By Stuart Teather
SPRINGVALE Lady Lions fell at the last hurdle on Saturday in their quest to go through the Baseball Victoria season undefeated.
The Lions have been a force all season in the five-team division one competition and cruised into the final round without dropping a game, miles ahead at the top of the ladder.
But likely grand final opponent Doncaster gave the Lady Lions a belting on Saturday.
Vic Brown pitched for the duration of the game but could not find the right zones, and was carted for 15 runs.
The offence was not much better and the Lions only crossed the plate twice, ending the game with a disappointing score-line of 15-2.
It was a different result in the men’s division three game against Port Melbourne, with the Lions winning 14-3 in comfortable fashion.
Coach Ben Bartlett conceded Port Melbourne was undermanned, but said it was good to get some momentum back after suffering consecutive losses.
The Lions face local rival Berwick City in a semi-final clash on Sunday at home, and Bartlett said it would be a big test for his side.
But the Lions will be without at least one, and maybe two, of their starting line-up, with Peter Higgins definitely out and Rob Hogan in doubt for the clash.
Hogan was thrown out of a master’s game on Monday night for dissent towards the umpire, and Bartlett said he could miss the match with Berwick as a result.
As both the men’s and women’s sides finished on top of the ladder, both teams have a double chance and will go straight through to the grand final if they win their semis, or to the preliminary final if they lose.
