Pumas win battle of the big cats

By Gavin Staindl
THE Springvale Puma’s have upset fellow women’s Division One opponent Springvale Lions to record their first win of the season. The Puma’s did it easily in the end, beating off their friendly rivals 13-2 at a rain resistant Wearne Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Pumas coach and starting pitcher Simone Wearne admitted she didn’t think her girls could overcome the hard-hitting Lions but was glad her team was able to find their first win.
“It was a very strange ending,” Wearne said. “We haven’t played all that well so far and we didn’t expect much out of this game at all.”
Asked whether she thought her team could claim the points, Wearne replied bluntly, “no, not really”.
But four runs in the fourth inning and six in the fifth broke open a game that ended in a mercy-rule enforcement.
The fancied Lions were left powerless as Wearne stifled the offence, allowing no walks and striking out five hitters over her five innings on the mound.
Wearne was also grateful to her defence.
Shortstop Shae Lillywhite made an outstanding leaping catch in the third inning that kept the scores locked at 2-2 and prevented the Lions taking an early lead.
She then backed it up with the bat, hitting multiple hits for the third time this season.
Taylor McKay (three hits) and Michelle Palmer (four hits) were also prominent with the bat while Hannah Jackson’s two triples was the only shining light for the Lions.
Lions coach and father of Simone, Mick Wearne, said there weren’t many positives coming out of the day for his team.
“We had six hits at best and I can’t name which players did well because no-one did well at all,” Wearne said.
Wearne was back in the dugout the following day, coaching the men’s Division Two side to its third win for the season.
Springvale remains one of only two teams undefeated through the opening three rounds after it took care of Moorabbin 12-2 at Oliver Reserve.
Scott Bailey, Glen Richards and Miles Barnden combined pitching duties while Richards and Ben Bartlett both recorded three hits on the day.
Springvale will play last years finalists Williamstown on Thursday night before hosting the only other undefeated side, Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.