The Brisbane Bandits have defended their title in the Australian Baseball League. They swept the championship series 2-0 against regular season winner Melbourne Aces to clinch the title. On Friday the Bandits scored four runs in the first three frames on route to a 6-2 win to take the series lead. Trent Oeltjen, David Rodriguez, Logan Wade and Kevin Padlo hit home runs to pace Brisbane’s offense. Rick Teasley earned the win in relief. Mark Hamburger got charged with the loss.
On Saturday Brisbane closed out the championship with a 3-1 victory. A two-run sixth broke a 1-1 tie. Thomas Milone scored two of the three runs for the Bandits. Kramer Champlin pitched seven one-hit, one-run innings for the win. Ryan Rowland-Smith and Ryan Searle followed him on the mound. Jon Kennedy took the loss. Cody Jones provided Melbourne’s lone run with a solo home run to briefly tie the game in the fourth.