ESSENDON launched a home run blitz in the seventh innings to blow away Geelong in their Victorian Summer Baseball League match in Bendigo on Saturday.
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In their VSBL western conference top-of-the-table clash at Albert Roy Reserve, Essendon comfortably won 14-4 before the mercy rule was enforced at the end of the seventh innings after the lead had ballooned out to 10.
The ladder-leading Essendon had entered the seventh innings ahead 7-4, before adding seven runs to improve its record to 18-5 after 23 rounds in what was a game that began with City of Greater Bendigo mayor Peter Cox throwing the first pitch.
Among those who watched the game was Baseball Victoria chief executive officer Neale Price, who declared the day a resounding success.
"It had been a good game up until the seventh innings when Essendon scored seven runs to blow it out," Price said.
"There was a good crowd and we'd definitely say today was a massive success with the amount of people who were here and the atmosphere around the place.
"Both clubs were delighted with the response.
"The facilities were fantastic, and the heavy rain that fell in Bendigo a couple of weeks ago really helped the condition of the fields... they were nice and green.
"We're committed to baseball in Bendigo, so hopefully, we can continue to grow it and we've spoken about potentially bringing other games back here in the future."
Geelong started well to lead 2-1 after the first innings.
However, Essendon made its move in the second innings when it scored four runs to lead 5-2.
Geelong fought back to cut Essendon's advantage to 5-4 after four innings.
But the Baycats didn't score after the fourth innings.
Essendon added two more runs in the sixth innings to lead 7-4, before unleashing its seven-run burst in the seventh innings.
Each team had two players score home runs - Essendon's Tom Dicker and Jared Cruz and Geelong's Chris Durston and Cameron Gibbons.
The Essendon side featured three players from Bendigo - Josh Davies, Sam Moon and Casey Jones.
Davies - also a member of the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League - had one hit, a walk and one run batted in.
Moon had one hit and fielded superbly at short stop, while Jones pitched the first four innings for Essendon.
Meanwhile, in the earlier games, Geelong won both the division two and three matches, while Essendon was too strong in the division four contest.
• VSBL division one
Essendon - 1, 4, 0, 0, 0, 2, 7 (14)
Geelong - 2, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0 (4)