Above: Springvale pitcher Glen Richards unleashes a delivery during the Lions’ 6-2 win over Preston at Keysborough’s K.H. Wearne Field on Sunday.
By Paul Pickering
SPRINGVALE Baseball Club bounced back with a vengeance on the weekend, reasserting its rule over the Baseball Victoria competition with a pair of wins on its home diamond.
After suffering shock losses in the previous round, the Lions’ Division One women and Division Three men both capitalised on the return of key players to recapture that familiar winning feeling.
With their star duo of Shae Lillywhite and Kelly Manzie-Novotny returning from a four-day Australian team camp, the lady Lions proceeded to rout Waverley 10-0 at K.H. Wearne Field on Saturday.
Most promising for the three-time reigning premiership team was the spirited performance of pitcher Vic Brown.
After taking some punishment in the agonising loss to Werribee, Brown’s fightback impressed Springvale coach Mick Wearne.
“She had a tough outing last week, but she bounced back pretty well on Saturday,” Wearne said.
“I suppose knowing you’ve got those girls (Lillywhite and Manzie-Novotny) behind her helps.”
And while the returning stars may have contributed to a renewed swagger in the Lions pride, it was an even spread of hitters that got the home side over the line.
Despite the loss to Werribee, the Lions are three games clear on top of the ladder.
Still, Wearne is desperate to finish 2007 on a high against last season’s runner-up Doncaster this Saturday.
“It’d be a great way to finish the year,” he said.
“I always say to the girls a win in the first half of the season is worth more than after the break, because having the wins on the board makes it a lot easier.”
On Sunday, the Springvale men made a characteristically dominant start to their game against Preston, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to some expert hitting from Andrew Peulan and Matthew Hayle.
While the Lions offensive stagnated from there, a supreme solo performance from gun pitcher Glen Richards bankrolled the 6-2 result.
Even by Richards’ own lofty standards, it was an impeccable afternoon at the mound, throwing 18 strike-outs and no walks.
And after a cold streak through the middle innings, a Peulan single was batted in for the sixth run in the bottom of the seventh to ice the match.
While the Lions will be pleased to return to the winners’ list, a more sustained hitting performance will be expected for this Sunday’s clash at Williamstown.
