Springvale’s Shae Lillywhite was in action for the Lions on Saturday as they punished Waverley 17-0.
By Paul Pickering
SPRINGVALE has strengthened its stranglehold on the Baseball Victoria Division One women’s and Division Three men’s competitions with two merciless performances on the weekend.
The lady Lions put an exclamation mark on their 17-0 victory over Waverley on Saturday by scoring 12 runs in the final innings.
While all Springvale hitters made handy contributions at the plate, pitcher Vic Brown took up residence at the mound, throwing the entire game without a blemish.
Acting coach Simone Wearne, who will vacate the role for her father Michael this weekend, said the convincing finish was the ideal lead-in to Saturday’s grand final rematch with Doncaster at K.H. Wearne Field.
Meanwhile, the Springvale men quashed any thoughts Chelsea may have had of an upset, batting in five runs in the opening dig to establish a match-winning lead.
Despite going on to win 10-2, playing coach Ben Bartlett was less than pleased with the remainder of the contest – reminding his hitters to be more patient at the plate.
Lions pitcher Rob Hogan had nine strike-outs in his five innings at the mound.
But after a tiring Hogan gave up two runs in the fifth, Glen Richards arrived to deliver four innings of relief.
The former Atlanta Braves pitcher was at the top of his game in throwing nine strike-outs and no walks, denying Chelsea any chance of a revival.
Both pitchers made contributions with the bat, Hogan hitting a telling homer and Richards adding two valuable knocks.
Matthew Pallant, though, was the best of the batters, recording four RBIs (runs batted in) and a triple for the afternoon.
The unbeaten Lions will be at home to a winless Footscray this Sunday.
