on their chances to score. Geelong is currently tied for 4th place with four wins, three losses and two draws on the season, while Fitzroy is sitting comfortably in 3rd place with a 6-3 record after this past weekend. They’ve lost two of their last three, so Fitzroy will be prepared for a better result against Moorrabin in round 10.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 3rds
8 7
Geelong was feeling fine after securing their 9th straight win following a tough game vs. Fitzroy, who proved to be fierce competition for the Baycats. A delayed start due to a late finish to the 4ths game made the Baycats a bit slow at the beginning, but eventually they found their footing. Starter Daniel Anson faced the Fitzroy lineup that’s scored 79 runs so far this season for an average of 8.78 per game.
The Baycats managed to provide some early support with two runs in the 1st thanks to a pair of walks for Tim Cruise and Liam Whiteside, who stole bases and jumped on wild pitches. Geelong wouldn’t score again until the 3rd, with singles from Cruise, Hayden Peoples and Josh Agius bringing home their third run.
Fitzroy clearly displayed their strong skills as they fought to avoid their first loss of the season. Hitting well all day and creating pressure, the Lions challenged the Baycats consistently. Geelong got their groove going in the 4th with a blazing-hot triple for Angus McNee, followed by patient batting for four walks. The Baycats were quick around the bases to bring home a few runs, aided by a fielder’s choice RBI from Mat Belfrage. Peoples came up to rip a double, with Josh Agius up next with a single to give Geelong a 8-7 advantage after falling behind 3-7. Both teams settled down after the 4th inning, with Jordan Isbister shutting down Fitzroy’s last chances.
After a great day for the whole lineup, including singles from Tim Rankin, Chris Hockey and Cooper Rickard, Geelong will carry their undefeated record into round 10 vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully. With seven wins, one loss and one draw on the season, Fitzroy will be looking to hang on to their third-place spot as they host Moorrabin.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 4ths
11 10
This high-scoring run fest was an exciting one as each side fought for a well-deserved victory. Eventually the Baycats got the best of the Lions to remain confidently in first place with their 8-1 record, with Fitzroy now sitting in fifth place at 5-4. The Lions will look to avoid a two-game skid vs. Moorrabin this weekend, while Geelong will go for back-to-back wins vs. Upwey.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 1sts
7 3
The Royals have won two in a row after getting the best of the Bombers on Sunday, thanks in large part to a phenomenal performance from Brandon Stenhouse. He had his best day so far this season, going 5-for-5 with the bat, including two doubles and three singles. He then took the mound to close out the game, throwing two innings of scoreless ball to silence Essendon’s efforts to get back into it.
Sandringham was largely supported by starter Jayson Arthur, who threw seven solid innings with just one earned run scored and two unearned. Despite the final score, Essendon had some offensive highlights, including Cody Rodwell’s 3-for-5 day with a double and two singles. Gareth Formisano was also impressive with two singles. Even so, three runs were not enough against this strong Sandringham side, which is now tied for second place with an 8-3 record. Essendon’s up-and-down season has given them a 4-7 record that they will be eager to build upon as they head into December.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 2nds
1 6
The Royals were handed their fifth loss of the season by a put-together Essendon side that worked well as a team, bringing home the runs when they needed to. After this big victory, the Bombers have won two of their last three to improve their record to 5-4, putting them in fourth place tied with Geelong. Essendon will need to maintain this pace to stay in the top four as they head into this next game vs. Blackburn, while Sandringham will try to snap this five-game skid vs. Geelong.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 3rds
12 0
Essendon blasted their way to a huge shutout victory with their big bats on full display, racking up runs and building on each other’s contributions. After a hard-fought 10-10 draw last weekend at Waverley, this was a great result for the Bombers who now have seven wins, one loss and one draw. This puts them tied for third place with Fitzroy, while Sandringham slides to 3-4-2 after losing three of their last four.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 4ths
12 9
Despite their best efforts, the Royals couldn’t quite catch up to this hard-hitting Essendon side. Each team came into this week feeling good after back-to-back victories, but ultimately the Bombers pulled ahead for their seventh win to keep them in second place and put them ahead of their close competitors at Sunshine. Sandringham is now 5-4, with plenty of potential to improve and get more wins on the board as the season moves ahead.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 1sts
10 0
The Panthers haven’t been having much luck in the last few weeks, with their last victory coming in round 6 Last win for Moorabbin was round 6 vs. Upwey. Now 2-8, the Panthers have been shutout for the second time so far this season. Waverley had a great day at the plate to secure back-to-back wins, with two players having three hits on the day. Ben Aslett had one double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Chris Burke had three hard-hit singles and an RBI on the day.
Although they weren’t able to do anything with these hits, Nick Coy, Kieran Lewis and Josh Mulherin all got on base for Moorabbin. Waverley’s pitching was much stronger on the day, with Blake Townsend, Mitchell Kennedy and Jamie Papanicoloau all filling in on the mound. Jay Rivera pitched four innings for Moorabbin in which he gave up 11 hits, two walks and six earned runs. Despite the offensive production, Rivera did strike out seven to bring his total to 67 on the season.
Waverley is now 3-7 with this victory as they head into the midweek at Moorrabin and their next series vs. Fitzroy.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
7 2
The Wildcats have now won back to back games after outhitting the Panthers on Sunday. The Wildcats are currently sitting second-last at 2-7, while the Panthers have managed three wins, five losses and one draw on the season. Waverley will have a chance to make it three in a row when they host Sunshine on Sunday, while Moorrabin will welcome Fitzroy to their home ground.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 3rds
0 7
It was a great day at the mound for the Wildcats, who were consistent throughout the game to achieve their first shutout victory of the season. This was a great result for Waverley as they quieted a team sitting two spots above them in the ladder. The Wildcats have improved to two wins, six losses and one draw, while Moorrabin is now 3-6 ahead of Sunday’s game at Fitzroy.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 4ths
2 12
Following a disappointing 11-3 loss vs. Essendon last weekend, the Wildcats came back this past weekend with much stronger offensive production that left the Panthers scrambling to keep up. Waverley is now 3-6 to keep them off the bottom of the ladder where Moorrabin find themselves with a 1-8 record.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 1sts
2 5
This marks the first time this year that Upwey has lost two games in a row after a stellar start to the season, bringing their record to 7-3, tied for fourth place with Blackburn. The Orioles haven’t lost a game since round 8 on Nov. 11, when they narrowly fell to Sandringham 1-0. In this meeting, these top, tough-to-beat teams battled hard, but Blackburn had the edge pitching-wise. Skyler Sylvester threw seven great innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. His reliable pitching gave Blackburn the chance to get on the board, with two hits apiece from Ryan Berg, Liam Hopkins and Ben Leslie. Upwey’s starter Jarrod Turner was gave up four runs – three of them earned – in his seven innings of work, with eight hits and six strikeouts. In a quiet day offensively, Staci Rogers stood out for Upwey with a pair of singles and a run scored. Now both teams are 7-3 heading into round 12.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 2nds
1 6
Both teams came into this game coming off of one-run victories, but Upwey ran out of offensive firepower against this brilliant Blackburn side that hasn’t lost or drawn a single game this season. Now 9-0, the Orioles will host Essendon on Sunday. The Tigers aren’t far behind with a 7-2 record putting them in second place ahead of Fitzroy. They’ll host Geelong this weekend while Blackburn meets Essendon.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 3rds
1 5
This strong and seasoned Orioles side bounced back from their first and only loss at Sandringham in round 8 with a great showing on Sunday. Blackburn had better pitching and batting on the day to protect their lead and keep the game in their favour. Now 8-1, Blackburn is in second place after Geelong, while Upwey is tied with the Royals for fourth place ahead of their trip to visit the undefeated Baycats.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 4ths
7 6
It was a close call for the Orioles, who narrowly overcame the Tigers for their fourth win. Competitive efforts on both sides made it anyone’s game, but Blackburn buckled down to get the job done. They’re now 4-4-1, while Upwey is struggling at 1-8, losing four of the past nine by just one or two runs. The Tigers will have another opportunity when they visit Geelong on Sunday, although it will be a difficult test against a top team.
Round 12 - Tuesday, November 27th
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 1sts
0 2
Sunshine came into this game feeling confident after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead. The past two games between these two have been low-scoring affairs as both sides have relied on great pitching performances to keep them in the running. Following Sunday's disappointing one-run loss that came in the bottom of the 9th, Preston started Drew Janssen, the versatile import who is good with the bat as well, knocking in the Pirates' lone run on Sunday. Despite his solid efforts, which spanned most of the game before he handed things over to Mitch Heyward, the Eagles managed to put together enough scoring to get the win.
Jeremy Young was dependable as always, quickly shutting down the Pirates without too much trouble. As was the case throughout the whole series, Preston struggled to get on the board when they had their chances, with Sunshine’s pitchers doing their jobs well. Hits from Allan De San Miguel and Brian Lane helped the Eagles pull ahead of the Pirates to improve to 8-4 on the season, with seven straight victories giving the team a big boost heading into the last few weeks before Christmas break. Preston is now 2-10 with their sights set on improving during their next series at Melbourne.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 1sts
6 2
After two strong showings gave Melbourne a 2-0 series lead, the Demons headed to Berwick in search of their second sweep of the season. The Cougars had other plans, though, and they battled hard to secure their third win of the season – their first victory since round 7 vs. Blackburn back on Nov. 4th. Highlights of Berwick’s solid offense included 2017/18 Div 2 MVP Craig Barnett, who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and one run scored, and shortstop Aaron Ouwehand who hit a 2-run single. Ciaran Palmer, Nick O’Shea, Cain Hillier and Sam Gillenwater all recorded singles as well, giving pitcher Mark Surtees the offensive production, he needed to comfortably handle the fierce Melbourne lineup. Throughout his 4.1 innings pitched, he gave up just one hit, but walked seven batters to give the Demons the chance to score two earned runs. Cameron Gibbens came in to face three batters, striking out two of them, before the game was over.
Meanwhile Melbourne’s Steven Bookluck didn’t fare as well on the mound, giving up six hits and five runs – four of them earned – in two innings of work. His teammates struggled to produce runs, with an RBI sacrifice fly from Ryan Booth and Jarryd Rogers’ perfect on base percentage – for the second time this year thanks to two walks and a HBP – being some of the team’s only bright spots. Ryan Phillips came in to pitch two innings, giving up two hits, two walks and one earned run.
After this win, Berwick will set their sights on back-to-back wins as they host Sandringham, while 8-4 Melbourne will try and bounce back when Preston comes to visit.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. 1sts
1 4
After Blackburn won the first game between these two with a final score of 5-2, the Tigers answered with a good performance on Tuesday night that quieted the Orioles offense. Upwey had the upper hand at the plate, with Joshua Hendricks leading the way with a home run and a single to go 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s on the day. Staci Rogers had an RBI double, while Jordan Elliot had a pair of singles and Ashley Winton, Donovan Hendricks and Wade McConnon joined in the fun with hits of their own. Pitcher Sean Meldrum threw six fantastic innings of one-run ball with six hits, two walks and five strikeouts, giving the Tigers the room they needed to get ahead and stay there.
On the Blackburn side, Luke Hughes hit a home run and a single, while Thomas Kerr-Chapman had two singles and Ben Leslie had a double and a single. Pitcher Andrew Jones threw five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Blackburn will be looking to get back to their winning ways when Essendon comes to visit this weekend, while the Tigers will aim for back-to-back wins against ladder-leading Geelong.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 1sts
1 6
A 10-0 win on Sunday gave Waverley the momentum to make it three wins in a row. The Wildcats’ were much busier at the plate than their opponents, with Liam Evans going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Ryan Dale followed with a pair of singles and 1 RBI to go 2-for-3, while Glenn Mascoll knocked in three runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. Pitcher Luke Papanicoloau looked good on the mound, throwing 4.2 innings during which he gave up just three hits and one earned run with no walks and five strikeouts. The Wildcats have enjoyed getting the job done these past few weeks, and they will look to put their losing ways behind them as they approach this next series vs. red-hot Sunshine. Meanwhile 2-9 Moorrabin will need to step it up and bring their A-game if they want to have a chance against Fitzroy.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 1sts
1 1
This close game ended in the division’s first draw of the season, thanks to spot-on pitching from both sides. The Bombers put their faith in Michael Formisano, who not only had an RBI single but also pitched his second complete game of the season, giving up just four hits and two walks for one earned run. He also struck out six batters to bring his total to 24 after six appearances, and his accuracy was impressive with 22 first-pitch strikes. Jared Cruz had a double and run scored, while Gareth Formisano had a hit and a walk on an otherwise quiet day for the Bombers’ lineup.
On the Sandringham side, American import pitcher Peter Gehle threw eight remarkable innings with just two hits, one walk and one unearned run with eight big strikeouts, including his 40th of the season! His team supported him with an RBI single from Harrison Wills, along with a pair of hits from Will Tucker and a single and run scored by Joshua Meyer. Brandon Stenhouse came in to throw the last inning, giving up one hit and striking out three on 24 pitches. After such a competitive showing for the Bombers following a three-game skid, they will be looking to get their fifth win, while the Royals will be eager to improve to 9-3 to stay comfortably in third place in the standings.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 1sts
5 4
The first two games between these teams have been competitive and exciting, with Fitzroy winning the first game 3-1 and Geelong pulling away with an 8-7 win in the second game. This was another close matchup, with the Baycats narrowly edging the Lions after an up-and-down game. The early innings were quiet on both sides, before Fitzroy got the better of Sam Gibbons with a three-run frame at the top of the 3rd. The Baycats answered with two runs of their own off of Alex Merithew. A single run in both the 4th and the 5th allowed Geelong to take a 4-3 lead, which remained the score going into the 8th. That’s when Fitzroy came back with the tying run, which wasn’t enough for the Lions with Geelong bringing home their winning run in the bottom frame.
The Lions had 10 hits compared to the Baycats’ 9 hits, but they were unable to secure their sixth win of the season, instead dropping to a 5-7 record. Merithew pitched five innings on the day, with five hits, four earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. He handed the ball over to Travis Murphy, who followed up by allowing four hits, one run and two strikeouts to keep the Lions in the game.
On the Geelong side, Gibbons gave up seven hits and three earned runs across five innings before passing the ball to Kelli Zablan, who allowed three hits and one unearned run in three innings while striking out four. The team’s offense was led by Elliot Biddle with a pair of singles, as well as hits for Jarryd Wood, Ryan Darcy, Josh Davies, Brock Wells, Kelli Zablan, Kobe Greenhalgh and James Wood.
For Fitzroy, Tom Dicker, Damian Preston and Danny King had two hits apiece, while Murphy, Tom Wilson, Jordan Walker and Joel Mackenzie had one each. Dicker brought his home run total to six with his big blast, while Geelong’s Greenhalgh had his first homer of the season.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Fitzroy heads to Moorrabin in an effort to get back to .500, while Geelong remains at the top of the ladder with ten wins and two losses before their visit to second-place Upwey on Sunday.
Sunday, November 25th
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 1sts
2 1
At first, this game looked like it could potentially go in Preston’s favour, with the Pirates getting the first run of the game and holding the Eagles back. Hayden Godbold was once again confident and comfortable on the mound as he kept Preston right in the game, with the team determined to bounce back from a 3-1 midweek loss at Sunshine. Eventually though, the Eagles managed to get on the board with an RBI double from Brian Lane.
Heading into the bottom of the 9th with a tied game, the Eagles stepped it up a notch, getting the winning run in scoring position with a stolen base. The Sunshine crowd was thrilled to get their second run home, extending the team’s streak to seven wins in a row ahead of Tuesday’s midweek at Preston.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 2nds
7 3
After last week's strong showing at Berwick in which the Pirates kept battling back to edge the Cougars, Preston came into this game hoping to put their long and laborious losing streak behind them. It wasn't to be, due in large part to the Pirates once again giving up their lead later in the game. Despite a solid pitching performance from Masa Hashiguchi, mistakes in the field killed Preston's chances as Sunshine took back the lead to bring their record to 3-6. The Pirates remain at the bottom of the ladder with just one win and eight losses as they look ahead to their next series vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
7 2
Back at the Pirate ship, Preston's 3rds side had an exciting win after a seven-game skid. The team came together to put on a good show, making the most of their scoring opportunities. Although the Pirates have been producing runs in recent weeks, their pitching and defense wasn’t able to silence their opponents, but their patience paid off when they were able to shut down Sunshine for most of this game. While the Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season, they’ll have another chance as the host Waverley this weekend. The Pirates will take their 2-7 record into round 10 vs. Melbourne.
Preston Pirates vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
12 4
The Pirates were pleased to get their third win on the board after dropping their past seven. Preston got out to a 2-0 start but has struggled since, so the team was eager to make their mark against Sunshine. Considering the Pirates were painfully beat by Berwick 17-6 last weekend, they bounced back with an impressive offensive outburst that left the Eagles struggling and ultimately failing to keep up. Now Preston is 3-6 going into December, while Sunshine is still looking good in third place with a 6-3 record that puts them behind Geelong and Essendon.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
2 1
A big 9-3 midweek win following a surprise 14-0 shutout of Geelong put the Demons in high spirits as they hosted the Cougars. Despite an intense pitcher’s duel, Melbourne managed to win their third game in a row, thanks to a single and a home run from Jarryd Rogers as well as an RBI from Ryan Booth. The Demons depended on Ryan Simpler’s complete game performance, highlighted by 12 strikeouts to bring his season total to 66. He gave up just one unearned run in this big victory, with Berwick’s Craig Burnett, Cameron Gibbens, Bradley Kmet, Nick O’Shea, Aaron Ouwehand, Ciaran Palmer and Aiden Willis all having one hit each, although they couldn’t string much offense together to make any damage.
Berwick’s Craig Barnett threw the first five innings, giving up three hits and four walks for one earned run and one unearned run along with six strikeouts. The Cougars are currently at the bottom of the ladder with a 2-9 record, but they will have some upcoming chances to change things up if they can carry on with their strong pitching, while Melbourne is looking good with an 8-3 record.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 2nds
3 1
After a 6-6 draw last weekend, the Demons returned to their winning habits with their fourth win of the season. Now 4-4-1, Melbourne will have a chance for back-to-back wins when they face Preston at home this weekend, while Berwick will try to even out their 4-5 record as they host Sandringham on Sunday.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 3rds
5 9
The Demons bounced back from their tough 10-1 loss at the hands of the Geelong Baycats last weekend with their first win in three games. Despite some offensive outburst from Berwick, Melbourne had the upper hand with their bats. Now 3-6, the Cougars will try to change things up at Sandringham, while Melbourne will head to Preston in search of their fourth win.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Melbourne Demons 4ths
5 5
With both teams hungry for a win, the battle was fierce as each side kept in the game. Ultimately, neither one could pull ahead in the end. Now Melbourne is 5-3-1, while Berwick is 4-3-2 heading into their road game at Sandringham this weekend in which they’ll be eager to get another win on the board.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 1sts
7 8
Back at home, Fitzroy gave up six runs in the first two innings which proved to be too much of a hurdle in the end. Cooper De Haan came to the mound in the 3rd inning for his pitching debut in Div 1, and he was able to restore the Lions’ confidence with four innings of shutout baseball. Fitzroy’s Ben Wilson also stepped up, taking to the mound for two innings in which he gave up just two runs, followed by Jordan Walker’s debut in the scoreless 9th.
On the Baycats’ side, Rudy Jaramillo performed at his best to get the win with six complete innings, giving up just one run while scattering four hits. He struck out 10 batters to bring his total to 43 throughout six appearances.
The Lions fought until the end, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the 9th to put up six runs. Tom Dicker homered with two out to reduce the difference to a lone run. Travis Murphy then came to the plate and hit the ball hard but Jaramillo was there, taking a great running catch in right field to end the game. Now 5-6, the Lions will have another shot when they play Geelong once more on Tuesday, while the Baycats will be looking for a series win.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 2nds
5 10
After tough results for both these teams in round 8, each side came out ready to win. The Baycats had the better day at the plate, though, with more players capitalising on their chances to score. Geelong is currently tied for 4th place with four wins, three losses and two draws on the season, while Fitzroy is sitting comfortably in 3rd place with a 6-3 record after this past weekend. They’ve lost two of their last three, so Fitzroy will be prepared for a better result against Moorrabin in round 10.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 3rds
8 7
Geelong was feeling fine after securing their 9th straight win following a tough game vs. Fitzroy, who proved to be fierce competition for the Baycats. A delayed start due to a late finish to the 4ths game made the Baycats a bit slow at the beginning, but eventually they found their footing. Starter Daniel Anson faced the Fitzroy lineup that’s scored 79 runs so far this season for an average of 8.78 per game.
The Baycats managed to provide some early support with two runs in the 1st thanks to a pair of walks for Tim Cruise and Liam Whiteside, who stole bases and jumped on wild pitches. Geelong wouldn’t score again until the 3rd, with singles from Cruise, Hayden Peoples and Josh Agius bringing home their third run.
Fitzroy clearly displayed their strong skills as they fought to avoid their first loss of the season. Hitting well all day and creating pressure, the Lions challenged the Baycats consistently. Geelong got their groove going in the 4th with a blazing-hot triple for Angus McNee, followed by patient batting for four walks. The Baycats were quick around the bases to bring home a few runs, aided by a fielder’s choice RBI from Mat Belfrage. Peoples came up to rip a double, with Josh Agius up next with a single to give Geelong a 8-7 advantage after falling behind 3-7. Both teams settled down after the 4th inning, with Jordan Isbister shutting down Fitzroy’s last chances.
After a great day for the whole lineup, including singles from Tim Rankin, Chris Hockey and Cooper Rickard, Geelong will carry their undefeated record into round 10 vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully. With seven wins, one loss and one draw on the season, Fitzroy will be looking to hang on to their third-place spot as they host Moorrabin.
Geelong Baycats vs. Fitzroy Lions 4ths
11 10
This high-scoring run fest was an exciting one as each side fought for a well-deserved victory. Eventually the Baycats got the best of the Lions to remain confidently in first place with their 8-1 record, with Fitzroy now sitting in fifth place at 5-4. The Lions will look to avoid a two-game skid vs. Moorrabin this weekend, while Geelong will go for back-to-back wins vs. Upwey.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 1sts
7 3
The Royals have won two in a row after getting the best of the Bombers on Sunday, thanks in large part to a phenomenal performance from Brandon Stenhouse. He had his best day so far this season, going 5-for-5 with the bat, including two doubles and three singles. He then took the mound to close out the game, throwing two innings of scoreless ball to silence Essendon’s efforts to get back into it.
Sandringham was largely supported by starter Jayson Arthur, who threw seven solid innings with just one earned run scored and two unearned. Despite the final score, Essendon had some offensive highlights, including Cody Rodwell’s 3-for-5 day with a double and two singles. Gareth Formisano was also impressive with two singles. Even so, three runs were not enough against this strong Sandringham side, which is now tied for second place with an 8-3 record. Essendon’s up-and-down season has given them a 4-7 record that they will be eager to build upon as they head into December.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 2nds
1 6
The Royals were handed their fifth loss of the season by a put-together Essendon side that worked well as a team, bringing home the runs when they needed to. After this big victory, the Bombers have won two of their last three to improve their record to 5-4, putting them in fourth place tied with Geelong. Essendon will need to maintain this pace to stay in the top four as they head into this next game vs. Blackburn, while Sandringham will try to snap this five-game skid vs. Geelong.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 3rds
12 0
Essendon blasted their way to a huge shutout victory with their big bats on full display, racking up runs and building on each other’s contributions. After a hard-fought 10-10 draw last weekend at Waverley, this was a great result for the Bombers who now have seven wins, one loss and one draw. This puts them tied for third place with Fitzroy, while Sandringham slides to 3-4-2 after losing three of their last four.
Essendon Bombers vs. Sandringham Royals 4ths
12 9
Despite their best efforts, the Royals couldn’t quite catch up to this hard-hitting Essendon side. Each team came into this week feeling good after back-to-back victories, but ultimately the Bombers pulled ahead for their seventh win to keep them in second place and put them ahead of their close competitors at Sunshine. Sandringham is now 5-4, with plenty of potential to improve and get more wins on the board as the season moves ahead.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 1sts
10 0
The Panthers haven’t been having much luck in the last few weeks, with their last victory coming in round 6 Last win for Moorabbin was round 6 vs. Upwey. Now 2-8, the Panthers have been shutout for the second time so far this season. Waverley had a great day at the plate to secure back-to-back wins, with two players having three hits on the day. Ben Aslett had one double and two singles for 3 RBI’s, while Chris Burke had three hard-hit singles and an RBI on the day.
Although they weren’t able to do anything with these hits, Nick Coy, Kieran Lewis and Josh Mulherin all got on base for Moorabbin. Waverley’s pitching was much stronger on the day, with Blake Townsend, Mitchell Kennedy and Jamie Papanicoloau all filling in on the mound. Jay Rivera pitched four innings for Moorabbin in which he gave up 11 hits, two walks and six earned runs. Despite the offensive production, Rivera did strike out seven to bring his total to 67 on the season.
Waverley is now 3-7 with this victory as they head into the midweek at Moorrabin and their next series vs. Fitzroy.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
7 2
The Wildcats have now won back to back games after outhitting the Panthers on Sunday. The Wildcats are currently sitting second-last at 2-7, while the Panthers have managed three wins, five losses and one draw on the season. Waverley will have a chance to make it three in a row when they host Sunshine on Sunday, while Moorrabin will welcome Fitzroy to their home ground.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 3rds
0 7
It was a great day at the mound for the Wildcats, who were consistent throughout the game to achieve their first shutout victory of the season. This was a great result for Waverley as they quieted a team sitting two spots above them in the ladder. The Wildcats have improved to two wins, six losses and one draw, while Moorrabin is now 3-6 ahead of Sunday’s game at Fitzroy.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Waverley Wildcats 4ths
2 12
Following a disappointing 11-3 loss vs. Essendon last weekend, the Wildcats came back this past weekend with much stronger offensive production that left the Panthers scrambling to keep up. Waverley is now 3-6 to keep them off the bottom of the ladder where Moorrabin find themselves with a 1-8 record.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 1sts
2 5
This marks the first time this year that Upwey has lost two games in a row after a stellar start to the season, bringing their record to 7-3, tied for fourth place with Blackburn. The Orioles haven’t lost a game since round 8 on Nov. 11, when they narrowly fell to Sandringham 1-0. In this meeting, these top, tough-to-beat teams battled hard, but Blackburn had the edge pitching-wise. Skyler Sylvester threw seven great innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. His reliable pitching gave Blackburn the chance to get on the board, with two hits apiece from Ryan Berg, Liam Hopkins and Ben Leslie. Upwey’s starter Jarrod Turner was gave up four runs – three of them earned – in his seven innings of work, with eight hits and six strikeouts. In a quiet day offensively, Staci Rogers stood out for Upwey with a pair of singles and a run scored. Now both teams are 7-3 heading into round 12.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 2nds
1 6
Both teams came into this game coming off of one-run victories, but Upwey ran out of offensive firepower against this brilliant Blackburn side that hasn’t lost or drawn a single game this season. Now 9-0, the Orioles will host Essendon on Sunday. The Tigers aren’t far behind with a 7-2 record putting them in second place ahead of Fitzroy. They’ll host Geelong this weekend while Blackburn meets Essendon.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Blackburn Orioles 3rds
1 5
This strong and seasoned Orioles side bounced back from their first and only loss at Sandringham in round 8 with a great showing on Sunday. Blackburn had better pitching and batting on the day to protect their lead and keep the game in their favour. Now 8-1, Blackburn is in second place after Geelong, while Upwey is tied with the Royals for fourth place ahead of their trip to visit the undefeated Baycats.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 4ths
7 6
It was a close call for the Orioles, who narrowly overcame the Tigers for their fourth win. Competitive efforts on both sides made it anyone’s game, but Blackburn buckled down to get the job done. They’re now 4-4-1, while Upwey is struggling at 1-8, losing four of the past nine by just one or two runs. The Tigers will have another opportunity when they visit Geelong on Sunday, although it will be a difficult test against a top team.
Baseball Victoria is proud to present a Coaching Clinic for ASD on Wednesday, November 28th, with the support of Scope Australia and the Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria.
This opportunity will give coaches of all levels the information, knowledge and resources necessary to help children with autism thrive on and off the field. We invite any current or aspiring junior coaches to attend this clinic at Melbourne Baseball Club and learn more about the best way to approach coaching these wonderful athletes who want to play but may need some extra support.
After an introduction from BV, Scope staff will lead a session on Autism & Sport, followed by NCAS Coordinator Greg Tinkler who will explain how these ideas can be applied to coaching baseball. The clinic will finish up with a fantastic interactive session that will show first-hand how to modify games for those affected by ASD. We hope many of our committed coaches take advantage of this opportunity to learn and grow as leaders in the baseball community and our inclusion efforts.
If you're interested, we'd be happy to see you on the night. Please RSVP so that we have an estimated head count and can properly plan for the night: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VT5355J
LOCATION: Melbourne Baseball Club (Surrey Park, Surrey Drive, Box Hill VIC 3128)
Baseball Victoria is proud to present a Coaching Clinic for ASD on Wednesday, November 28th, with the support of Scope Australia and the Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria.
This opportunity will give coaches of all levels the information, knowledge and resources necessary to help children with autism thrive on and off the field. We invite any current or aspiring junior coaches to attend this clinic at Melbourne Baseball Club and learn more about the best way to approach coaching these wonderful athletes who want to play but may need some extra support.
After an introduction from BV, Scope staff will lead a session on Autism & Sport, followed by NCAS Coordinator Greg Tinkler who will explain how these ideas can be applied to coaching baseball. The clinic will finish up with a fantastic interactive session that will show first-hand how to modify games for those affected by ASD. We hope many of our committed coaches take advantage of this opportunity to learn and grow as leaders in the baseball community and our inclusion efforts.
If you're interested, we'd be happy to see you on the night. Please RSVP so that we have an estimated head count and can properly plan for the night: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VT5355J
DATE: Wednesday, 28th November 2018
TIME: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM (Please arrive by 6:15 PM to ensure an on-time start)
LOCATION: Melbourne Baseball Club (Surrey Park, Surrey Drive, Box Hill VIC 3128)
There’s a lot happening in Division 2, with three teams leading the way after the first nine games. Cheltenham, Newport and Werribee show no signs of slowing down with their undefeated records still going strong, while Port Melbourne has dropped three-in-a-row after a hot streak last month. With the second midweek games set for Thursday night, there’s plenty of great summer baseball coming up, and we wish everyone the best of luck as the season continues. Catch up on what went down this past weekend in Div 2 with results and recaps below.
Sunday, November 18th (Round 9- 1sts, Round 8 - 2nds, 3rds, 4ths)
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Cheltenham Rustlers 1sts
1 4
The Rustlers closed out the series with their ninth win of the season, keeping their undefeated record intact with a dominant sweep of the Rebels. Cheltenham put runs up in the 1st, 3rd and 6th, allowing them to maintain their lead throughout. Although Mulgrave failed to put anything up against Jesse Remington, the dependable-as-always Rustlers starter who gave up five hits, two walks and no runs while striking out five, the Rebels finally got on the board in the final innings with a lone run. This scoring effort allowed Mulgrave to avoid their first shutout loss of the season, made possible by an RBI from Donnie Poole. Bench players Liam Richardson and Dylan Parkin stood up when it counted, making it a great team effort for Mulgrave despite the final score.
Mulgrave starter Thomas Ondra threw four innings, giving up six hits and three runs with three walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Caleb Poole was strong in support, throwing the last five innings in which he gave up four hits and one run with a handful of strikeouts. These pitchers were occasionally troubled by Cheltenham pitchers, including Dylan Trevorah (2-for-5, 1 RBI) and Sam Michael (double, single). Dante Caruso hit a blazing triple, while Andrew Campbell had a pair of singles on the night.
With another series win under their belts, the Rustlers will turn their focus to the Port Melbourne Mariners and their home game on Thursday night. Mulgrave will travel to Bonbeach to try and get their second win on the board.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Cheltenham Rustlers 2nds
6 9
The Rustlers improved their record to 7-1 with this hard-fought win over the Rebels. Despite Mulgrave’s attempts to catch up to Cheltenham, it wasn’t in the cards, and the Rebels dropped their fourth straight game. Mulgrave’s lone victory of the season came back in round 4 when they beat Doncaster 10-3. Since then, the lineup has struggled to produce enough offense to combat hard-hitting opponents, a trend that continued in this game. The Rebels will hope to secure the win against new competition when they host Bonbeach on Sunday afternoon. Cheltenham will also host, welcoming Port Melbourne as they aim for their eighth win.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Cheltenham Rustlers 3rds
10 4
A bright spot for the Rebels this week was the 3rds, who put together a great performance to overcome a tough team. Mulgrave improved to 5-3 as they handed Cheltenham only their second loss of the season, a big change from last week’s 10-1 defeat. The Rustlers offensive power was much quieter this week, and they’ll look to restart their engines as they head into this weekend’s trip to Port Melbourne. Meanwhile the Rebels will need to take this momentum and run with it if they want to make it two-in-a-row.
Mulgrave Rebels vs. Cheltenham Rustlers 4ths
15 13
In a weekend of high-scoring games, both sides had lackluster pitching performances that just couldn’t control the opposing offense. The Rebels move up to 4-4 after this hard-fought win over the Rustlers, who were in it every step of the way. Cheltenham is now 5-3, after their pitching and defense that held the Rebels to just two runs last week caved in. The Rustlers will be eager to get one back this weekend at Doncaster, while Mulgrave will head into their game vs. Bonbeach with high spirits.
Doncaster Dragons vs. Williamstown Wolves 1sts
12 2
The Wolves were denied a win yet again by a strong, hard-hitting Doncaster side that jumped on their scoring chances. This marks Williamstown’s eighth loss overall and seventh straight defeat, with their one and only victory coming at Port Melbourne in round 2.
The first two games of this series were much closer, with Doncaster winning 9-7 in the first game and 2-1 in the second, but this final meeting was dominated by the Dragons. Doncaster took full advantage of the struggling Wolves’ pitching staff, knocking in run after run on great at-bats from the whole lineup.
Leading the way for Doncaster was Brian Chen, who went 3-for-5 with 4 RBI’s on his singles, and Callum Lethborg who went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Other big contributors included Luke Utting, who hit three singles and scored three runs, as well as Josh Lacey with his RBI double. An extra-base hit from Dakota Gibson was a big bonus, as was the two-run blast off the bat of Marcel D’Avoine, his first homer of the season. Derek Medlin scored three runs on his single and two walks, while Brendan McDonald was hit by the pitcher twice and came around to score both times.
Meanwhile Brian Chen was as solid on the mound as he was at the plate, working his way through 5.2 innings during which he gave up just one hit and two runs – one unearned, one earned – while striking out six. Reliever Derek Medlin face five batters with little drama. The only successful scoring attempts by Williamstown over the course of the game came on RBI’s from Chris Jackson and Jason McDonald.
Next up for Williamstown is a midweeker at Malvern, where they will hope to return to their winning way of last season, while Doncaster hosts Springvale to pursue their fifth straight win.
Doncaster Dragons vs. Williamstown Wolves 2nds
3 6
Williamstown’s 2nds side has been a bright spot for the club this season, with the Wolves holding on to a 6-2 record that puts them in the top four. After last week’s 12-3 win, the Wolves came into this game looking for another victory, and they found it despite the Dragons’ efforts to stay in it. This marks the Dragons’ fifth loss, and they will be eager to get the edge in this weekend’s game vs. Springvale.
Williamstown Wolves vs. Doncaster Dragons 3rds
3 11
It wasn’t a pretty day on the mound for the Wolves, who gave up a disappointing 11 runs after their 10-6 win the week before. The Dragons hit well when it mattered, bringing home their runners and adding to their totals to extend their advantage and obtain their third win of the season. Williamstown has now dropped to 3-5, and they’ll be facing a 4-4 Malvern side this Sunday. Doncaster will have a test this weekend as they play reigning premiers Springvale, currently tied with Newport and Cheltenham at the top with a 5-2 record.
Williamstown Wolves vs. Doncaster Dragons 4ths
17 3
These Wolves are known for their dynamic lineup that loves tallying lots of runs during big scoring frames. Reaching 10 or more runs for the seventh time this season, the Wolves jumped on the board early and kept building from there. The Dragons didn’t stand much of a chance, with pitchers that couldn’t control the pressure. Doncaster will take these two losses and learn from them, with hopes of coming back stronger as they visit Cheltenham this weekend. Williamstown will now set their sights on Malvern.
Newport Rams vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 1sts
3 1
Despite the loss, this was a much better game for Bonbeach because they were actually in it, keeping the Rams’ potent offense at bay for the most part. These last two games, compared to the first when the Rams won 23-4, have been much closer, and Bonbeach is showing signs of improving their pitching command and fielding abilities against busy lineups. With the same final score as the midweek meeting, it was another low-scoring meeting in which both sides were strong on the mound.
Newport’s David Asp had a fantastic outing, holding Bonbeach to just five hits scattered across eight innings. He allowed one run while striking out five and walking one. Scot Malthouse backed him up with a scoreless final inning, recording the three outs to earn the save for the Rams. Mitchell Sheldon-Collins once again took the loss for Bonbeach, even though he pitched very well considering the competition was quite fierce. He gave up five hits and three runs over seven innings along with two strikeouts.
The Rams jumped on the board in the 2nd with a ground out from Riley Barr to score one run. Newport had six hits on the day, with two apiece for David Land and Cam Lyons. After wrapping up the series 3-0, Newport will turn their attention to this weekend’s big meetup with a fellow undefeated team in Werribee. Bonbeach will host Mulgrave as they look to continue their improved pitching and hopefully get their first win on the board.
Newport Rams vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 2nds
23 1
The Bluejays had another disappointing loss as the Rams outscored them 47-1 in these past two games. Newport’s offense is feeling confident after such high-scoring results, especially as they’ve reached the 10-run mark in 5 out of 8 games. Now sitting comfortably at seven wins and one draw, alongside Werribee in the top spot, this weekend’s meeting between these two will be highly competitive. Like the 1sts, Bonbeach has yet to get a win but will be looking to change things up at Mulgrave.
Newport Rams vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 3rds
14 2
Another convincing win for Newport 3rds raised their record to 6-2, thanks to a great team effort that resulted in 14 hits across the board. The Rams got started in the 1st with a sacrifice fly from Josh Walshe that scored one run. However, Bonbeach stayed in the game for much of it, and it wasn’t until later that the Rams really picked things up a notch.
The offensive power came from Jonathan Baldacchino, who had a two-run single, as well as Sean Pengelly who went 3-for-3 at the plate. Bradley Blakemore, Sam Fraser, Matty Murph and Walshe all had two hits apiece, which made it difficult for Bonbeach to answer back.
Winning pitcher Sam Fraser gave up no hits and two runs across four innings along with two strikeouts. Newport was also strong in base running, with two players stealing multiple bases on the day. Pengelly safely stole three over the course of the game.
Now Newport looks ahead to Werribee while 3-5 Bonbeach pays a visit to Mulgrave.
Newport Rams vs. Bonbeach Bluejays 4ths
20 12
After narrowly beating the Bluejays 9-11 last weekend in Bonbeach, Newport returned home and took their offense to the next level. Bonbeach did their best to respond, but ultimately the Rams’ bats proved too steady. Newport is now 6-2, while Bonbeach fell to 2-6 but will try to come back with more offensive action this weekend at Mulgrave.
Malvern Braves vs. Port Melbourne Mariners 1sts
8 7
The Malvern boys went into this game full of confidence after pinching the first two by edging out the Mariners both times. Simon Fitzmaurice was once again great on the hill, throwing 5.2 innings in which the Mariners managed to score on some bloopers and aimless throws. This was a see-saw sort of game with both sides seeing it through, staying in the running until the very final out.
Malvern was down by two heading into the 9th, but a sacrifice fly from Geoff Holland tied it up. This took the game into extra innings, which ended up going until the 14th. Peter Kerr-Chapman was absolutely dealing for the Braves, giving them the room they needed to change the score in their favour.
In the final inning, Chance Hicks got on base and was bunted to second. A walk, an out and a wild pitch followed, creating 2 out with runners on 2nd and 3rd base. Aaron Haynes came up to the plate and drove the ball to right field, sealing Malvern’s fifth win of the season.
Port Melbourne’s pitchers were up-and-down on the day, with Kevin Desmedt throwing three solid innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs after an eight-inning effort by Aaron Petri with five runs, three of them unearned. Port Melbourne will look to return to their fine form from earlier this season as they head to undefeated Cheltenham, while Malvern hosts Williamstown as they try to build on their recent wins.
Malvern Braves vs. Port Melbourne Mariners 2nds
7 3
The Braves had to put together a 5-run 4th inning to come away with the victory, but they succeeded, thanks to strong pitching and some great offense from Jack Hanger. Now the Braves have four wins, two losses and two draws, while the Mariners have yet to win a game and will be trying to change that fact this weekend.
Port Melbourne Mariners vs. Malvern Braves 3rds
6 10
On such a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the Braves headed to Port Melbourne in pursuit of their fourth win, and they were successful in the endeavors. Steve Dean took the mound for Malvern, and threw four innings. With each Braves’ player having at least one hit, the team managed to get 13 hits overall and pull ahead of the Mariners side. Despite having a fantastic 10-0 lead heading into the final inning, Malvern coughed up six runs to the Mariners before shutting the rally down. Now 4-4, Malvern will be keen to keep up the good results as they head to Williamstown on Sunday, while Port Melbourne will try to turn their 1-7 record into something more positive.
Werribee Giants vs. Springvale Lions 1sts
5 4
The Giants took Sunday's game in dramatic fashion, with a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Lions to keep their impressive undefeated streak alive. The game was tied at four with Werribee batting in the bottom of the 10th when Guillermo Salazar singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run.
The Lions scored three runs in the second inning, but the Giants still managed to pull out the victory. The offensive firepower by Springvale was led by Adam Thatcher and Corey Hart, both driving in runs in the inning. This early lead didn’t last long, with the Giants answering on a single from Wade Balzer.
Just when Springvale thought they may have had their second win, Werribee tied things up at four with a walk from Wade Balzer to force one run in the bottom of the 9th. The exciting extra-innings victory for the Giants allowed Josh Lee to take the win, having thrown four scoreless innings with just one hit, one walk and two strikeouts.
Springvale’s Lachlan Madden took the loss after allowing six hits and two runs over two and a third innings, striking out one. Their starter Lucas Anderson had a good day on the mound, giving up three runs on seven hits across seven innings, with four strikeouts.
On Werribee’s mound, Trent Pantalleresco threw six innings during which he gave up three hits and four runs along with nine stinging strikeouts. All-in-all, the Giants had 13 hits on the day, with three hits from Pantalleresco and Lowe, as well as two for Salazar. On the Lions side, Anderson went 2-for-5 to make a difference.
Werribee will have a tough challenge this weekend as they battle Newport to keep their winning streak alive and well. Springvale and Doncaster will face off, with both teams wanting to make some moves on the ladder.
Werribee Giants vs. Springvale Lions 2nds
12 1
The Giants kept their first-place spot with a dominant win over the Lions, thanks in large part to the efforts of Reece Haywood. He went 5-for-5 with the bat, recording 3 RBI’s before stepping onto the mound to close out the game with little drama. This was an ideal result for Werribee ahead of this weekend’s clash with Newport, the other top team and a competitor that could give them some trouble. Springvale now has three wins, four losses and one draw on the season, which they can try to change for the better against Springvale on Sunday.
Werribee Giants vs. Springvale Lions 3rds
16 6
The tables were turned after Springvale’s 15-4 rout the previous week. The Giants pounced on the Lions’ pitching, putting the game in their favour with some hard-hit balls and good team batting that made this a relatively easy day at the plate. The Lions tried to keep up but fell short in their efforts, resulting in only their second loss of the season. Werribee improved to 3-5 on the day.
Werribee Giants vs. Malvern Braves 4ths
12 13
Both sides kept at it all day long, trying their best to outdo the other. Ultimately, the visitors got the edge to capture their hard-earned second victory on the season, giving them a boost ahead of this weekend’s meeting with first-place Williamstown this Sunday.
Calling all junior baseball players! Registration is now open for the 2019 Charter Player Development Program, which will include Little League, Junior League and Intermediate League.
This development program is an exceptional opportunity for young players to improve their skills through training with dedicated charter coaches, and this serves as a pathway to the Charter ALL-STAR teams. This 10-week program will help kids further develop their baseball abilities and give them the best opportunity for selection to the Charter ALL-STAR teams.
The Charter Player Development Program comprises both a training and competition component that prioritizes baseball fundamentals and focuses on the efficient movements of hitting, throwing and fielding.
Please learn more about this program and register for your charter’s program below.
Please follow these links below to register for your charter's program.
The past two rounds of the VSBL 2018/19 Division One competition have been full of exciting, and oftentimes surprising, results as some teams have picked up momentum after slower starts to the season while others have begun to struggle. After leading the way with the only 8-0 record in the division, reigning premiers Geelong Baycats endured a big loss at Melbourne, while Preston Pirates improved their 0-6 record to 2-7 after back-to-back wins. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played this season, and we wish everyone in Div 1 the best of luck as they continue to make this a memorable season. Catch up on what went down in the past two weekends of play with our results and recaps below.
Midweek Tuesday, Nov. 20th
Sunshine Eagles vs. Preston Pirates 1sts
3 1
The Eagles are redeeming themselves after some struggles earlier this season, having now won five in a row, including Tuesday night’s midweek meeting with the Pirates. It was a close competition, but Sunshine capitalised on scoring chances and had the edge pitching-wise. After back-to-back wins vs. familiar rivals at Berwick, Preston’s lineup couldn’t manufacture the same level of offense against Sunshine’s Jeremy Young, who threw six solid innings. He gave up five hits, three walks and just one run while striking out four. With this win, Sunshine improves to 6-4, while Preston falls to 2-8.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Geelong Baycats 1sts
3 1
Although the clashes between top teams Blackburn vs. Upwey FTG and struggling sides Waverley vs. Moorrabin got rained out, the Lions and Baycats were able to play on Tuesday night, with the victory going to Fitzroy. Geelong, formerly 8-0, has dropped their last two, but still remain at the top of the ladder after midweek games. The Lions enjoyed an early 1-0 lead, but by the 4th the Baycats had tied it up. Fitzroy ended up pulling away with the win to improve their record to 5-5, despite the fact that Geelong outhit them 9-8. Game two will be at Fitzroy on Sunday.
Melbourne Demons vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
9 3
The Demons secured their seventh win of the season against a struggling Cougars side that has now dropped the last three. Melbourne took a 4-0 lead after the 1st inning, thanks to a strong offense that wasted no time getting on the board. They added a fifth run in the 2nd and another in the 3rd before taking a 9-0 advantage in the 4th. Berwick was able to come back with three runs, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the powerful Demons. The Cougars’ few RBI’s came from Craig Barnett, Nick O’Shea and Aaron Ouwehand. Now 2-8, Berwick will look to bounce back this weekend as they visit Melbourne, where the Demons will be hoping for more of the same great results.
Sandringham Royals vs. Essendon Bombers 1sts
4 1
It seems that the Royals’ reign at the top of Div 1 may be coming to a close, as the team that won six straight premierships from 2012-2017 has fallen behind. Now sitting at 4-6, the Bombers have struggled with inconsistent offense and pitching that hasn’t been able to get the job done when it counts. After winning 4-1 in round 8 vs. Waverley, the Bombers have dropped the last two.
The Royals hit relatively well and made the most of defensive miscues made by Essendon. Pitcher Michael Formisano threw 4.2 innings, giving up five hits, three walks, one earned run and three unearned while striking out five. Unfortunately for the Bombers, those mistakes came back to bite them as Sandringham shut down their scoring chances, thanks to another terrific outing from American import Peter Gehle. He threw six solid innings of one-run ball, giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out six of the 25 batters he faced.
Sandringham’s offensive production was led by RBI singles from Robert Anthony, Joshua Meyer and Jack Wills. The Royals host the Bombers once more this weekend as they aim for their lucky seventh win.
Sunday, Nov. 18th
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Fitzroy Lions 1sts
18 9
The Tigers racked up a crazy amount of runs against the Lions as they cruised to their seventh win by scoring twice as many times as their opponents. Upwey’s hard-hitting lineup was unstoppable, led by Evan Phillips who went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBI’s. Fellow Tigers Jordan Elliot, Ashley Winton and Peter Schroders also enjoyed good days at the plate, gathering 3 hits each apiece. Harvey Chinn hit two singles, while Joshua Hendricks had a single and double on the day with 3 RBI’s.
The Tigers got started early, putting up four runs in each of the first three innings. They added another in the 4th, working their way to a 13-0 lead before the Lions finally got one back in the 5th. Despite a five-run frame in the 7th and an additional three runs in the 8th, Fitzroy had little hopes of making up the deficit. Upwey outhit Fitzroy 19-13 and stranded only 10 runners, compared to 13 for the Lions.
Next up for the Tigers is a series against top four team Blackburn, while Fitzroy will look to take down the first-place Baycats and work their way up the ladder.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers vs. Fitzroy Lions 2nds
9 8
After Fitzroy came out with a bang last weekend, pummeling the Tiger 15-2, Upwey had their sights set on revenge. The Tigers narrowly got the better of the Lions for their seventh win on the season. Both sides battled it out for the duration of the game, but a one-run difference at the end was all Upwey needed to hang on for the win. Upwey remains in second place behind undefeated Blackburn, who they face this weekend, while Fitzroy is close behind in the third spot ahead of this weekend’s home game vs. Geelong.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 3rds
7 5
The Lions continued with their strong season with another win over the Tigers. Despite Upwey’s best efforts to get on the board and keep tacking on runs, Fitzroy pulled away with the victory, staying strong in second place behind the undefeated Baycats. One draw back in round 5 is all that’s separating Fitzroy and Geelong, so this weekend’s matchup between the two should be quite intense as only one can keep their unbeaten record heading into the second half of the season. Meanwhile the Tigers, now even at
4-4, will be keen to stop their three-game skid as they host Blackburn.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 4ths
8 6
Following a big 13-3 win in round 7, the Lions picked up where they left off, extending their advantage enough to get their fifth victory. Upwey fell to 1-7, with their only win coming in round 5 at Moorrabin. Next up for Fitzroy is a road game at Geelong, while Upwey has a shot at securing their second win when they host Blackburn this weekend.
Melbourne Demons vs. Geelong Baycats 1sts
14 0
The Baycats fantastic start to the season was finally stopped short by a fast and fierce Demons lineup that jumped all over the usually spot-on Geelong pitchers. Melbourne wasted no time getting on the board, scoring five runs in the 1st inning to showcase some early dominance and set the mood for the whole day. Five more runs in the 3rd and four in the 6th sealed the deal, with Steven Bookluck leading the way with 5 RBI’s from 2 hits. Jarryd Rogers followed with 3 RBI’s, while Andy Tierney and Ryan Booth knocked in two runs apiece.
The Demons were supported by an outstanding performance from Ryan Simpler, who shut out the challenging Geelong lineup for 7 hits. He gave up just three hits and no walks while getting seven strikeouts. Now 6-3, the Demons will be looking to keep up the pace against Berwick for the next series, while Geelong will be eager to reset and regroup to get another win at Fitzroy.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/MelbDemonsBC/photos/a.416595881805172/1387767341354683/?type=3&theater
Melbourne Demons vs. Geelong Baycats 2nds
6 6
Both these sides kept in the game, battling back and forth to see who could take home their fourth victory of the year. As it turns out, neither team would achieve such a result on the day, with the game ending in a draw after Melbourne came back to score two in the final innings, tying it up. The Demons now set their sights on a home game vs. Berwick, while Geelong heads to 6-2 Fitzroy.
Geelong Baycats vs. Melbourne Demons 3rds
10 1
The Baycats were celebrating their eighth straight victory after a fantastic day at the plate vs. Melbourne. They jumped on the board early with four runs in the 1st inning, made possible by hits to Daniel Anson, Mat Belfrage and Jordy Isbister. Geelong looked really solid as a team, with all player consistently contributing and tacking no runs. Unlike previous games, the Baycats were completely clean in the field with no errors, allowing them to hold down the Demons.
Starter Daniel Anson had a great day on the mound, throwing five faultless innings before passing it off to Jordan Isbister in the 6th. His curve balls tricked Melbourne batters and kept the game in Geelong’s favour without any drama. Highlights on the day included Liam Whiteside’s solo home run over the left field fence in the 4th, as well as a double, single and 3 RBI’s for Hayden Peoples. The Baycats will be feeling good ahead of their home game vs. Fitzroy this weekend, while Melbourne will be wanting to improve on their performance and get a win at Berwick.
Geelong Baycats vs. Melbourne Demons 4ths
6 4
Despite Melbourne’s dominant 13-2 win in round 7, the Baycats aren’t budging from their place at the top of the ladder, securing their seventh win with a determined day at the plate. Avoiding back-to-back losses, Geelong managed to hold off the Demons when it mattered. Although the Demons stayed in the game, at the end of the day the Baycats came out winners, handing Melbourne their third loss of the season. Geelong is hosting Fitzroy this weekend while Melbourne is heading to Berwick in a bid to improve to 6-3.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Essendon Bombers 1sts
10 6
The Wildcats were successful in their efforts to secure their second win of the season, thanks to a great day at the plate for most of the lineup. Reece Longstaff led the way with four hits and a .800 batting average for the day. Ben Aslett proved difficult to retire as well, managing two doubles and a home run, his second on the year. Despite the final score line, Essendon’s offense wasn’t too shabby either, with 2 RBI’s going to Mark Sayers and three hits for Michael Formisano. Although this result wasn’t ideal for the Bombers, they will be looking to bounce back as they head into their series with Sandringham. Meanwhile Waverley will be keen to build on this sweet finish in their games vs. Moorrabin.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Essendon Bombers 2nds
13 3
A hot offense got the job done for Waverley, with the boys enjoying their first victory of the year against a much-quieter Essendon side. The Bombers that easily earned their 8-3 win in round 7 were nowhere to be found on Sunday as the Wildcats cruised to a big victory. Dropping to 4-4, the Bombers will visit Sandringham for round 9, while the Wildcats will aim for two-in-a-row when they host Moorrabin.
Essendon Bombers vs. Waverley Wildcats 3rds
10 10
After such strong offensive production from each side, neither could pull ahead in their final chances, resulting in a 10-10 draw. Both sides will try to keep their pitching a bit more under control as they look ahead to new series, with Waverley taking on Moorrabin and Essendon facing Sandringham. The Wildcats will be wanting to improve their record, which currently stands at one win, one draw and six losses, while the Bombers will be looking for their seventh win.
Essendon Bombers vs. Waverley Wildcats 4ths
11 3
After a closer game in round 7 that saw Essendon capture a 7-4 win, the Bombers blew this game open thanks to strong efforts throughout the entire lineup. They didn’t shy away from getting on base and were eager to make the most of their scoring opportunities, while the Wildcats couldn’t quite reach that same level of confidence at the plate. Now 2-6, Waverley will be looking to make some bigger moves as the second half of the season approaches, while Essendon needs to keep doing what they’re doing to stay in the top 2 and keep up with the Eagles, who are also 6-2 heading into round 9.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Preston Pirates 1sts
6 7
After a thrilling 9-1 victory finally put the Pirates in the win column, they headed to Berwick to see if they could keep up the pace. Despite a too-close-for-comfort score line for much of the game, Preston pulled off an extra-innings win over their familiar competition from last year’s season in Div 2. Jordan Ley led the team with four hits, including a double and three singles, while Adam Burton was close behind with three hits of his own for 2 RBI’s.
It was a game of back and forth as each side stayed in it, getting runners on and threatening to score fairly consistently. Preston’s Hayden Godbold started on the mound, giving up one earned run and one unearned run with three hits and three strikeouts during his 5.1 innings of work. His teammates faced Berwick’s Craig Barnett, who was solid as well, giving up five hits, one walk and two unearned runs across six innings. He also struck out a season-high six batters.
Both relievers did their jobs but struggled to keep determined runners off base. In the last 5.2 innings, Berwick batters managed seven hits and four runs – three of those earned – against Drew Janssen, but six key strikeouts doomed them as they couldn’t quite tie it up after the Pirates broke through with two runs in the 11th to make it 7-5. Although the Cougars got one back in their final at-bats, they failed to bring the next runner home and were handed their seventh loss of the season.
Throughout the game, Berwick depended on Matt Kennedy, David Mulhall, Nick O’Shea and Ciaran Palmer who each had 2 hits apiece. After losing the last two, Berwick will look have a chance to make up for it in their next series vs. Melbourne, while Preston will face a Sunshine side that’s been on a roll as of late, winning four out of their last five.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Preston Pirates 2nds
5 7
After another disappointing loss at the Pirate Ship last weekend, Preston headed to Berwick City to redeem themselves. They were thrilled to secure their first win of the season after a hard-fought ordeal, in which Berwick battled to stay in it. An up-and-down day ended in the Pirates’ favour after they pulled ahead with two runs in the final innings. Michael Vogt returned to the game after a seven-year absence and he managed a few big hits, while pitcher Masa Hashiguchi had an RBI and a pitching performance that got the job done. The Cougars will now look to turn their 4-4 record into 5-4 when they visit the Melbourne Demons this weekend, while the Pirates face a Sunshine team that’s currently 2-6.
Preston Pirates vs. Berwick City Cougars 3rds
9 12
A 12-7 win last week fueled the Cougars to continue their winning ways as they capitalised on more scoring opportunities. Despite giving up some big runs to the Pirates, allowing them to stay in the game, Berwick managed to hold off the offensive threats to get their third win of the season. Preston fell to 1-7 but will have a chance to turn things around and get back to their fine form from round 2 as they head home to host a winless Sunshine side this Sunday.
Preston Pirates vs. Berwick City Cougars 4ths
6 17
It wasn’t the prettiest of games for the Pirates as they gave up a painful amount of runs to this fiery and fast Berwick side. The Cougars were on the ball all day long, consistently getting on base and proving to be a real trouble to retire. Despite the final score, the Pirates were able to put more runs together for a slightly better result than their 2-23 smashing the week before. With four wins, one draw and three losses on the season, the Cougars will be looking to extend their undefeated streak to five games when they host the 5-3 Demons on Sunday. The Pirates will face a big challenge against the reigning premiers and currently second-place Sunshine Eagles.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Sandringham Royals 1sts
6 5
After a nail biter in round 8 that saw the Royals pull off a 1-0 victory thanks to a legendary pitching performance from Peter Gehle, the Orioles came back with the winning edge in round 9. Blackburn’s Tim Holland, David Dicker, Sam Bucello and Ryan Berg all had hits on the day, while Sandringham was supported by two hits apiece from both Zac Skinner and Jayson Arthur. In the end, this close-scoring game went to Blackburn, now 6-3. Sandringham will try to improve and get their seventh win this weekend against Essendon, while Blackburn will need to keep up with the Tigers to get another victory on Sunday.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Sandringham Royals 2nds
2 3
A closer contest than last week, this game saw the Orioles narrowly edge out the Royals to keep their undefeated start to the season alive. Now 8-0, Blackburn is holding on tight to their place at the top of the ladder, although their upcoming opponents at Upwey Ferntree Gully aren’t far behind, currently sitting at seven wins and one draw. It will be a battle of the undefeated teams as the Orioles head to the Tigers home field. The Royals will host a fellow 4-4 team in the Bombers, and they’ll be looking to bounce back from these last four losses after a beautiful 4-0 start to the season.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Sandringham Royals 3rds
8 13
The Orioles enjoyed a 7-3 win over the Royals in round 7, but their seven-game winning streak was broken as the Royals came back with much busier bats this past weekend. Although Blackburn battled, it proved impossible to overcome Sandringham’s strong lineup, and the Orioles will try to get one back against the Tigers on Sunday. This was a big win for the Royals, who now have three wins, three losses and two draws on the season, a record they’ll look to improve upon at Essendon.
Blackburn Orioles vs. Sandringham Royals 4ths
3 7
Following a 14-0 shutout the week before, the Royals were feeling good heading into this matchup, and it showed as they hit and pitched their way to another big win. Despite giving up three runs the Sandy boys pulled off a confidence-boosting victory with better hitting and team batting on the day. Blackburn hasn’t won a game since round 3 vs. Preston, so they’ll be ready to make some big moves come Sunday when they visit Upwey Ferntree Gully in search of their fourth win. Meanwhile the Royals will look to keep on rolling as they visit the Bombers.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 1sts
2 6
The Eagles have picked up the pace considerably after dropping four of their first five. This marks their fourth consecutive win as they topped the Panthers after a good day at the plate, aided by Brian Lane who went 4-for-5 with three doubles and Jeremy Young with three singles. Despite the disappointing loss – their third straight and seventh overall – several Moorrabin players had multiple hits, with Nick Coy, Matt Hardie and Ben Laux all recording two apiece. Kieran Lewis and Jack Pierson were responsible for knocking in the Panthers two runs on the day. After improving to 5-4, the Eagles will keep their eyes on the prize as they look to achieve five straight vs. Preston, while Moorrabin will face some easier competition in Waverley for this next series.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 2nds
13 5
In a repeat final score from the week before, the Panthers capitalised on defensive mistakes made by the Eagles. Moorrabin had better pitching on the day that controlled the Eagles enough to put the game comfortably in their favour. The Panthers have now improved to three wins, four losses and one draw, while Sunshine has fallen behind with a 2-6 record. The Eagles will have a chance to redeem themselves in this next series vs. Preston, as well Moorrabin when they face Waverley.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 3rds
3 7
The Panthers just got the edge over the Eagles in last week’s 5-4 win, and this time they extended their advantage to further put the victory out of reach for Sunshine. The Panthers’ pitching was more reliable and controlled than the Eagles, leading to back-to-back wins for Moorrabin after a painful 0-5 start. Sunshine is still looking for their elusive first win, and they’ll be hoping this weekend’s road game at Preston will get the job done.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 4ths
11 9
The reigning premiers have now won three straight after pulling ahead of the Panthers. Despite Moorabbin’s best efforts to stay in the game and produce runs, in the end this was Sunshine’s game. Now at 6-2, Sunshine will be eager to hold on to their second spot place as they head into this next series vs. Preston, while Moorrabin will need to improve their 1-7 record with a few upcoming wins.
Sunday, Nov. 11th
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 1sts
1 0
The Orioles were handed their third loss after a phenomenal day on the mound for Sandy’s Peter Gehle, who threw eight great innings of scoreless baseball. He gave up six hits and one walk while striking out nine batters, giving the Orioles very little to work with offensively. Blackburn’s starter Skyler Sylvester had a good day on the mound too, throwing five innings and giving up just three hits and one unearned run while striking out six. Unfortunately for the Orioles, their lack of offense sealed their fate, as Sandy got one run on an RBI from Jayson Arthur to score Robert Anthony. Scott Mitchelson and Andrew Jones covered solid innings in relief to keep Blackburn in the game, but it wasn’t enough as Sandringham secured an exciting win at the end of nine innings. Now 6-2, the Royals will be looking to improve to 7-2 when they face Blackburn once more this weekend.
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 2nds
3 7
The Orioles are still unbeaten after another big win in round 7 as they handed the Royals their third straight third loss. Sandringham will be looking to return to their fantastic form of the first few weeks, which saw them go 4-0, if they want to stay in the top four when they visit Blackburn for round 8.
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 3rds
3 7
The Royals haven’t won a game since round 4, and they will be eager to change things up when they meet Blackburn once more in round 8, especially after the Orioles outscored them in this game. Blackburn had better pitching and better hitting to maintain their undefeated record, and they are proving to be quite a challenge to beat. The next game will be at Blackburn as they aim for 8-0.
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 4ths
14 0
The Royals were on fire today, winning their fourth game on the season in exciting fashion with a stellar shutout victory. This was a great result for Sandringham, especially after they suffered a disappointing 0-10 loss the week before at the hands of Fitzroy. Now 4-3, the Royals will be eager to build on this success as they head into the heart of the season, while Blackburn will be looking for a win after three weeks without one.
Preston Pirates vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
9 1
Determined to get a win on the board, the Pirates finally got the job done vs. the team they beat to achieve last season’s thrilling premiership title. Hayden Godbold took the mound for the Pirates, throwing a no-hitter through six impressive innings of work, with just one walk and four strikeouts. His reliable command and control gave the Pirates the chance to pressure the Cougars early. Preston was able to get one run in the 3rd off Mark Surtees, who otherwise gave up four hits and three walks with two strikeouts across the first five innings.
Preston’s Drew Janssen came on in relief, and he managed to get out of a tough bases-loaded situation with just one unearned run scored. Despite a few threats, the Pirates failed to get on the board again until the 8th, when they started out hot and didn’t stop. A double down the left field line to Jordan Ley put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, and it wasn’t long before the score became 3-1. The Cougars intentionally walked Lewis Weldon, which loaded the bases with no outs. Andy Karp’s blazing double scored two to make it 5-1, and a string of hits followed to continue the damage. The Pirates had made it 7-1 with still none out when a passed ball made it 8-1.
After going through the full order, Jordan Ley had yet another hit to reach the final score of 9-1. The Cougars couldn’t get any back and ended up with their sixth loss of the season. Berwick will have their sights set on a better outcome for the return game in round 9, while Preston will be wanting to build on this success.
Preston Pirates vs. Berwick City Cougars 2nds
6 13
Once again, defensive miscues and a lackluster offense doomed the Pirates’ attempts to break their 0-7 spell. Despite getting an early lead, Preston was troubled by Berwick’s formidable offense that keep building on their scoring chances. Now 4-3, the Cougars will be keen to continue approving as the season moves forward, while the Pirates will be needing a win come Sunday’s game.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Preston Pirates 3rds
12 7
Despite some good offensive production on both sides, this game went in favour of Berwick, with their batters having the upper hand on the day. This marks the Pirates sixth loss, and they’ve now dropped their fifth in a row. The Cougars were pleased with this result after a disappointing 16-3 loss at Blackburn the weekend before. Berwick will aim for back-to-back wins when they head to Preston for round 8.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Preston Pirates 4ths
23 2
This was not a pretty day on the mound or at the plate for the Pirates, who gave up 15+ runs for the third time this season. The Cougars were aggressive at the plate, constantly causing trouble for Preston’s pitchers. Berwick has improved to three wins, three losses and one draw after seven rounds, with room to grow and potential as they season moves forward. The Pirates will be eager to regroup and come back stronger and more competitive when they face the Cougars once more, as they look to boost their 2-5 record in the upcoming weeks.
Sunday, Nov. 11th
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 1sts
1 0
The Orioles were handed their third loss after a phenomenal day on the mound for Sandy’s Peter Gehle, who threw eight great innings of scoreless baseball. He gave up six hits and one walk while striking out nine batters, giving the Orioles very little to work with offensively. Blackburn’s starter Skyler Sylvester had a good day on the mound too, throwing five innings and giving up just three hits and one unearned run while striking out six. Unfortunately for the Orioles, their lack of offense sealed their fate, as Sandy got one run on an RBI from Jayson Arthur to score Robert Anthony. Scott Mitchelson and Andrew Jones covered solid innings in relief to keep Blackburn in the game, but it wasn’t enough as Sandringham secured an exciting win at the end of nine innings. Now 6-2, the Royals will be looking to improve to 7-2 when they face Blackburn once more this weekend.
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 2nds
3 7
The Orioles are still unbeaten after another big win in round 7 as they handed the Royals their third straight third loss. Sandringham will be looking to return to their fantastic form of the first few weeks, which saw them go 4-0, if they want to stay in the top four when they visit Blackburn for round 8.
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 3rds
3 7
The Royals haven’t won a game since round 4, and they will be eager to change things up when they meet Blackburn once more in round 8, especially after the Orioles outscored them in this game. Blackburn had better pitching and better hitting to maintain their undefeated record, and they are proving to be quite a challenge to beat. The next game will be at Blackburn as they aim for 8-0.
Sandringham Royals vs. Blackburn Orioles 4ths
14 0
The Royals were on fire today, winning their fourth game on the season in exciting fashion with a stellar shutout victory. This was a great result for Sandringham, especially after they suffered a disappointing 0-10 loss the week before at the hands of Fitzroy. Now 4-3, the Royals will be eager to build on this success as they head into the heart of the season, while Blackburn will be looking for a win after three weeks without one.
Preston Pirates vs. Berwick City Cougars 1sts
9 1
Determined to get a win on the board, the Pirates finally got the job done vs. the team they beat to achieve last season’s thrilling premiership title. Hayden Godbold took the mound for the Pirates, throwing a no-hitter through six impressive innings of work, with just one walk and four strikeouts. His reliable command and control gave the Pirates the chance to pressure the Cougars early. Preston was able to get one run in the 3rd off Mark Surtees, who otherwise gave up four hits and three walks with two strikeouts across the first five innings.
Preston’s Drew Janssen came on in relief, and he managed to get out of a tough bases-loaded situation with just one unearned run scored. Despite a few threats, the Pirates failed to get on the board again until the 8th, when they started out hot and didn’t stop. A double down the left field line to Jordan Ley put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, and it wasn’t long before the score became 3-1. The Cougars intentionally walked Lewis Weldon, which loaded the bases with no outs. Andy Karp’s blazing double scored two to make it 5-1, and a string of hits followed to continue the damage. The Pirates had made it 7-1 with still none out when a passed ball made it 8-1.
After going through the full order, Jordan Ley had yet another hit to reach the final score of 9-1. The Cougars couldn’t get any back and ended up with their sixth loss of the season. Berwick will have their sights set on a better outcome for the return game in round 9, while Preston will be wanting to build on this success.
Preston Pirates vs. Berwick City Cougars 2nds
6 13
Once again, defensive miscues and a lackluster offense doomed the Pirates’ attempts to break their 0-7 spell. Despite getting an early lead, Preston was troubled by Berwick’s formidable offense that keep building on their scoring chances. Now 4-3, the Cougars will be keen to continue approving as the season moves forward, while the Pirates will be needing a win come Sunday’s game.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Preston Pirates 3rds
12 7
Despite some good offensive production on both sides, this game went in favour of Berwick, with their batters having the upper hand on the day. This marks the Pirates sixth loss, and they’ve now dropped their fifth in a row. The Cougars were pleased with this result after a disappointing 16-3 loss at Blackburn the weekend before. Berwick will aim for back-to-back wins when they head to Preston for round 8.
Berwick City Cougars vs. Preston Pirates 4ths
23 2
This was not a pretty day on the mound or at the plate for the Pirates, who gave up 15+ runs for the third time this season. The Cougars were aggressive at the plate, constantly causing trouble for Preston’s pitchers. Berwick has improved to three wins, three losses and one draw after seven rounds, with room to grow and potential as they season moves forward. The Pirates will be eager to regroup and come back stronger and more competitive when they face the Cougars once more, as they look to boost their 2-5 record in the upcoming weeks.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 1sts
2 1
Terrific pitching performances on both sides kept this game under control, as batters struggled to piece together scoring opportunities. Sunshine’s Jeremy Young was stellar on the mound, throwing nine innings during which he had 11 strikeouts while giving up five hits, one walk and just one earned run. His pitching prowess made the win possible for Sunshine, as the team managed to score two runs against a strong Moorrabin side. Despite the loss, the Panthers were proud of a great day on the mound for Nick Veale, who threw six strong innings, giving up four hits, one unearned run and one earned run while striking out seven.
Nick Coy knocked in Moorabbin’s only run of the game, while Sunshine’s quiet offense got the job done thanks in part to hits from Brian Lane, Allister Lovelock, Lachlan Ruyter and Jordan Young. If this game is any indication, the next meeting between these two may be another tight competition, as Sunshine now sits at 4-4 while Moorrabin is 2-6.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
5 13
The Eagles were handed their fifth loss of the season by a strong and determined Moorrabin side that hit and ran the bases well. After going four weeks without a win, the Panthers were pleased to have such a good day at the plate, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into round 8 and beyond, while Sunshine will be keen to make some improvements and get more wins on the board.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
5 4
The Eagles were disappointed once again with their seventh straight loss, despite being so close to victory. Moorrabin narrowly got the win in a close game, improving to 2-5 on the season. Having lost their last two games by just one run, it’s safe to say Sunshine will be looking for ways to pull ahead and stay there as they head into round 8.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
3 11
The Eagles were looking good on Sunday as they took home an easy win at Moorrabin. The reigning premiers have been solid all season long, winning five out of the first seven to stay comfortable in second place behind Geelong. With just one win on the season so far coming last week in round 6, Moorrabin will be wanting to step it up a notch as they head into their upcoming games.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 1sts
2 1
Terrific pitching performances on both sides kept this game under control, as batters struggled to piece together scoring opportunities. Sunshine’s Jeremy Young was stellar on the mound, throwing nine innings during which he had 11 strikeouts while giving up five hits, one walk and just one earned run. His pitching prowess made the win possible for Sunshine, as the team managed to score two runs against a strong Moorrabin side. Despite the loss, the Panthers were proud of a great day on the mound for Nick Veale, who threw six strong innings, giving up four hits, one unearned run and one earned run while striking out seven.
Nick Coy knocked in Moorabbin’s only run of the game, while Sunshine’s quiet offense got the job done thanks in part to hits from Brian Lane, Allister Lovelock, Lachlan Ruyter and Jordan Young. If this game is any indication, the next meeting between these two may be another tight competition, as Sunshine now sits at 4-4 while Moorrabin is 2-6.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
5 13
The Eagles were handed their fifth loss of the season by a strong and determined Moorrabin side that hit and ran the bases well. After going four weeks without a win, the Panthers were pleased to have such a good day at the plate, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into round 8 and beyond, while Sunshine will be keen to make some improvements and get more wins on the board.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
5 4
The Eagles were disappointed once again with their seventh straight loss, despite being so close to victory. Moorrabin narrowly got the win in a close game, improving to 2-5 on the season. Having lost their last two games by just one run, it’s safe to say Sunshine will be looking for ways to pull ahead and stay there as they head into round 8.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
3 11
The Eagles were looking good on Sunday as they took home an easy win at Moorrabin. The reigning premiers have been solid all season long, winning five out of the first seven to stay comfortable in second place behind Geelong. With just one win on the season so far coming last week in round 6, Moorrabin will be wanting to step it up a notch as they head into their upcoming games.
Sunshine Eagles vs. Moorrabin Panthers 2nds
5 13
The Eagles were handed their fifth loss of the season by a strong and determined Moorrabin side that hit and ran the bases well. After going four weeks without a win, the Panthers were pleased to have such a good day at the plate, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into round 8 and beyond, while Sunshine will be keen to make some improvements and get more wins on the board.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 3rds
5 4
The Eagles were disappointed once again with their seventh straight loss, despite being so close to victory. Moorrabin narrowly got the win in a close game, improving to 2-5 on the season. Having lost their last two games by just one run, it’s safe to say Sunshine will be looking for ways to pull ahead and stay there as they head into round 8.
Moorrabin Panthers vs. Sunshine Eagles 4ths
3 11
The Eagles were looking good on Sunday as they took home an easy win at Moorrabin. The reigning premiers have been solid all season long, winning five out of the first seven to stay comfortable in second place behind Geelong. With just one win on the season so far coming last week in round 6, Moorrabin will be wanting to step it up a notch as they head into their upcoming games.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 1sts
8 4
There was a special atmosphere at Merri Park for VSBL round 8 as Saturday games at the venue are unusual. It all started with Fitzroy’s Tom Wilson hitting two triples in as many innings as part of his 4-for-5 day. The second of the three baggers scored him 3 RBIs and gave Fitzroy the lead heading into the 3rd innings. The Lions got two more when Carl Wilson and Jordan Hill got the crowd going with a pair of doubles to make it a 6-0 advantage.
In the 4th Jordan Elliot singled, stole second and scored on a ground ball to put Upwey on the board. He pegged the score back to 6-1, and despite the pressure the Tigers were not ready to give up. In the 5th Harley Chinn, who was a standout for the visitors with three hits, singled with an RBI. Upwey looked resurgent, but Fitzroy starter Alex Merithew soaked up the pressure and was skillfully backed by Carl Wilson and Travis Murphy with some sharp fielding.
Tom Wilson proved difficult to retire for Upwey, as he got on base once again in the bottom of the 4th with a single. He was moved over to 3rd by a hard single from Travis Murphy before coming home on Daniel Huryn’s sacrifice fly. Fitzroy looked confident after five innings with a 7-2 lead.
Dave Ayres entered the game in the 8th and took some time to steady then looked good on the mound. Upwey added one more run after doing the same in the 7th, with the game looking a lot more even at this point with a score of 7-4.
Harley Chinn added to his batting efforts when he pitched well in relief for the visitors, giving up just four hits and one earned run scattered across four innings before handing it over to Jarrod Turner in the 8th.
Jordan Walker scored after a double to make the final score 8-4. Fitzroy’s closer Travis Murphy got the job done to secure the win for the Lions, their fourth of the season. Merithew ended up throwing seven innings during which he struck out two and gave up four hits and one walk, leading to two earned runs and one unearned run.
This marks Upwey’s second loss of the season and they will be looking to make their record 7-2 when they face Fitzroy once more.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 2nds
15 2
The Lions came out in full force in round 7 as they pounced on the Tigers, cruising to their sixth win. This was an exciting matchup between two top teams, but Upwey ended up being uncharacteristically quiet on the day. Fitzroy’s fantastic pitching got the job done and allowed batters to get on base consistently. The Tigers will have another chance against the Lions come round 8.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 3rds
14 2
The Lions are making some big moves in the 3rds competition, having won all but one game with a 10-10 draw coming back in round 5. After this convincing win over Upwey, Fitzroy now has six wins on the board, putting them in second place behind tied-for-the-top Blackburn and Geelong. Upwey is still hanging out near the top four with a 4-3 record, but they will need to continue with strong performances in the next few games to stay confidently in the race and increase their win percentage.
Fitzroy Lions vs. Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 4ths
13 3
Fitzroy’s 4ths rounded out the sweep with a big day at the plate that saw the whole lineup make big contributions. Now 4-3, the Lions will look to improve to 5-3 when they visit Upwey this weekend in order to get closer to the top four, while the Tigers will be looking to get better form to turn their 1-6 record into something more positive.
Geelong Baycats vs. Melbourne Demons 1sts
8 2
These two Div 1 powerhouses met for an exciting game on Sunday, and it began as a pitcher’s duel. Geelong’s Rudy Jaramillo and Melbourne’s Ryan Simpler looked great in the early innings, dominating and shutting down the opposing offense with ease. It wasn’t until the 5th inning that any real offense came together, with Brock Wells sending a sharply-hit ball to left field for the first hit of the game. He and Tyler Luther-Wilson ended up coming around to score to take a 2-0 lead. As the Demons’ pitcher tired, they tacked on another three runs in the 6th to force a pitching change.
Jaramillo handed the ball over to James Wood to take care of the 7th and 8th inning, and the Demons managed to hit the scoreboard twice to get back into the game with two runs. The Baycats answered in the bottom frame with two runs of their own, securing an 8-2 lead which would become the final score. Geelong’s Elliot Biddle closed the game out with no big drama, closing the book on a great team effort led by Kelli Zablan and Wells who had two hits apiece on the day. Jaramillo was reliable as always, scoring a run and collecting an RBI on two hits and a walk, while pitching six scoreless innings with just two hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Although Geelong eventually pressured him, and he didn’t have much offensive backup to work with, Melbourne’s Simpler still had a good day on the mound. He gave up three hits and three walks, along with three earned runs and two unearned runs across five innings while striking out four.
Geelong remains undefeated with an 8-0 record while Melbourne now sits at 5-3 ahead of their round 9 game on Sunday, in which the Demons will hope to pull off a big upset.
Geelong Baycats vs. Melbourne Demons 2nds
9 3
Pitching command and team batting made this an easy win for the Baycats, who now have three wins, three losses and one draw after seven rounds. This marks three in a row for the Baycats, who have been noticeably stronger and more composed on the field in their recent wins. The Demons are 3-4 and will be looking to come back more competitively when they host Geelong for round 8.
Melbourne Demons vs. Geelong Baycats 3rds
0 7
The Baycats kept up their thrilling start to the season with their seventh consecutive win. Seven may be their lucky number as seven runs were enough to seal the deal on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Geelong had been quiet early on in recent games, and this time around the Baycats blossomed early, scoring a pair of runs in the 2nd with hits from Tom Cruise and Angus Hayden.
Geelong depended on solid defense to get them off the field quickly and back to the plate. The real damage was done in the 3rd inning, when the Baycats piled on an additional five runs with hits from Mat Belfrage, Liam Whiteside and Cruise. Pitcher Duane Davenport was confident and comfortable out on the mound, giving up just one hit with Whiteside reliable behind the dish. He had two doubles and 3 RBI’s on the day, while Belfrage came away with a double and a single as did Hayden Peoples. Cruise had two singles and an RBI, while Chris Hockey and Angus McNee all got in on the hitting fun with singles.
It was a disappointing day for the Demons who couldn’t match the Baycats’ consistency, but they will get another chance when round 8 arrives. Geelong will have their eyes on an 8-0 record to keep up with Blackburn, while Melbourne will look to build on their record of two wins, four losses and one draw.
Melbourne Demons vs. Geelong Baycats 4ths
13 2
Melbourne’s 4ths side kept the seniors from being swept by the Baycats. It was a great game for the Demons, especially considering their pitching and hitting depth held up against the top team on the ladder. Melbourne now sits at 5-2, while Geelong is just ahead at 6-1. The Demons will look to take advantage of their opportunity to get ahead in round 8, while Geelong will be eager to bounce back and protect their coveted top spot.
Essendon Bombers vs. Waverley Wildcats 1sts
4 1
The Bombers were very pleased with Michael Formisano’s fantastic outing, during which he pitched nine innings, giving up just a single hit and a lone run while striking out four. With his impressive command, the Bombers were able to piece together scoring opportunities to get in front of Waverley. Scott McIntrye had a single and a run scored on the night, while Waverley’s Damon Hill knocked in a run. Waverley’s Liam Evans threw 5.1 innings, giving up six hits and one walk along with one earned run and three unearned runs. This is another tough loss for Waverley, who drop to 1-7, while Essendon evens out at 4-4. The Wildcats will get another chance at home against the Bombers in round 9.
Essendon Bombers vs. Waverley Wildcats 2nds
8 3
After two one-run losses in a row, the Bombers were happy to get a big win over the Wildcats. Essendon has now won four and lost three, while Waverley has lost seven straight and will be eager to finally get in the win column when round 8 rolls around and they head home to host the Bombers.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Essendon Bombers 3rds
0 9
This shutout loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Wildcats, who have now had three scoreless games in the first seven weeks. The Bombers were impressive at the plate, making the most of their chances to score and proving to be a challenge for Waverley’s pitching staff. The Wildcats one and only win so far this season came in round 5, while the Bombers are in the top four with a 6-1 record they’ll be looking to expand on in round 8.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Essendon Bombers 4ths
4 7
The Bombers took better advantage of their scoring chances as they took home their fifth win, a rewarding result after a tough 10-12 loss at Sunshine the week before. Waverley has now lost five with two wins on the board, a record they’ll be looking to change for the better as they play Essendon once more in round 8.
Geelong Baycats vs. Melbourne Demons 1sts
8 2
These two Div 1 powerhouses met for an exciting game on Sunday, and it began as a pitcher’s duel. Geelong’s Rudy Jaramillo and Melbourne’s Ryan Simpler looked great in the early innings, dominating and shutting down the opposing offense with ease. It wasn’t until the 5th inning that any real offense came together, with Brock Wells sending a sharply-hit ball to left field for the first hit of the game. He and Tyler Luther-Wilson ended up coming around to score to take a 2-0 lead. As the Demons’ pitcher tired, they tacked on another three runs in the 6th to force a pitching change.
Jaramillo handed the ball over to James Wood to take care of the 7th and 8th inning, and the Demons managed to hit the scoreboard twice to get back into the game with two runs. The Baycats answered in the bottom frame with two runs of their own, securing an 8-2 lead which would become the final score. Geelong’s Elliot Biddle closed the game out with no big drama, closing the book on a great team effort led by Kelli Zablan and Wells who had two hits apiece on the day. Jaramillo was reliable as always, scoring a run and collecting an RBI on two hits and a walk, while pitching six scoreless innings with just two hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Although Geelong eventually pressured him, and he didn’t have much offensive backup to work with, Melbourne’s Simpler still had a good day on the mound. He gave up three hits and three walks, along with three earned runs and two unearned runs across five innings while striking out four.
Geelong remains undefeated with an 8-0 record while Melbourne now sits at 5-3 ahead of their round 9 game on Sunday, in which the Demons will hope to pull off a big upset.
Geelong Baycats vs. Melbourne Demons 2nds
9 3
Pitching command and team batting made this an easy win for the Baycats, who now have three wins, three losses and one draw after seven rounds. This marks three in a row for the Baycats, who have been noticeably stronger and more composed on the field in their recent wins. The Demons are 3-4 and will be looking to come back more competitively when they host Geelong for round 8.
Melbourne Demons vs. Geelong Baycats 3rds
0 7
The Baycats kept up their thrilling start to the season with their seventh consecutive win. Seven may be their lucky number as seven runs were enough to seal the deal on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Geelong had been quiet early on in recent games, and this time around the Baycats blossomed early, scoring a pair of runs in the 2nd with hits from Tom Cruise and Angus Hayden.
Geelong depended on solid defense to get them off the field quickly and back to the plate. The real damage was done in the 3rd inning, when the Baycats piled on an additional five runs with hits from Mat Belfrage, Liam Whiteside and Cruise. Pitcher Duane Davenport was confident and comfortable out on the mound, giving up just one hit with Whiteside reliable behind the dish. He had two doubles and 3 RBI’s on the day, while Belfrage came away with a double and a single as did Hayden Peoples. Cruise had two singles and an RBI, while Chris Hockey and Angus McNee all got in on the hitting fun with singles.
It was a disappointing day for the Demons who couldn’t match the Baycats’ consistency, but they will get another chance when round 8 arrives. Geelong will have their eyes on an 8-0 record to keep up with Blackburn, while Melbourne will look to build on their record of two wins, four losses and one draw.
Melbourne Demons vs. Geelong Baycats 4ths
13 2
Melbourne’s 4ths side kept the seniors from being swept by the Baycats. It was a great game for the Demons, especially considering their pitching and hitting depth held up against the top team on the ladder. Melbourne now sits at 5-2, while Geelong is just ahead at 6-1. The Demons will look to take advantage of their opportunity to get ahead in round 8, while Geelong will be eager to bounce back and protect their coveted top spot.
Essendon Bombers vs. Waverley Wildcats 1sts
4 1
The Bombers were very pleased with Michael Formisano’s fantastic outing, during which he pitched nine innings, giving up just a single hit and a lone run while striking out four. With his impressive command, the Bombers were able to piece together scoring opportunities to get in front of Waverley. Scott McIntrye had a single and a run scored on the night, while Waverley’s Damon Hill knocked in a run. Waverley’s Liam Evans threw 5.1 innings, giving up six hits and one walk along with one earned run and three unearned runs. This is another tough loss for Waverley, who drop to 1-7, while Essendon evens out at 4-4. The Wildcats will get another chance at home against the Bombers in round 9.
Essendon Bombers vs. Waverley Wildcats 2nds
8 3
After two one-run losses in a row, the Bombers were happy to get a big win over the Wildcats. Essendon has now won four and lost three, while Waverley has lost seven straight and will be eager to finally get in the win column when round 8 rolls around and they head home to host the Bombers.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Essendon Bombers 3rds
0 9
This shutout loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Wildcats, who have now had three scoreless games in the first seven weeks. The Bombers were impressive at the plate, making the most of their chances to score and proving to be a challenge for Waverley’s pitching staff. The Wildcats one and only win so far this season came in round 5, while the Bombers are in the top four with a 6-1 record they’ll be looking to expand on in round 8.
Waverley Wildcats vs. Essendon Bombers 4ths
4 7
The Bombers took better advantage of their scoring chances as they took home their fifth win, a rewarding result after a tough 10-12 loss at Sunshine the week before. Waverley has now lost five with two wins on the board, a record they’ll be looking to change for the better as they play Essendon once more in round 8.
