Springvale bats on fire

By Paul Pickering
SPRINGVALE shut out all comers to K.H. Wearne Field on the weekend, recording emphatic victories in its top men’s and women’s divisions.
The Lions men bounced back from last weekend’s defeat with a commanding 12-0 win over cellar-dweller Footscray in Division Three action on Sunday.
Springvale broke the nil-all deadlock in the third inning, when resting pitcher Glenn Richards capped a series of hits with a deep home-run.
Meanwhile, veteran head coach Mick Wearne was keeping a clean sheet at the mound, tormenting the Footscray hitters with his variety and nous.
Still, it took a sixth-inning batting assault for the Lions to ensure an early close, with American import David Hermes blasting another homer to bury the visitors at 12-0.
Playing-coach Ben Bartlett finished with two doubles and a single for the day, while Wearne, Hermes and Matthew Pallant had two knocks apiece.
On Saturday, the ladder-leading Lions women continued on their merry way with a 10-0 drubbing of Werribee.
Cat Rowe was a commanding force on the hill, conceding just one hit for the afternoon. She also contributed three hits, while Simone Wearne batted-in five runs on a pair of doubles.
The Lions iced the win with four runs in the final inning.
The ladies will now travel to Malvern on Saturday, while the men host Chelsea on Sunday.