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Perth and Sydney surge into the ABL Championship playoffs

Roar Guru
27th January, 2015
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The Perth Heat (28-20) and Sydney Blue Sox (22-24) secured the final two playoff spots after a thrilling final round of the ABL on the weekend.

Adelaide Bite (32-16) – who were the runaway winners of the minor premiership – await the winner of the weekend’s three-match series between Perth and Sydney, starting this Friday night in Sydney before moving west for games two and three (if required) on Saturday and Sunday at Barbagallo Ballpark.

Perth – the ABL’s top team in recent years and reigning champions – were in the box seat for the second playoff spot going into last weekend’s final round of the regular season, and played host to a Brisbane Bandits side who, up until a couple of weeks ago, looked almost certain to secure their first post-season trip in the ABL era.

A tough end of season run-in for the Bandits, which saw them face Canberra and Perth away in the last three weeks, coupled with an abject run of form, saw Dave Nilsson’s side miss out on the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

The Bandits had plenty of opportunities too, and will be kicking themselves for failing to capitalise after leading the Heat as late as the seventh innings in three of the four games. The Bandits finished the season in a disappointing fifth place with a losing record of 21-25, comfortably ahead of basement dwellers Melbourne Aces (15-31).

Perth on the other hand are the form team in the competition. On a five-game winning streak with an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, Perth will be a tough obstacle to overcome for the Blue Sox this weekend.

Sydney surged into the final playoff position curtesy in part of Perth sweeping the Bandits, and by splitting their final home series against local rivals Canberra.

Despite finishing with an identical 22-24 record as their Hume Highway Cup opponents, nothing short of a series victory would do for Canberra, owing to their 1-3 and 2-2 series results against the Blue Sox earlier in the season.

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When Sydney captured the third game of the series at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday night to take a 2-1 series lead, the Cavalry’s season was over, and they finished the season agonisingly close to a playoff berth in fourth.

Final Table
1. Adelaide 32-16 .667
2. Perth 28-20 .583
3. Sydney 22-24 .478
4. Canberra 22-24 .478
5. Brisbane 21-25 .457
6. Melbourne 15-31 .326

Sydney will not be favourites to make the final due to Perth’s imperious form, but the Blue Sox have recorded third place finishes in every season of the ABL so far, and will be desperate to go one better this year. Perth have more than ample ABL Championship Series history, however, having played off for the top prize in Australian baseball in each of the last four seasons, winning three titles.

Regardless of which team wins through to the Championship Series, they will have to refocus quickly before having to front up against the mighty Adelaide Bite – who have been imperious at Norwood Oval this year, securing an impressive 18-6 record – in a three-game series.

Adelaide should be favourites to record their first ABL title – and first Claxton Shield in 35 years – in just their second Championship Series appearance since the ABL’s inaugural season.

In a major coup for the ABL, the Championship Series will be televised live across Australia and New Zealand on ESPN, throughout Asia on Fox Sports Asia, and in the USA on MLB Network between February 6-8.

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