UNSTOPPABLE in November, the Division One Springvale Women’s baseball team has all but ground to a halt after suffered a second straight loss; this time to Port Melbourne.
The team that averaged 16 runs throughout the month of November is now averaging two runs over the past two rounds with the latest result being a 0-3 shut-out loss at K. and S. Longstaff Field.
It is the first time the Lions have lost two games in a row and to compound the slump, it is also the first time they have gone without scoring this season.
But coach Mick Wearne believes the excessive run scoring through-out November was in part due to poor pitching by their opponents.
“Our run scoring (through November) was inflated. The opposition gave up a lot of walks and made a lot of errors … and the girls recognise that they haven’t got the job done with the bat,” Wearne said of the Lions’ recent performances.
Despite only managing the solo hit through six and a half innings, Wearne is still typically optimistic.
“We just need some good at bats, move them (the runners) on and get them in. It is as simple as that.
“We made good contact but we just kept hitting it to where their fielders were … we hit the ball well, just not well enough,” Wearne said.
Cat Rowe starred for the Lions in her first start on the mound.
Rowe pitched all six innings and threw eight strike-outs and walked three on her way in an impressive starting debut.
The Lions will have the opportunity to extract some revenge on Tuesday night when they again play Port Melbourne but this time at home.
With the possibility of dropping to fourth and losing touch with the top two teams looming in the coach’s mind, Wearne remains confident of achieving their pre-season goal.
“Our goal is to make finals and we’re still in line for that,” Wearne said.
MEANWHILE, the Springvale Division Two men had a 9-3 loss to Williamstown at Greenwich Reserve.
The Lions opened up the day scoring the first run for the match but could do little else as Williamstown hit out in the fourth innings and ran away with the game in the fifth.
Scott Baillie pitched four and a half innings and according to coach Glen Richards could be deemed unlucky.
“There were a lot of calls that didn’t go his way … there were a lot of squeezed calls and in the end he just had to throw straight down the middle to get the strikes,” Richards said.
Baillie threw four and two-thirds innings before being replaced by Rob Hogan.
Hogan also had trouble preventing Williamstown from scoring and the lead extended in the sixth innings.
Matt Greene and Neil Cavanaugh both had two hits and as Richards, who is returning from a four game suspension, admits the Lions “didn’t play all that bad”.
This Thursday night the Lions will host the yardstick of the competition – Waverley Wildcats before heading to Glen Waverley to play Waverley again to round off the double-header.
“They are a young side but we have a bit more experience so the game could go anyway,” Richards said.
