Season eight of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) promises to be the most hotly contested yet, with the Brisbane Bandits set to defend their back-to-back crown through an expanded ABL post-season.
With the top four teams at the end of the home and away season qualifying for the semi-finals, ABL fans will have more opportunities to cheer their team towards Boral Championship glory.
Baseball Australia CEO Cam Vale was delighted to confirm the 2017/18 Schedule, in what is an exciting time for baseball in Australia.
"Building on the success of last season, Baseball Australia are committed to continual improvement of the ABL, following the acquisition of the league in 2016," said Vale.
"Going back to a four-team playoff is a great win for our fans. We have been very much guided by our recent ABL Member survey, and 2017/18 promises to bring fans closer to the game than ever."
The season kicks off with defending back-to-back champions Brisbane Bandits hosting Canberra Cavalry on Thursday 16 November at Holloway Field, QLD.
The Hume Highway Cup will kick-off in Round 2 as the Canberra Cavalry host Sydney while in Round 3 Melbourne Aces will look to avenge their Boral ABL Championship Series defeat when they welcome the Bandits to town.
Perth Heat will reignite rivalries with Adelaide Bite in Round 4, in what promises to be a great series.
Some key points in the 2017/18 ABL Schedule are;
Each of the six ABL teams will play 40 games during the regular season.
Brisbane will attempt to make history with a first ABL Championship three-peat
The team's with the best four (4) overall records will qualify for the ABL Playoffs.
Teams will be seeded from #1 to #4 based on record
#1 Seed and #2 Seed awarded home semi-finals, and will host all three games in a best of three series.
The ABLCS will be a home and away split series with the Highest Seeded Winner awarded the choice to host either Game 1, OR Games 2 and 3.
ABLtv will continue to deliver Australian baseball fans live, free and on-demand, with a full streaming schedule to be released soon.
Once again, you can download your favourite team's schedule straight to your smartphone or computer thanks to ECAL.
To download your favourite team's schedule to your digital calendar, click here.
And while you are getting digital the Baseball Live App is the best place to keep up-to-date with all your ABL news, scores, standings, live broadcasts and much more heading into the 2017/18 ABL Season.