Ballarat 4, Upwey Ferntree Gully 1
If they still entertained hopes of playing finals, the Brewers had to win this game. And prevail they did at home, 4-1, to improve their record to 4-8 on the season. The loss leaves the Tigers just one rung above Ballart on the ladder.
Moorabbin 7, Werribee 2
Though they started slowly, the Panthers used two big innings to record a huge road win. Four runs in the fifth and another three in the sixth were all Moorabbin needed to stay atop the standings with an über-impressive 10-2 mark.
Tallying single runs in the second and sixth, the Giants swung the bats well in a losing effort. Wade Balzer, Evan McPherson, and Simon Riches all had two hits while Oliver Box, Daine Gregory, and Reece Haywood all contributed a knock apiece. Balzer and Gregory recorded the lone RBI.
Fitzroy 12, Malvern 1
Scoring early and often, the Lions plated runs in all six innings, including two in third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth. The only run they allowed came in to the top of the fifth.
Among their 12 hits, Luke McLean had three, Taylor Eichhorst, Alex Turlea, and Thomas Wilson all pounded out two each. Brock Pawley and Turlea had the doubles and Eichhorst blasted the game’s lone home run.
For the visitors, Chris Godrey, Geoffrey Holland, Peter Kerr-Chapman and Stephen Lawrence supplied the four hits.
Port Melbourne 6, Bonbeach 5
Though he struggled late, Mariners fireballer Will Musson was excellent when he had to be, striking out 14 batters in a complete game victory.
His teammates gave him a comfortable lead early, tallying thrice in both the second and fourth innings to lead 6-0 after six. The Bluejays continued to grind out at bats, however, and scratched across one run in the seventh before erupting for four in the eighth.
Into the ninth, down by a run, Matty Prior led off with a hit before Adam Major and Mitchell Sheldon-Collins struck out. Jon Bannister and Dayle Selleck then rattled off a pair of hits to load the bases, before Musson got Andy Webber to induce a pop fly to seal it.
The Mariners swatted 11 hits, led by Lindsay Webb’s three and two knocks each from Anthony White and Musson. All three also had doubles and Musson led the team with two RBI.
Bonbeach used four pitchers—Bannister, Prior, Ben Donald and Sheldon-Collins—who all threw two innings each.
Original report supplied by Matty Prior of Bonbeach Baseball Club
Williamstown 9, Berwick City 5
Continuing their hot-hitting ways, the host Wolves scored two runs each in the second and third, another three in the fourth and two in the fifth to topple the Cougars, 9-5.
Berwick City plated their runs in the fifth (three), sixth (one) and seventh (one) to make a game of it.
Williamstown’s offense was led by Scott Meager who went 3-5 for two runs scored, a double, a home run and two runs batted in. Justin Gourlay also had two hits for the victors. He also knocked in four runs.