LARA Wildcats took the Ballarat City Brewers by surprise with an 8-2 run mauling from their home ground in the Geelong Baseball Association A grade competition.
What loomed as the clash of the Titans turned out to be a spluttering fizzer.
The Wildcats outgunned the undefeated Brewers unit in all areas of the game.
After a shelling in previous outings this season, Lara's David Asp was superb over a scoreless seven innings on the hill.
Asp held the league leaders to four scattered hits.
Brewers' Ross Hipke was great in the middle digs but lacked his usual poise.
Hipke was unsettled with umpire calls suggesting ace thrower Rory Meddick would have to step up shortly to his support.
The Brewers appeared edgy early and made a series of uncustomary clangers against a side missing five stars its grand final line-up.
But the Brewers had their chances and even clawed a couple of runs back late in the contest.
The Wildcats were brilliant in defence, with the middle infield turning over a series of double plays in dangerous situations.
The most telling difference between the two teams was the home team's more aggressive committed base running and strategic nous.
Bacchus Marsh hosts the Brewers next weekend while Guild are at home to Lara, shaping a fascinating round with all four vying to steady themselves in the leading group.
DETAILS
Ballarat City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 (2), two errors
Lara 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 (8), one error
Safe hits - Ballarat City: 8 (Baldwin 2, Kerr 2, Gladman 1, Irons 1, H Burrows 1, Meddick 1). Lara: 9 (Forbes 2, Wilson 2, Malthouse 1, Hammer 1, C Forbes 1, Green 1, Arandt 1).
RBIs - Ballarat City: 2 (H Burrows 2). Lara: 6 (Hammer 2, S Forbes 1, C Forbes 1, Wilson 1, Green 1).
Pitching - Ballarat City: Hipke 6 inn, 3 hits, 4 K2s, 3 BB; Irons 1.7 inn, 3 hits, 2 K2s, 4 BB. Lara: Asp 7 inn, 4 hits, 1 K2s, 2 BB; Wilson 2 inn, 4 hits, 2 K2s.
RESULTS
A grade: Bacchus Marsh 3 d Saints 1, Guild 5 d Bellarine 0.
A Reserve: Ballarat City Brewers 11 d Lara 6.
B grade: Bacchus Marsh 17 d Mounties 7.
B Reserve: Guild d Ballarat City Brewers, Mounties 7 d Corio 6.