The Canberra Cavalry completed a rain shortened 3-0 series sweep of the Adelaide Bite with a 6-1 win on Saturday at the boutique Narrabundah Ball Park.
The afternoon game was supposed to be the first of a double header but heavy rain started within minutes of the final out ensured there would be no further play. The weather had already caused Thursday night’s opener to be rescheduled as part of a Friday twin set.
The makeup game for Saturday night will now be held in Adelaide where Canberra is due to visit over the New Year.
Cloudy skies saw the first pitch thrown at 4.00pm in the scheduled seven innings matinee game and the fans were treated to a polished performance from the home side highlighted by a dominant Donald Lutz who went 3 for 3 with a towering solo homer to right field in the 2nd, an RBI single in the 3rd and a double in the 5th.
Korean Jun-Hyeok Heo started for the Calvary against the Bite’s American import Brandon Maurer. Lutz’s homer had given Canberra the lead and this was extended in the third when a Michael Collins double scored Seung-Hwa Lee and Nick Kimpton.
Lutz’s single drove in Collins and the Cavalry led by four. Adelaide got one back in the 5th when Tom Brice scored on an Alex Derhak ground out but Michael Wells’ 1 out 2 RBI double in the bottom half saw the lead extend to five.
Going into the sixth and with storm clouds building, Heo turned it over to reliever Chris Morgan who, despite issuing a walk and giving up a hit, got the six outs necessary to secure a Canberra win. The Cavalry are now 5-8 for the season with all victories coming at home. Heo got the win and Maurer took the loss.
The home crowd certainly warmed to the occasion. Every time Canadian Ian Choy came to the plate the fans broke into the cry “Aussie-Aussie-Aussie Choy-Choy-Choy”.
Second baseman Kyu-Hyun Moon was welcomed with an accentuated “Mooooon” and Seung-Hwa Lee with “Kwaaaaa”. The family entertainment feeling was further underlined with a fan dance contest, a race around the bases, three legged races and employing a slingshot to fire Cavalry merchandise into the stands.
The application of the laws of physics frequently witnesses baseballs flying off into the spectator areas resulting in chaotic and frantic pursuits as young fans seek to retrieve a game day souvenir. Such scenes provide almost as much entertainment as the action on the diamond.
When the rains came almost immediately following the conclusion of the match everyone scattered for shelter. Credit must go the Canberra players and management who ensured the covers were secured in the driving wet and wind. They got drenched and must have been pleased not to have had to go back out for game 2.
The Cavalry’s next homestand will be a Christmas series against Perth with a double header on Saturday 18th December. Let’s hope the rain stays away.
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