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The Brisbane Bandits scored back-to-back ABL victories over the Canberra Cavalry at Narrabundah Ball Park over the weekend, inflicting a 3-1 series loss on the home side.
Despite the support of a Saturday night sell-out crowd on a balmy summer evening, Canberra crashed to a heavy 16-9 defeat. Starter Jarrett Commane was unable to get out of the first inning, his only out from the seven batters faced coming from a sacrifice fly.
Reliever Phil Brassington did slightly better, but after just two completed innings, the Cavalry trailed 11-1. As a contest the game was effectively over, and for Canberra it was now a matter of damage control.
After having been silenced by Brisbane’s explosive start, the fans soon found their voice as they urged the home team to at least reclaim some respectability.
Particularly boisterous were sections of the crowd along the first baseline behind the visitors’ dugout, where the Bandit players were left in no doubt that they were in enemy territory. Indeed in the remaining seven innings, the Cavalry outscored Brisbane 8-5 to restore some pride as well as giving the fans something to cheer about.
Saturday was the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birthday, and the night was marked by a number of Elvis themed promotions including free entry to anyone dressed as “the King”.
However, as we made for the exits at the conclusion of the game, it felt more like a case of Elvis having left the building.
The second game of the weekend and the series finale was played on Sunday (a season first for Canberra). Intermittent rain and dark skies resulted in a smaller crowd than the previous evening, but at least this time the Cavalry brought their “A” game. Canberra took the lead in the bottom of the third when Seung-Hwa Lee scored on a wild pitch from Brisbane’s John Veitch after the left fielder had led off with a triple.
The Cavalry then doubled the lead in the same inning after Nick Kimpton drove in Ian Choy. Going into the sixth, the Bandits pulled one back after reliever Rinku Singh managed to walk the only three batters he faced.
Skipper Steve Schrenk was forced to turn to Jung-Min Lee to get out of the jam and if not for his own fielding error, the Korean would have stranded all three inherited runners.
Into the seventh and with persistent light rain now making conditions more difficult, Brisbane played some smart baseball to take the lead. A cleverly executed bunt by Trent Baker loaded the bases and although Joshua Roberts grounded into a force out at home, David Sutherland’s sacrifice fly and Brad Dutton’s single had the Bandits leading 3-2.
With an insurance run tacked on in the top of the ninth, the visitors looked set for a regulation nine-inning frame win. But urged on by their vocal fans Canberra rallied.
With one out and runners on second and third Lee’s grounder scored catcher Sung-Woo Jang. Tyler Prudhomme, who only that day had been added to the active roster in place of the injured Michael Wells, then delivered the clutch hit of the weekend with an RBI single to right.
Unfortunately the comeback proved short-lived as Brisbane roughed up Chris Morgan adding four in the 10th, while Chris Mowday secured the 8-4 victory with a three up, three down inning.
These disappointing losses have almost certainly ended Canberra’s hopes of making the playoffs.
The final homestand for the season will be against the Blue Sox, with a double header on Saturday 22 January. Hopefully the Cavalry can disrupt Sydney’s charge for the finals.
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