Press Release Australian Baseball League
SYDNEY — One down, nine to go. The first round of the 2016/17 Australian Baseball League season is in the books, with three teams sharing the top half of the standings and three teams sitting parallel in the bottom spot on the ladder. Take a look back at the weekend’s action before we jump ahead to Round 2.
BRISBANE (3-1) def. CANBERRA (1-3)
Reigning Claxton Shield champions the Brisbane Bandits, proudly presented by WellDog, came out firing as advertised last weekend, winning the first two games of the series and the finale for a solid 3-1 series win over the Canberra Elite Cavalry.
The Bandits rallied late in the first two games, scoring the game-winning runs in the seventh inning in both matches and handing the ball to Team Australia closer Ryan Searle both times. Searle got the save in all three Brisbane wins, and struck out 10 batters in 4.1 innings.
Led by standout performances by new outfielder David Kandilas and returning stud Kyle Perkins, the Cavalry took Game 3 by an 8-2 final score. Despite the series loss, the Cavalry had a few pleasant surprises, particularly at the plate. Perkins homered three times in three games, including twice in the third game of the series, and Kandilas drove in four runs in four games.
Next up for the Bandits: Road trip to Perth
Next up for the Cavalry: Hosting Sydney (the series finale will be held in Wollongong)
MELBOURNE (3-1) def. PERTH (1-3)
The Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces entered 2016/17 as one of the most anticipated teams in the league, thanks to a revamped lineup and a legendary experienced manager. The Aces didn’t disappoint, taking three of four games from the visiting Alcohol. Think Again Perth Heat.
Melbourne import Mark Hamburger (1-0, 1.80) won the battle of the meats in Game 1, besting Perth’s Nick Veale (0-1, 15.00) in an 8-1 win. Mike Walker’s grand slam led the Aces to a 5-0 win in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, and the home team finished the series strong with a 5-1 win in the finale. Aces’ Catcher Allan de San Miguel hit .364 with two home runs in his first series with his new club against his former side, and led the league with eight RBIs.
New Heat manager Matt Kennelly was the driving force for Perth both in the dugout and at the plate in the third game of the series, the WA side’s lone win of the weekend. Kennelly went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in Perth’s 9-4 win, and the Heat were able to capitalise both on 15 hits and on the Aces’ three errors.
Next up for the Aces: Road trip to Adelaide
Next up for the Heat: Host the Bandits
SYDNEY (3-1) def. ADELAIDE (1-3)
Two teams fighting different droughts clashed in Blacktown in Round 1, and the CompassMarkets.com Sydney Blue Sox claimed a 3-1 series win over the SA Power Networks Adelaide Bite.
Game 1 was all Blue Sox, with the home side scoring 13 runs in the first five innings and cruising to a 13-4 win. Luke Wilkins had the hot hand in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, tossing a complete-game shutout to put the Blue Sox ahead 2-0 in the series. The nightcap saw more dramatics from the Sydneysiders, punctuated by a two-hour rain delay and a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th frame that sealed the 3-2 Blue Sox win.
But the Bite battled back in the series finale, led at the plate by San Diego Padres prospect Marcus Greene. Greene delivered the key hits for the Bite in the series finale, including a three-run double in the top of the fifth that put Adelaide ahead for good.
Next up for the Blue Sox: Road trip to Canberra (the series finale will be held in Wollongong)
Next up for the Bite: Host the Aces