ABL Round Two Preview 2016/17
After a thrilling first round of Australian Baseball League action which saw Sydney, Perth and Brisbane take comfortable series wins, the ABL returns for another week on Thursday night with all three sides looking to stretch their leads at the top of the standings.
With rosters looking not dissimilar to the first round – which produced some outstanding individual performances among several tight games – supporters can be assured that their club will be giving its all as it seeks an early ascendancy in the shortened season.
WEEK TWO AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE PREVIEW
Xavier Player
24 November 2016
CANBERRA CAVALRY versus SYDNEY BLUE SOX (Narrabundah, with Game Four at Thomas Dalton, Wollongong)
Thursday 24 November, 7.00 AEDST LISTEN
Friday 25 November, 7.00 AEDST LISTEN
Saturday 26 November, 7.00 AEDST LISTEN
Sunday 28 November, 2.00 AEDST WATCH LIVE
It starts in Canberra as the Cavalry hosts its nearest and dearest, the Sydney Blue Sox. The Blue Sox came roaring out of the gates last weekend and used their high powered offence to comfortably get past the Adelaide Bite. The Cavalry struggled on the road against the Bandits, and their job doesn’t get any easier this weekend. Canberra’s pitching staff recorded a team ERA of 3.82 against the Bandits, while Sydney ranked second in the league in OBP after round one.
Sydney to keep their momentum rolling, 3-1.
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PERTH HEAT versus BRISBANE BANDITS (Barbagallo Ballpark)
Thursday 24 November, 7.00 AWST LISTEN
Friday 25 November, 7.00 AWST WATCH LIVE
Saturday 26 November, 4.00 AWST LISTEN
Saturday 26 November, 7.00 AWST LISTEN
The Perth Heat didn’t look like the Perth Heat last weekend and Matt Kennelly’s welcome to the world of managing doesn’t get any easier with the Brisbane Bandits coming to town. Across the history of the reformed ABL, the Heat have had a knack for getting a hit at the right time. Last weekend in Melbourne that could not have been further from the truth. The Heat’s inability to hit highlights the loss of some key talent, namely Allan de San Miguel. The Bandits bats rolled as expected last week with Mitch Nilsson, Aaron Whitefield and Thomas Milone all driving in three runs across the four game set.
Perth to rebound and earn a split, 2-2.
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ADELAIDE BITE versus MELBOURNE ACES (West Beach)
Friday 25 November, 7.00 ACST LISTEN
Saturday 26 November, 4.00 ACST LISTEN
Saturday 26 November, 7.00 ACST WATCH LIVE
Sunday 27 November, 1.00 ACST LISTEN
It’s a tale as old as time – is this the series (or year, depending on your level of optimism) that the Melbourne Aces win an away series for the first time in the history of the ABL? This is the year, and this is the series. The Aces have struggled in most facets of the game for the last seasons, amassing a record of just 72 - 126 (.363). Jon Deeble has made sweeping changes at Laverton and the Aces are looking like a fun team. The Bite on the other hand have had a lethargic start to the season. A tie against the Baseball SA All-Star side and a 3-1 series loss at the hands of the Blue Sox have both highlighted by their inability to consistently plate runs.
The revamped Aces outfit will make them pay this weekend, 3-1.
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