Moorabbin 11, Berwick City 4
The visiting Panthers started strong and finished with equal force, tallying six runs in the first frame and then adding three more in the eighth and two in the ninth to close out the resounding win.
Cain Bumpstead starred for the victors, tallying three hits (including a double) and knocking in four. Seven more Panthers also contributed one hit each, with Ryan Phillips recording a double and Franco Vanderka plating two runs.
The home team scored their runs in third (one) and then had three Cougars cross the plate in the bottom of the ninth.
Upwey Ferntree Gully 5, Malvern 4
A 2-1 Braves lead entering the seventh was easily forgotten after six runs crossed the plate in that crucial frame.
Malvern initially added to their lead by plating two, but the Tigers pounced back immediately, scoring four runs to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Jarrod Turner paced the winning side with two hits and teammate Chris Williams had a couple RBI. Dylan Archer, Jordan Elliott and Peter Schroeders knocked in the other runs for Upwey, who did not record an extra base hit.
Malvern had three doubles and both Steven Carota and Robert Mescher contributed two hits each. Christopher Wall and Gavin Woolger both knocked in two runs.
Williamstown 7, Fitzroy 6
A patient, methodical approach netted the Wolves a 5-0 advantage heading into the top of the sixth. It was then that the Lions pounced, tallying twice before adding a single run in the seventh and three more in the top of the ninth to tie the game at six.
The last at bat, though, proved crucial as Williamstown walked off with a single run in the bottom of the ninth.
Justin Gourlay led the Wolves pack with three hits, including a double and two RBI. Braxton Conroy, Aaron Green, Scott Meager and Staci Rogers each contributed two knocks to the winning cause. Both of Conroy’s hits were doubles.
Fitzroy was led by Taylor Eichhorst’s four singles and two hits—including a home run and three runs batted in—for Alex Turlea.
Ballarat 8, Bonbeach 6
A wild game ended with an eerie calmness—and three consecutive scoreless innings. The contest started that way too but quickly escalated in the second when the Brewers scored twice (answered with one by the Bluejays), then two more in the third and one in the fourth before Bonbeach tied the game at five with four in the fourth.
A blank fifth frame begat a three run sixth for the Brewers but just one sole tally for the Bluejays, establishing the final margin.
Ballarat was led by Leigh Ashmore (3-5 with a run) and two hits each by David Haehl, Ricky Howell, Matthew Jones and Scott Kerr. Hamish Burrows and Howell both had doubles and Haehl knocked one out of the park. Burrows led the team with two runs batted in.
Multiple hit days were had by John Halse, Brenden Kelly, Mathew Prior and Andrew Webber. Kelly had two doubles and Prior contributed two of the six RBI.
Werribee 4, Port Melbourne 1
In an extremely well-pitched game, it was the batting of the Giants Jose Ruiz that made all the difference. His two hits included a double and the only two runs batted, which were key to Werribee’s win. Other single knocks were supplied by Wade Balzer (double), John Curnow, Daine Gregory and Reece Haywood.
Across the diamond, the Mariners only two hits were courtesy of Nicholas Coy’s double and a single by Matthew Parker.
The visiting Panthers started strong and finished with equal force, tallying six runs in the first frame and then adding three more in the eighth and two in the ninth to close out the resounding win.
Cain Bumpstead starred for the victors, tallying three hits (including a double) and knocking in four. Seven more Panthers also contributed one hit each, with Ryan Phillips recording a double and Franco Vanderka plating two runs.
The home team scored their runs in third (one) and then had three Cougars cross the plate in the bottom of the ninth.
Upwey Ferntree Gully 5, Malvern 4
A 2-1 Braves lead entering the seventh was easily forgotten after six runs crossed the plate in that crucial frame.
Malvern initially added to their lead by plating two, but the Tigers pounced back immediately, scoring four runs to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Jarrod Turner paced the winning side with two hits and teammate Chris Williams had a couple RBI. Dylan Archer, Jordan Elliott and Peter Schroeders knocked in the other runs for Upwey, who did not record an extra base hit.
Malvern had three doubles and both Steven Carota and Robert Mescher contributed two hits each. Christopher Wall and Gavin Woolger both knocked in two runs.
Williamstown 7, Fitzroy 6
A patient, methodical approach netted the Wolves a 5-0 advantage heading into the top of the sixth. It was then that the Lions pounced, tallying twice before adding a single run in the seventh and three more in the top of the ninth to tie the game at six.
The last at bat, though, proved crucial as Williamstown walked off with a single run in the bottom of the ninth.
Justin Gourlay led the Wolves pack with three hits, including a double and two RBI. Braxton Conroy, Aaron Green, Scott Meager and Staci Rogers each contributed two knocks to the winning cause. Both of Conroy’s hits were doubles.
Fitzroy was led by Taylor Eichhorst’s four singles and two hits—including a home run and three runs batted in—for Alex Turlea.
Ballarat 8, Bonbeach 6
A wild game ended with an eerie calmness—and three consecutive scoreless innings. The contest started that way too but quickly escalated in the second when the Brewers scored twice (answered with one by the Bluejays), then two more in the third and one in the fourth before Bonbeach tied the game at five with four in the fourth.
A blank fifth frame begat a three run sixth for the Brewers but just one sole tally for the Bluejays, establishing the final margin.
Ballarat was led by Leigh Ashmore (3-5 with a run) and two hits each by David Haehl, Ricky Howell, Matthew Jones and Scott Kerr. Hamish Burrows and Howell both had doubles and Haehl knocked one out of the park. Burrows led the team with two runs batted in.
Multiple hit days were had by John Halse, Brenden Kelly, Mathew Prior and Andrew Webber. Kelly had two doubles and Prior contributed two of the six RBI.
Werribee 4, Port Melbourne 1
In an extremely well-pitched game, it was the batting of the Giants Jose Ruiz that made all the difference. His two hits included a double and the only two runs batted, which were key to Werribee’s win. Other single knocks were supplied by Wade Balzer (double), John Curnow, Daine Gregory and Reece Haywood.
Across the diamond, the Mariners only two hits were courtesy of Nicholas Coy’s double and a single by Matthew Parker.