Australian Baseball League Round Five Preview 2016/17
With just four games for each club to play before the All-Star break, Round Five shapes as perhaps the most pivotal of the Australian Baseball League season to date, as all strive either to consolidate their standing or – in the cases of Brisbane and Perth, especially – to gain the winning momentum that has thus far eluded them.
Highballing at the top of the table, Melbourne Aces (11-5) continues to excel in all aspects of the game – especially pitching – and it will be a tough opponent for the visiting Sydney Blue Sox (9-7), who will be gunning for at least a split.
Adelaide Bite (8-8) will be at home to Brisbane Bandits (7-9), whose sights will be set on a series win that would propel them into a more productive second half – when several other elite players will be available – while Canberra Cavalry (8-8) plays host to Perth Heat (5-11), which is probably only a series loss away from being out of playoff contention.
Round Five opens at Narrabundah on Thursday evening.
WEEK FIVE AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE PREVIEW
Xavier Player
15 December 2016
The season is only a month old, but the 2016-17 ABL season is shaping to be one of the best in years.
CANBERRA CAVALRY versus PERTH HEAT (Narrabundah)
Thursday 15 December, 7.00 AEDST LISTEN
Friday 16 December, 7.00 AEDST LISTEN
Saturday 17 December, 7.00 AEDST WATCH LIVE
Sunday 18 December, 12.00 AEDST LISTEN
The Perth Heat head east knowing that nothing but a series victory against Canberra is going to help them get their campaign back on track. The Canberra bats will be desperate for a sniff of the indifferent Heat pitching, particularly after they were kept quick last weekend.
A return to normal service for Canberra and more trouble for Perth, 3-1.
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MELBOURNE ACES versus SYDNEY BLUE SOX (Melbourne Ballpark)
Friday 16 December, 7.00 AEDST WATCH LIVE
Saturday 17 December, 5.00 AEDST
Saturday 17 December, 7.00 AEDST
Sunday 18 December, 1.00 AEDST
The Melbourne Aces continue their foray into unknown territory, sitting atop the standings as they host the Sydney Blue Sox. The Aces fought hard for a 3-1 series victory over the Canberra Cavalry last weekend, using the blackout-affected start of Mark Hamburger as a springboard for success. The Blue Sox enter the weekend on a flatter note, dropping the first and last games of the series against the Bandits for a split.
At this stage it appears the title is the Aces to lose and their pitching will be too much for Sydney, 4-0.
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ADELAIDE BITE versus BRISBANE BANDITS (West Beach)
Friday 16 December, 7.00 ACDT LISTEN
Saturday 17 December, 4.00 ACDT LISTEN
Saturday 17 December, 7.00 ACDT LISTEN
Sunday 18 December, 1.00 ACDT WATCH LIVE
The ABLCS representatives from a year ago have had a tough start to the season by their own admissions. Neither side has a record over .500 (the Bite sit at 8-8), Brisbane have lost seven of their last ten and the Adelaide pitching staff are striking out a measly six hitters a game.
The fightback to earn a split from the Bandits is the start of a momentum swing, Brisbane 3-1.
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