Baycats rebound: Eagles down Braves

ESSENDON 3 drew with BLACKBURN 3 (Wednesday)

Blackburn came from a 1-3 deficit in the top of nine to force a split result with Essendon, compliments of a two-out fumble at the plate allowing the Orioles to square it up.

With Greg Wiltshire (Blackburn) and David Whigham (Essendon) on song early in the contest, it was 1-0 to the Orioles before Essendon tied it up in the fourth and scrambled another couple in the middle to appear home in the top of the last.

While the Orioles used Ryan Phillips and Adrian Berka in support of their ace, Whigham held sway into the last for the Bombers before handing the pill to Casey Jones, who would have done the job but for an untimely defensive slip-up that credited pinch-hitter Ben Utting with a couple of RBIs. 

Both clubs will play finals baseball. Tonight's result has it looking unlikely that Essendon can take the minor premiership from Waverley, who they meet at Napier Park on Sunday.

For a comprehensive report from the Blackburn perspective, check the ORIOLES WEBSITE.

GEELONG 4 SANDRINGHAM 1 (Wednesday)

Geelong rebounded from weekend losses to further dent the Royals' slim hopes of making the play-offs.

Three games adrift of the Baycats, Sandy would need to win all of its four remaining games (against Blackburn twice, Essendon and Waverley), while Geelong would need to falter dramatically in its three against Sunshine, Bonbeach and Essendon.

SUNSHINE 5 defeated MALVERN 4 (Thursday)

The Eagles posted their fourth win of the season in a tight one over the Braves, who have knocked up getting beaten in one run games this summer.

Sunshine Manager Jason Benson was in fine form, scattering four hits on seven innings of pitching work while collecting two of his side's RBIs. Shaun Moore also drove in two of the Eagles' runs.

"Their starter (Kile Rogers) did a good job," Benson said, "but we hit the ball pretty well tonight."

"I was really happy with the win. It was great for our team and it was personally satisfying for me to get through seven after the knee problem."

Although heading back to United States in a fortnight, Benson is looking forward to the club's last two games and rates his side a chance against Geelong and Bonbeach.

For their part, the Braves boast a decent percentage break on eleventh-placed Bonbeach but will be looking to pick up a win as they face Newport and Blackburn in the last two rounds. 

BONBEACH 3 defeated NEWPORT 1 (Thursday)

Bonbeach kept its hopes of avoiding relegation alive with a hard-fought result over the Rams, who are seventh with twelve wins and three draws from thirty-one games.

Just one win behind Malvern (tenth) but with a far inferior percentage, the Jays have games to come against Cheltenham, Geelong and Sunshine, while Malvern has to meet Newport and Blackburn.

The deciding factor in the equation may yet be the Round 21 clash between Bonbeach and Sunshine.