The 2020/21 VSBL season opened with some surprise results and exciting matchups in Division 2. There's a few weeks left before the break as teams aim for a successful start to the season.
Division 2 Firsts - Midweek Games (Thursday, 3 December 2020)
Newport Rams 0 v Moorabbin Panthers 6
The Panthers opened their season with a shutout victory over the Rams, made possible by a great start from Mike McGillvray. He threw the entire game, covering five scoreless innings with 11 first pitch strikes and four strikeouts. He had a 0.80 WHIP on the night.
Hits were hard to come by on the night, as Newport had just two and Moorabbin had three. The Rams made no errors while the Panthers had one, but even so Moorabbin made the most of a few chances to get ahead.
Tyler Comben, Troy Malthouse and Harun Pelja all took the mound for Newport as Moorabbin's Matt Hardie had two hits and Travis Finney took two walks. Adam Harris also took a couple of walks, and his defence at third was rock solid. Moorabbin took back-to-back walks on several occasions throughout the night to boost the score.
Connor Schibeci and Keenan Spence had Newport's two hits, with Schibeci getting on base in the first.
Out of the five innings, Moorabbin scored one in the second, four in the third and one more in the fifth.
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 0 v Mulgrave Rebels 6
Mulgrave shut out the Hunters in their first game in Division 2 with some late runs. The game was scoreless through three thanks to solid pitching on both sides before the Rebels put one up in the fourth and five more in the fifth. The Hunters were kept at bay as the game finished in Mulgrave's favour.
Doncaster Dragons 15 v St Kilda Saints 4
Doncaster got started early and didn't look back in a comprehensive win over the Saints. Strong pitching and hitting sealed the deal for the Dragons to open their season on a high note, with upcoming games v Williamstown, Preston and Newport.
Port Melbourne Mariners 2 v Werribee Giants 2
It was a close one at Melbourne Ballpark as neither side could quite pull away with the win. The Mariners were the first on the board, scoring their two runs in the second, as Werribee answered with one run scored in the bottom half.
The game was narrowly in Port Melbourne's favour for most of the evening, until the Giants tied it up in the bottom of the fifth.
A scoreless sixth on both sides saw the game finish in a draw. Port Melbourne had five hits total while Werribee had six, with one error charged to the Mariners and three to the Giants.
Port Melbourne's Tyson Cox-Davies had two hits while Jock Allen and Luke Jones also had hits. Sam Morris, Kevin Ung and Thomas Zeylemaker took walks. Cox-Davies and Ung had RBIs while Oliver Box knocked one in for Werribee.
Cox-Davies threw five innings with 15 first pitch strikes, two strikeouts and a 1.40 WHIP. Edmond Pagano struck out one and had three first pitch strikeouts in his inning of work. Josh Lee handled four innings for Werribee with 13 first pitch strikes, three strikeouts and a 1.50 WHIP. John Curnow also contributed on the mound with a 1.00 WHIP.
Williamstown Wolves 18 v Preston Pirates 0
The runners-up from last season kept up their fine form with a solid team hitting performance. The Wolves started early and didn't give up with their bats, continuing to score runs throughout the four inning game.
Williamstown's Daniel Chircop was hard to hit on the mound, allowing the Wolves to focus on offence and racking up the runs. Williamstown scored four in the first, seven in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth on their way to their first win of the season.
Division 2 Firsts - Weekend Games (Saturday/Sunday, 5-6 December 2020)
Mulgrave Rebels 4 v Newport Rams 14
The Rams bounced back from a round one loss with a great performance v Mulgrave. Newport started strong and didn't look back, putting five runs up in the first. It started when Zac Seipolt doubled on a 0-2 count to score the first runner.
Mulgrave answered with two in the top of the second but Newport came right back, scoring three runs each in the second, third and fourth frames. Mulgrave's two other runs came in the fifth and the seventh as the Rebels collected eight hits total while giving up 16 to Newport.
Newport's defence made one error while Mulgrave's had three. David Asp pitched five innings for Newport with 17 first pitch strikes and three strikeouts. He gave up six hits and a walk along with three runs. Mulgrave's Liam Richardson pitched three innings with 21 first pitch strikes and three strikeouts. Ryan Phillips contributed two innings for Mulgrave with six first pitch strikes, two strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP.
Jared Berman led Newport's offence with three quality at-bats including two walks and four RBIs. Ryan Morrison also had three quality at-bats. Keenan Spence had three hits and three RBIs while Mulgrave's Nick Thompson and Phillips had two RBIs and two hits, respectively.
Newport is now 1-1 and hosts Werribee next while Mulgrave is also 1-1 with a home game v Port Melbourne coming up.
Williamstown Wolves 3 v Doncaster Dragons 4
Doncaster narrowly won over Williamstown in this close matchup, finishing the game in walk-off style. Daniel McGrath started for the Dragons as they battled hard against the Wolves and came out on top.
With this result, Doncaster and Moorabbin are the only teams without a loss in the division. The Dragons look to go 3-0 on the road this weekend at Preston while Williamstown takes a 1-1 record into a home game v Ormond Glenhuntly.
Preston Pirates 3 v Moorabbin Panthers 16
Preston's pitching and offence was strong to start but the Panthers prevailed in the end, racking up the runs as the game went on to secure a successful Sunday result.
Moorabbin Club Coach Ben Laux says the infield defence was strong. "Adam Harris at third and Travis Finney at shortstop were exceptional," Laux said. "Kieren Lewis was a strong performer catching and collecting three hits and two stolen bases."
Matthew Hardie pitched 3.1 scoreless innings to quiet Prestons' bats and get the win.
"Going forward outpitching and defence will keep us very competitive," Laux added. "Having a young athletic group will help us manufacture runs."
Moorabbin hits the road to play St Kilda next and Preston has a home game v Doncaster.
Port Melbourne Mariners 7 v Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 6
The Mariners watched their lead slip away as the Hunters worked to erase a five-run deficit, but still Port Melbourne managed to get the win.
Ormond Glenhuntly scored four runs in a valiant comeback effort, led by a double from Kyungsoo Jeon and Geoff MacDonald's home run.
Darryl George drove in six runs, going 2-for-3 at the plate. He smashed a grand slam in the fifth and a base hit in the sixth.
Port Melbourne's Matthew Parker earned the win on the mound, with the righthander surrendering two runs on two hits over six innings, striking out six and walking one.
Kevin Ung and Samuel Morris pitched in relief, and Morris recorded the last out to get the save.
Brad Dolan took the loss for Ormond Glenhuntly, giving up four runs on three hits in four and a third innings pitched. He also struck out four.
Tyson Cox-Davies hit a home run for Port Melbourne and George went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the team in hits.
Ormond Glenhuntly racked up eight hits, including multiple by Jiwon Choi, Jeon and MacDonald.
Port Melbourne plays Mulgrave next and Ormond Glenhuntly plays Williamstown.
Werribee Giants 10 v St Kilda Saints 3
After a 2-2 draw v Port Melbourne on Thursday night, Werribee got a win on Sunday. The Giants scored an early run and added one more in the third. They carried a 2-0 lead into the fifth before tacking on three more runs in the fifth.
St Kilda responded with three in the bottom of the fifth to stay in the game, but there were two more Werribee runs in the sixth and another in the seventh. Two additional runs in the eighth added to Werribee's lead.
Oliver Box had three hits and Jon Lowe had two for Werribee, while Alan Ortiz had two hits for St Kilda.
Werribee and St Kilda both had eight hits on the day, but errors were a problem on both sides. Werribee made three errors and St Kilda made six. St Kilda pitchers also gave up a considerable number of walks, as Ryan Balzer took five walks and Josh Lee took three.
Box had 3 RBIs for Werribee, while Wade Balzer had two and Andrew Maki had one.
Werribee's Trent Pantalleresco pitched five innings, throwing 14 first pitch strikes with eight strikeouts. Lowe contributed three innings on the mound with nine first pitch strikes and six strikeouts. St Kilda's Tom Snowden pitched 4.2 innings, striking out four.
St Kilda plays Moorabbin at home while Werribee heads to Newport.
Division 2 Seconds
Mulgrave Rebels 5 v Newport Rams 13
The Rams and Rebels went head to head with Newport coming out on top thanks to an impressive display of hitting and pitching prowess. Aaron Robson made some tough plays at short and Dave Ninnis had a diving catch in left field. The Rams will look to go 2-0 as they host Werribee on Saturday. Mulgrave's next game is at home v Port Melbourne.
Williamstown Wolves 8 v Doncaster Dragons 9
The Dragons refused to go down without a fight, walking it off in the end to secure a game one victory. Doncaster plays Preston on Sunday while Williamstown hosts Ormond Glenhuntly for a big game.
Preston Pirates 0 v Moorabbin Panthers 6
Moorabbin got the shutout win over Preston on the back of strong pitching and hitting. The reigning premiers will look for a 2-0 start to the season when they head to St Kilda. Preston hosts Doncaster at home for the second round.
Port Melbourne Mariners 2 v Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 8
The Mariners fell behind and couldn't come back against a strong Ormond Glenhuntly side. The Hunters enjoyed their first win in Division 2 and will look for another as they visit Williamstown on the weekend. Port Melbourne plays Mulgrave next.
Werribee Giants 3 v St Kilda Saints 3
It was a close game as neither side could quite pull away in the end thanks to solid pitching and defence when it counted. Up next for Werribee is a game at Newport and St Kilda plays Moorabbin at home.
Division 2 Thirds
Mulgrave Rebels 2 v Newport Rams 6
This game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Newport scored two runs. The inning opened with a lead-off double before Sam Fraser singled and stole a base ahead of Kevin Johnson's ground rule double.
Four more runs followed in the fifth on a Fraser grand slam before the Rebels scored their two in the sixth. The score stayed that way as Newport earned win number one ahead of a home game v Werribee. Mulgrave plays Port Melbourne next.
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 6 v Port Melbourne Mariners 10
The Hunters battled hard but ultimately it was the Mariners' game as their pitching and hitting prevailed. Port Melbourne's next game is at home v Mulgrave while Ormond Glenhuntly hosts Williamstown for the next matchup.
St Kilda Saints 6 v Werribee Giants 7
It was another close matchup but Werribee managed to sneak away with the win. Werribee has the chance to go 2-0 with a game at Newport on Saturday. St Kilda faces Moorabbin in search of a win.
Moorabbin Panthers 21 v Preston Pirates 5
The Panthers were firing on all cylinders as they cruised to a big win over Preston. The reigning champs are set to play St Kilda in round two and Preston plays Doncaster.
Doncaster Dragons 10 v Williamstown Wolves 3
Doncaster had a dominant performance to take out the win and keep Williamstown under control. The Dragons will look to do the same when they play Preston at home for round two as Williamstown visits Ormond Glenhuntly.
Division 2 Fourths
Mulgrave Rebels 4 v Newport Rams 12
The Rams took advantage of their scoring opportunities and strong defence to secure a round one win. Newport hosts Werribee for round two and Mulgrave visits Port Melbourne.
Doncaster Dragons 1 v Williamstown Wolves 3
This close matchup wrapped up in Williamstown's favour as the team that's won two out of the last three premierships stayed in front by two. Williamstown's next game is at Ormond Glenhuntly while Doncaster hosts Preston.
Ormond Glenhuntly Hunters 9 v Port Melbourne Mariners 8
Another tight result saw the Hunters earn their first Division 2 win by a narrow margin. The Mariners will look to repeat their solid offensive efforts in the next game at home v Mulgrave while the Hunters play Williamstown at home.
St Kilda Saints 15 v Werribee Giants 10
Both teams were confident at the plate and on the base paths, but the Saints made the most of their scoring opportunities to pull in front of Werribee. St Kilda looks to go 2-0 at Moorabbin this weekend after the Panthers won via forfeit in round one, while Werribee plays Newport.
The 2020/21 VSBL season kicked off over the weekend with plenty of awesome action in Division 1 as teams are happy to be back on the field for the summer. There's two weeks of summer baseball left before the break with teams eager for strong starts to the season.
Division 1 Firsts
Essendon Bombers 0 v Sunshine Eagles 10
The Eagles came oh so close to a Division 1 premiership last season, falling to Blackburn in game three, and they show no signs of slowing down after a comprehensive win over Essendon on Saturday.
Sunshine started off strong and stayed composed throughout the whole game, taking a 4-0 lead into the sixth before scoring enough runs to end the game in seven digs. Bryce Aldridge homered in his first game too while the Eagles' offence was backed up by dominant pitching.
Sunshine heads to Melbourne on Sunday while Essendon hosts Cheltenham.
Melbourne Demons 0 v Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 11
Offence was no issue for the Tigers as they shutout Melbourne with the pitching efforts of Sean Meldrum and Donavon Hendricks.
Hendricks started the game, covering six scoreless innings with just three hits allowed, walking no one and striking out 12. Meldrum entered for an inning of relief and induced a groundout from Finn O'Connell to finish the game.
A seven-run second inning sealed the deal for the Tigers, with hits to Wade McConnon and Josh Hendricks as well as a costly Melbourne error.
"Jordan Elliott was outstanding with two hits and great behind the plate catching," Club Coach Hendricks said. "McConnon and Ash Winton were great on defence."
Bronson Neave singled on a quiet day offensively for Melbourne, as the team had just a handful of hits throughout the day.
Kurtis Smith took the loss for Melbourne, allowing two hits and six runs over one and two-thirds innings with four strikeouts. Jordan Elliott went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Tigers in hits.
Upwey Ferntree Gully heads to Fitzroy for round two and Melbourne hosts Sunshine for a big matchup this weekend.
Cheltenham Rustlers 16 v Blackburn Orioles 11
Although the Orioles stayed in it through the end, the Rustlers pulled away late for an exciting victory over the side that's won the premiership two years in a row.
It was an 11-inning thriller, as Blackburn led by three in the ninth inning before Cheltenham's Conor Myles hit a grand slam, keeping the game alive and allowing the Rustlers to score five more in the 11th inning to finish it off.
Mack Turley doubled on the first pitch of his 11th inning at-bat to score two runs, much to Cheltenham's excitement.
Blackburn's Liam Hopkins collected four hits in the loss. He doubled in the second, singled in the fourth, doubled in the fifth, and doubled in the eighth.
The scoring started in the second when Ryan Berg brought in a runner on a sacrifice fly. The score was 2-0 Blackburn going into the bottom of the fourth when the Rustlers tacked on five more runs. Berg, Nick Rossell, and Ben Leslie all moved runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.
Cheltenham answered with three in the fifth and two in the eighth, but additional runs for Blackburn gave the Orioles a comfortable lead headed into the ninth.
Cheltenham's six runs in the ninth included RBIs from Dylan Trevorah, Andrew Gribben, and Myles.
Jack Enciondo was on the pitcher's mound for Cheltenham. He allowed two hits and two runs over three innings, striking out two and walking one.
Andrew Jones led things off on the pitcher's mound for Blackburn, keeping things scoreless through for with two hits and three strikeouts.
Blackburn totaled 14 hits, including a 4-for-6 day for Hopkins and multiple hits for Leslie, Rossell and Luke Hughes.
Cheltenham tallied 20 hits, including a home run by Ben Fierenzi and multiple hits for Gribben, Myles, Turley, Trevorah, Fierenzi, Michael Leslie and Jack Dunn.
Cheltenham hits the road to take on Essendon while Blackburn plays Berwick City on Sunday.
Geelong Baycats 26 v Fitzroy Lions 1
The Baycats were a force to be reckoned with in the first game of the season, wasting no time getting on the board with six runs in the first inning. Another six runs followed in the second and, while Fitzroy managed to get one back, the damage was already done.
Fitzroy's defence did a good job of keeping Geelong at bay in the third and fourth, giving up just one run in each of those frames before a late burst of offence saw three runs in the fifth, six in the sixth and three more in the seventh to finish things off.
All in all, Geelong had 22 hits on the day with no errors while Fitzroy had three hits and two errors. Lewis Weldon had four hits and five quality at-bats, tying Josh Davies for the most RBIs on the team with five. Tyler Luther-Wilson knocked in three runs while Rudy Jaramillo had four hits and Kelli Zablan had three.
Brock Pawley hurled 13 first pitch strikes for Fitzroy, while Warwick Purchase had 11. Sam Gibbons struck out four with six first pitch strikes in three innings while Lachlan Hockey threw three innings too with three strikeouts.
The next round has Fitzroy at home v Upwey Ferntree Gully while Geelong hosts Waverley on Saturday.
Berwick City Cougars 6 v Malvern Braves 1
The Cougars enjoyed a first round win thanks to timely hitting and strong pitching.
A quiet first inning led to a one-run second for Berwick, followed by a few more quick innings before Malvern evened things up in the bottom of the fourth. The level scores didn’t last long as the Cougars added one in the fifth and four in the sixth.
Berwick kept Malvern from scoring in the final frames as the Braves were held to just two hits total on the day while the Cougars had 10. Both sides made one error.
Malvern pitches combined for eight strikeouts, with Ryan Othen and Simon Pole covering two innings apiece. Jon Kennedy struck out two in his one inning of work, the same as Ryan Dale.
Berwick pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, and their efforts at the plate did not go unnoticed either. "17-year-old Marcus Graham was the standout offensively, collecting the team’s first base hit and RBI for the season," Shaun Surtees, Berwick City Cougars Club Coach, said.
Graham went on to draw two walks and another base hit in the eighth. New recruit Matthew Homfray collected his first base hit and RBI for the team in his first trip to the plate as well.
After an excellent display of defence with nine innings of error-free baseball and just three hits allowed, the Cougars are looking ahead to a big game at home v Blackburn.
Going up against the reigning champs, pitching is going to be so important. Despite their loss in round one they put up 11 runs on 14 hits," Surtees added. "So its important for us to limit the walks, play great defence and stay away from the crooked numbers. If we can do this, we’ll give ourselves a great chance against the league’s best."
While Berwick and Blackburn face off, Malvern heads to Sandringham for the second round.
Sandringham Royals 8 v Waverley Wildcats 6
The Wildcats did their best to claw back but fell just short in the opening game v Sandringham.
Waverley made a valiant effort to come back from down eight runs in the third inning as Jacob Sheldon-Collins, Reece Longstaff and Mitchell Homfray all picked up RBIs in the rally.
Waverley couldn't keep up with Sandringham early in the game. The Royals scored in the first inning on a walk by Matthew Blackmore and a single from Jack Wills. Brandon Stenhouse and Zac Skinner singled in the second to score more runs, while Blackmore's base hit and a Waverley error allowed more runners to come home during the third.
Waverley finally got on the board with one run in the fifth, followed by three in the seventh with Longstaff's home run. Two more Waverley runs scored in the eighth but that was it for the Wildcats.
Declan Croker earned the win for Sandringham, covering five innings with one run allowed on six hits. He struck out three and walked one. Riley Trad and Grant Irving entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close it out in relief.
Darcy Longstaff took the loss for Waverley. He surrendered five runs on three hits over two innings, striking out three.
Waverley totaled nine hits in the game, with two hits each from Longstaff, Sheldon-Collins and Mohi Kahui.
Sandringham tallied seven with Stenhouse and Skinner leading the way.
Waverley plays Geelong and Sandringham plays Malvern next.
Division 1 Seconds
Essendon Bombers 5 v Sunshine Eagles 8
The Bombers put in a good effort but Sunshine prevailed, thanks in part to a home run from Lachlan Ruyter. Sunshine has a game at Melbourne on Sunday while Essendon hosts Cheltenham as both teams search for a win.
Cheltenham Rustlers 0 v Blackburn Orioles 5
While Cheltenham's Firsts got the upper hand over Blackburn in the end, the Orioles Reserves had things under control in this matchup. Mitch Whiting had three hits to keep Blackburn in front. The Orioles head to Berwick next while Cheltenham takes on Essendon.
Berwick City Cougars 6 v Malvern Braves 8
The Cougars and the Braves battled hard but ultimately Malvern ended up just in front, a great way to start off the move to Division 1. Berwick will look to settle the score when Blackburn comes to play, while Malvern hits the road to take on Sandringham.
Melbourne Demons 1 v Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 9
The Tigers took control with six runs in the second inning, thanks to RBIs from Kaioh Sato, Ian Geduld, and Michael Oxworth.
"Young U18 Keeley Ronalds-Greatbatch was incredible on the mound, striking out nine in a scoreless start," Donavon Hendricks, Upwey Ferntree Gully Club Coach, said. "The team played great behind him with a 9-1 win."
Ronalds-Greatbatch covered four and a third scoreless innings with just one hit allowed.
Nick Cleland pitched for Melbourne, allowing five hits and six runs with three strikeouts over two innings. Cooper Gerwing and Charlie O’Connell threw in relief.
Geduld, Oxworth, Randy Senn, Will Richardson, Chris Williams and Patrick Gawith had one hit each for Upwey Ferntree Gully, while Daniel Schrodt went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Melbourne in hits.
Next for Upwey Ferntree Gully is a game at Fitzroy while Melbourne hosts Sunshine.
Sandringham Royals 0 v Waverley Wildcats 9
The Wildcats shut out the Royals with an impressive outing showcasing pitching and hitting depth. The reigning premiers will go for a 2-0 start when they visit Geelong on Saturday, while Sandringham hosts Malvern for a big game.
Geelong Baycats 9 v Fitzroy Lions 4
The Baycats finished in front of the Lions with a good day at the plate and on the mound. Geelong looks to earn a 2-0 start with a matchup v Waverley this weekend while Fitzroy hosts Upwey Ferntree Gully.
Division 1 Thirds
Malvern Braves 8 v Berwick City Cougars 9
Malvern and Berwick City both came close to victory, but in the end it was the Cougars who recorded their first win of the season. They have a shot to go 2-0 with a game at Blackburn this weekend, while Malvern hosts Sandringham.
Sunshine Eagles 3 v Essendon Bombers 8
Essendon got the upper hand on Sunshine with a five-run victory to open the season. The Bombers will look to keep rolling on the road against Cheltenham as Sunshine welcomes Melbourne to the Eagles nest.
Fitzroy Lions 4 v Geelong Baycats 10
The Baycats' bats were busy as they took on the Lions, earning a big first round victory as they look to make another finals run this summer. Fitzroy plays at Upwey Ferntree Gully this weekend and Geelong hits the field at Waverley.
Blackburn Orioles 19 v Cheltenham Rustlers 2
The Orioles were nearly untouchable in this game, cruising to victory over the Rustlers. Next up for Blackburn is a home game v Berwick as Cheltenham aims for a win against Essendon.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 11 v Melbourne Demons 0
The father son combination of Simon and Jack Ratcliffe made a difference with several dynamic double plays to keep the Tigers defence in line against the Demons. "It was a great team win where everyone contributed," Club Coach Hendricks said.
Upwey Ferntree Gully hosts Fitzroy and Melbourne plays Sunshine in the next round.
Waverley Wildcats 8 v Sandringham Royals 8
The Royals and Wildcats fought hard but ultimately neither side could pull in front for good in this back and forth battle. Both teams head into round two in search of a win, with Waverley hosting Geelong and Sandringham headed to Malvern.
Division 1 Fourths
Malvern Braves 1 v Berwick City Cougars 15
The runs just kept on coming as the Cougars fired on all cylinders in the opening round. Berwick will look to continue the strong hitting at Blackburn this weekend while Malvern plays Sandringham.
Sunshine Eagles 3 v Essendon Bombers 14
Sunshine's bats picked up in the first and the fifth, but it wasn't quite enough to counter the hard-hitting Essendon side that's won back-to-back premierships. The promising Eagles team looks to build on that potential with a home game v Melbourne, while Essendon pays a visit to Cheltenham.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers 0 v Melbourne Demons 14
The Demons worked hard to get the shutout victory. Tom Hurley went 2-for-2 for Upwey Ferntree Gully while Noah Toplis and Peter Yakimov contributed on the mound.
Next up for Upwey Ferntree Gully is a home game v Fitzroy while Melbourne plays Sunshine.
Blackburn Orioles 10 v Cheltenham Rustlers 5
Blackburn's Evan Maury hit a double in his first senior game as the Orioles got the best of the Rustlers. Blackburn hosts Berwick and Cheltenham hosts Essendon next.
Fitzroy Lions 14 v Geelong Baycats 10
Fitzroy put eight runs on the board in the first inning, although the Baycats bounced back with some great at-bats. Jake Warren and Kyle Robinson had two base hits each while Duane Davenport singled and tripled.
Juniors Noah Brennan and Maxton Sherry doubled and singled respectively in their senior debuts. Geelong plays Waverley and Fitzroy plays Upwey Ferntree Gully in the next round.
Waverley Wildcats 12 v Sandringham Royals 5
Waverley's bats outlasted Sandringham in a big first round win. Now the Wildcats turn their attention to a home game v Geelong while the Royals pay a visit to Malvern.
The wait is finally over as VSBL Women's Division 1, 2 and 3 returned to the field over the weekend for their first games in over eight months. Offence was the name of the game as nine out of 11 games hit the double digit mark and over 200 runs scored total across all three divisions. Women's will play again on Saturday as the competition gets well underway.
Women's Division 1
Newport Rams 2 v Springvale Lions 9
The reigning premiers picked up right where they left off with a solid victory over the Rams. Starting pitching was key for the Lions as they kept Newport at bay and ensured the club's women's program went three for three on the day.
Newport will look to even things up at Doncaster while Springvale heads to Essendon this Saturday.
Essendon Bombers 10 v Doncaster Dragons 9
The Bombers held on for a narrow one-run victory over the Dragons to secure the club's second win of the day.
The first inning was a big one as Essendon scored seven runs with eight hits. Coach Duane Davenport says the players showed support for each other in the field, contributing to the win. "We had composure in the field when Doncaster came back and put us under pressure and team situational selfless batting," Davenport said.
Abbey Kelly collected three hits, Emma Davenport threw out two runners and Emma French closed out the game to round off a solid day pitching.
Adequate defence such as shortstop Courtney Foura's unassisted double play at a critical point in the game also made made a difference.
"To ensure we have a good start, we need to keep working hard on the training track and continue our solid defence and team at-bats," Davenport added. "We also need to keep having fun on the field."
Essendon will try to ride that momentum going into a big matchup at home v Springvale, while Doncaster takes on Newport in search of win number one after a close result in the first round.
Women's Division 2
Footscray Bulldogs 1 v Springvale Lions 7
Fantastic pitching work ensured a Springvale win on Saturday afternoon, keeping the Bulldogs to a solo run. The Lions will look to maintain this fine form heading into a round two clash with Essendon. Footscray has a bye before playing Preston in the third round.
Essendon Bombers 22 v Preston Pirates 10
The Bombers banded together to get a double-digit lead on the board, despite great efforts from the Pirates in their first game. Preston has the chance to get a win on the board with an upcoming game at Geelong after the Baycats' bye while Essendon hosts Springvale for round two.
Overall, Essendon Women's Coach Duane Davenport is pleased with the opening weekend results. "We have had a great start to the season with some strong recruits in both grades and our existing group working hard," Davenport said.
Women's Division 3 East
Pakenham Pumas White 11 v Springvale Lions 15
The Pumas put up a great effort but they fell just short against a hard-hitting Springvale side. The Lions' determined lineup will play at Sandringham this weekend while the Pumas have a bye ahead of a round three matchup v Sandringham.
Berwick City Cougars 5 v Moorabbin Panthers 19
Moorabbin won the 2019/20 VSBL Women's Division 3 East Grand Final, and the Panthers have carried that form into the start of the new season with a comprehensive win over the Cougars.
"Overall it was a well-balanced game and a great start," Moorabbin Coach Adrian Fielden said. "Kat Morris pitched well over three innings, giving up a few runs early and then settled in to shut down the Berwick hitters."
14-year-old Hayley Fielden made her first pitching appearance on the women's team, taking the mound in relief and giving up one run and a strikeout.
Kat Morris, Ruby Dale, Jess Thompson and Jo Schutt all recorded multiple hits, including several hard-hit doubles for Dale and Thompson.
Moorabbin heads to Wheelers Hill this upcoming Saturday while Berwick looks to bounce back at home v Cheltenham after the Rustlers' first round bye.
Wheelers Hill Warriors 12 v Bonbeach Bluejays 5
While both sides had their moments of offence, the Warriors outlasted the Bluejays to bring home the win. Wheelers Hill hosts Moorabbin for the second round while Bonbeach plays Pakenham Black as the reigning VSBL Women's Division 3 South premiers look to get a win on the board.
Sandringham Royals 13 v Pakenham Black 3
The Royals enjoyed a 10-run road win with impressive hitting and pitching against the Pumas. Sandringham has a big game at home v Springvale coming up while Pakenham will visit Bonbeach in search of an even 1-1 record.
Women's Division 3 West
Newport Rams 15 v Geelong Baycats 12
The Rams opened the game with six base runners and five runs scored. The Baycats battled back but Newport had a 5-3 lead at the end of the first. By the end of the second inning, it was 6-5 in favor of Newport.
The Rams had three hits and three runs scored in the third, but Geelong answered with seven runs to take a 12-9 lead. Newport dug deep to get six more runs in the fourth before closing out the game with a win.
Newport looks to go 2-0 with a game at Melbourne while Geelong plays Fitzroy at Merri Park this weekend.
Fitzroy Lions 10 v Doncaster Dragons 13
It was a run fest on both sides but the Dragons pulled off the win with some smart teamwork at the plate. The Lions will look to continue their strong hitting as they face Geelong at home, while Doncaster hosts North Western for a big game.
Melbourne Demons 14 v North Western Titans 9
Melbourne and North Western went toe-to-toe on the field, but the Demons managed to secure the victory ahead of a round two clash with Newport. North Western heads to Doncaster in search of another strong offensive performance.
Following announcements made by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on the further easing of restrictions, Baseball Victoria has confirmed how this will apply to our current VSBL Summer of Baseball for 2020/2021.
Full details of Premier Andrews announcements include the Premier's Statement, the summary of COVIDSafe Summer - How we Live and COVIDSafe Summer - How we Work. For more details on these changes, please see the Summary of COVIDSafe Summer Restrictions.
An updated Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan has been created today and can be accessed HERE. We expect detailed clarification within this plan in the coming days, and will update the documentation when those details are available.
As a reminder, all players and club officials must be registered with SportsTG to return to training and play. Click HERE to register to return to training and click HERE to register to return to play.
Click HERE for more Victorian Government COVID-19 resources.
Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions, which are regularly updated with answers regarding the VSBL season, National Showcase Series – Victoria, COVID safe protocols and more.
We encourage our members to stay in touch with one another and prioritise their mental health. Click HERE for mental health resources.
To view the outline on the easing of restrictions provided by the Victorian Government, click HERE.
Baseball Victoria has finalised the VSBL Playing Conditions for the 2020/21 VSBL season with COVID rule updates.
Please note these updated rules apply only to this upcoming season. These changes have been made to comply with the Baseball Victoria Return to Play Plan and Victorian Government guidelines.
“Participant safety remains our top priority heading into this summer season, and the VSBL Playing Conditions have been modified where necessary to ensure we can have a COVIDsafe competition for all players and officials,” Baseball Victoria CEO Kristie Middleton said. “We look forward to a safe and successful season for Victorians of all ages and skill levels.”
Click HERE to view the updated COVID rules for the 2020/21 VSBL season and click HERE for a summary of changes as a single document. The updated Little League Playing Conditions are also available HERE.
Baseball Victoria has also streamlined the process for entering scores for the 2020/21 VSBL season. In place of phoning in scores, clubs will be required to enter scores via SurveyMonkey, and match sheets may be submitted via SurveyMonkey or email. All details on the score submission process and timelines are available HERE.
The Victorian Government has launched a new check-in system for venues and businesses across Victoria.
Baseball Victoria encourages community baseball clubs to consider accessing the free QR Code Service, which will help them to keep records of visitors to their changerooms, canteens and clubhouses.
All baseball clubs will need to maintain a register of players for on-field activity through the match sheets. While players on the ground will be monitored through match sheets, this free system administered by the Victorian Government may be useful for clubs when hosting game days and special events with visitors accessing their club facilities.
They will only need to register their venue or business, download and print a poster containing a Victorian Government QR Code, and display it prominently to help Victoria stay safe and stay open.
Visitors simply need to scan the QR code using their smartphone, and their data will be held securely for 28 days unless it is requested by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Use of the Victorian Government’s QR Code Service is not mandatory, and baseball clubs that are currently using an existing market-led QR code solution may continue to do so.
Click HERE to access the free Victorian Government QR Code Service.
The Victorian Government has also provided a number of COVIDsafe resources for sporting venues and businesses, including frequently asked questions and a checklist to help organisers of public events in Victoria meet their safety obligations and responsibilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Baseball Victoria’s Return to Play Plan is available HERE with more information on safety guidelines for this upcoming season.
With the postponement of the School Sport Australia Baseball Championships in 2021, School Sport Victoria is planning to offer the chance for students to register for trials for a Team Vic 18 Years and Under Girls Baseball team.
In preparation, the following positions are currently advertised on the SSV website for positions with the Team Vic Girls Baseball team:
- Baseball 18 Years and Under Girls Coach
- Baseball 18 Years and Under Girls Assistant Coach
- Baseball 18 Years and Under Girls Manager
Applications close Friday, 11 December.
Job descriptions, key selection criteria and links to apply online are available HERE.
The opening games of next year’s Women’s Showcase have been locked in with Brisbane’s Viticon Stadium set to stage history on Friday, 8 January 2021.
Baseball Australia confirmed the details today, sharing that the country’s top female players will go head-to-head in a doubleheader in Brisbane ahead of facing off again in Adelaide on Sunday, 17 January 2021 as announced last month.
All games will be broadcast on Foxtel and streamed on Kayo Sports across Australia, while international coverage will be announced shortly.
The Showcase is a key step ahead of a professional women’s baseball league launching in Australia in 2021/22.
The games in Brisbane will take place on the rest day in the middle of a seven-day ABL hub.
Game one will start at 11am local time with the late game at 6.30pm set to reach a primetime audience around Australia on FOX SPORTS and Kayo.
The country’s top female players, including stars of the Boral Australian Emeralds, will be split into two teams and represent the Bandits and Giants across the Women’s Showcase in Adelaide and Brisbane.
The Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits, Canberra Cavalry and Melbourne Aces/Baseball Victoria were granted provisional licences for a professional women's league last October.
Click HERE to read the full announcement from Baseball Australia.
Baseball Victoria is pleased to confirm that all charter fixtures are now live for the 2020/21 VSBL season.
Juniors in the Southern Mariners, Eastern Athletics and Twins charters will commence play this weekend Friday 4 - Sunday 6 December 2020. The Geelong Baycats Baseball Charter games will continue after starting on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 due to easing of restrictions permitting regional juniors to commence play ahead of metropolitan Melbourne.
The season will wrap up with finals starting the weekend of 13-14 March 2021.
All junior and senior fixtures are available HERE.
Please note there have been more fixture changes requested by clubs across junior and senior competitions, and any changes received by 10:00pm on Monday have been updated. Further changes will continue to be made as required. Click HERE to view a comprehensive list of fixture updates.
Baseball Victoria’s return to play was confirmed following Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcements on Sunday, 22 November 2020 regarding the return of community sport in metropolitan Melbourne.
Click HERE to read our latest VSBL updates.
Baseball Victoria will continue to provide guidance and support for VSBL clubs as we navigate this COVID season.
As a reminder, all players and club officials must be registered with SportsTG to return to training and play. Click HERE to register to return to training and click HERE to register to return to play.
Click HERE to view all fixtures.
Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.
Click HERE to view all of our COVID-19 updates.