ABL: Final week of regular season started
Today the final round of the regular season started in the ABL.
The game between the Sydney Blue Sox and the Melbourne Aces was cancelled due to bad weather.
Perth Heat 2 – 5 Brisbane Bandits
The Brisbane Bandits took an important step towards clinching a spot in the championship series by beating the Perth Heat.
The Heat took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a costly fielding error by shortstop Logan Wade. Derek Peterson reached first base on the error and eventually scored the unearned run. But the Bandits scored five runs on a double, a triple and two homeruns for a decisive lead. The Heat scored one more time in the sixth inning.
Rick Teasley lasted seven innings in which he gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits; he didn’t give up a walk and struck out six. Best hitter for the Bandits was Justin Williams. The right fielder went 2 for 4 with a two run homerun.
DH Donald Lutz went 0 for 2, drew two walks but did not score a run.
Canberra Cavalry 7 – 13 Adelaide Bite
The Canberra Cavalry did not help their cause to keep their hopes alive, of reaching the championship series directly.
Bite starting pitcher Steven Chambers was no match for the lineup of the Cavalry. In just three innings, he gave up seven runs on six hits, walked two, fanned three and gave up three homeruns. His successors did fairly better. Both Wilson Lee and Takuro Ito pitched two innings in which they gave up only one hit.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bite got back in the game. Trailing 7-2 going into the seventh inning they scored two runs. With runners in scoring position, both runners advanced a base on a single to right field by Kyle Petty. Stefan Welch then loaded the bases with a walk, after which Tom Brice grounded into a 6-5 force out that drove in David Page from third. A grand slam homerun by Marc Wik gave the Bite an unexpected 8-7 lead. Travis Demeritte, going 0 for 3 in the game so far, then also hit a (solo) homerun to extend the Bite’s lead to two runs.
In the top of the eighth, Dutchy Loek van Mil was brought in to keep the Cavalry from charging. Besides giving up a double and throwing a wild pitch, he kept the damage limited in the eighth inning.
The defense of the Cavalry totally collapsed as the Bite scored four more runs in the bottom of the eight to expand their lead to 13-7.
Van Mil was replaced by Kody Kerski in the top of the ninth. Kerksi also gave up a hit but kept the Cavalry from scoring.
Takuro Ito earned the win after two innings. He allowed one hit and fanned one. Loek van Mil earned the hold. The save went to Kody Kerski.
Best hitter for the Bite was Kyle Petty, who went 3 for 5 with two RBI.
The Bite have clinched a play off spot thanks to this win.