Back-to-back ABL Championship Series rematches, and a potentially pivotal Hume Highway Cup Series highlight the 2016/17 Australian Baseball League schedule.
For the first time in the current ABL, the Brisbane Bandits proudly presented by WellDog will enter the 2016/17 season as defending champions, and will begin their title defence against the Canberra Cavalry at Holloway Field. The Bandits lock horns with the SA Power Networks Adelaide Bite in consecutive series, with the first clash between the two teams scheduled in Adelaide on the 15 December.
After consecutive ABL Championship Series defeats, the Adelaide Bite have a point to prove. The team from the city of churches will head back to Holloway Field to face the Bandits on 29 December, and with four of their final six series at home, the Bite will again look to challenge for the Claxton Shield.
If perennial ABL powerhouse, the Alcohol. ThinkAgain Perth Heat are aiming to regain the Claxton Shield, they’ll need to make the most of the second half of their season, with tough back-to-back road trips to Brisbane and Adelaide looming large in January.
For the JetCouriers Melbourne Aces, the schedule is highlighted by an opening series blockbuster against the Perth Heat and their final two pre-Christmas series at home against Canberra and Sydney.
The Compass Global Markets Sydney Blue Sox host the Adelaide Bite in their opening series of the year, and face three season defining road trips to Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide in the second half of their season.
After a second place finish last season, the Canberra Cavalry will look to go one better in season 2016/17. The team from the nation’s capital have three of their first five series at The Fort, and will travel to Sydney for the penultimate series and a chance to retain the Hume Highway Cup.
Following the launch of the 2016/17 ABL draw, the League will unveil in coming weeks the schedule for the Playoffs, new broadcast schedule and gameday ticketing information. Club Memberships are now on sale.
Download your club’s ABL draw straight to your digital calendar using eCal. This season the ABL has partnered with eCal, the world’s leading sporting calendar service, which will deliver all your important club information direct to your daily digital organiser including live-streaming links, ticketing information, club events and much more. Click this link to download now.
To view your club's full 2016/17 ABL fixture, CLICK HERE.