SYDNEY, 21 October - Postseason rematches and renewed regional rivalries highlight the first weekend of play in the Australian Baseball League's 2015/16 season, which begins this Friday, 23 October.
All teams are in action on Opening Night, and this year features an extended 56-game regular season followed by the preliminary final and championship series in the last week of January and early February.
Brisbane Bandits, proudly presented by WellDog at Canberra Elite Cavalry
The first pitch of the 2015/16 ABL season will be tossed in Canberra, where the Cavalry host the Bandits on Friday at 7:00pm AEDT. The Cavalry won last year's season series 4-2 despite three rainouts.
Canberra have assembled a team this year that mixes past and present, with the return of several stars from the club's historic 2013 Asia Series win alongside prospects from the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies. The team will also be joined by Minnesota Twins MLB pitcher Aaron Thompson at the end of November, and look to start 2015/16 strong after narrowly missing the playoffs last year.
The Bandits look to make the club's first postseason appearance in the new ABL, with a squad managed by former MLB All-Star David Nilsson and comprised of equal parts returning Aussie stars and up-and-coming MLB prospects. MLB's Tampa Bay Rays sent four players to Brisbane for the third year in a row, highlighted by top prospects Nick Ciuffo and Justin Williams.
After Friday's opener under the lights, the teams play a Saturday doubleheader starting at 4:00pm and continuing with the second game at 7:00pm. The series concludes with Sunday afternoon baseball at the Fort, with a 12:00pm first pitch on 25 October.
CompassMarkets.com Sydney Blue Sox at Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces
Sydney and Melbourne renew a Hume Highway rivalry to open the 2015/16 season, with a four-game set at Melbourne Ballpark. The Blue Sox enter the new campaign on the heels of the club's fifth-straight playoff appearance, while the Aces will try to work their way up the ladder after finishing last in 2014/15. Sydney won last year's season series 4-2 despite three rainouts.
The Blue Sox continue their relationship with MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks this year, hosting two Diamondbacks players, and also feature prospects from the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies. Team mainstays including Craig Anderson, Josh Dean and Trent D'Antonio return as well, giving Sydney a strong foundation for the season.
Melbourne are led this year by Minnesota Twins bench coach Joe Vavra, who formerly managed the old ABL's Adelaide Giants and becomes the first active MLB coach to lead a new ABL team. In addition to a group of players from Nippon Professional Baseball's Saitama Seibu Lions, the Aces are joined this season by MLB prospects from the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins.
The series opens 23 October at 7:35pm AEDT, followed by a doubleheader the next day with first pitches at 5:05pm and 7:35pm. Sunday's series finale is scheduled to start at 1:05pm.
SA Power Networks Adelaide Bite at Alcohol. Think Again Perth Heat
It seems fitting that the Bite and Heat face each other to start the 2015/16 season after sparks flew in the 2015 championship series between the two clubs last February, which Perth won 2-1. The Heat also won last year's regular season head-to-head 5-3, and both sides look to build off of their respective successes last year in the new season, which starts with a 10:05pm AEDT first pitch on 23 October.
Perth returns most of its core Aussies this year, including veterans Tim Kennelly and Warwick Saupold along with young stars Sam Kennelly and Ben Shorto. The Heat also host prospects from the Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies this season, including Rockies' 24-ranked prospect Correlle Prime.
Adelaide's returning players include veteran and silver medalist Brice, Welch, former ABL Rookie of the Year Ben Lodge and 2015's Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year Josh Tols. The team also hosts prospects from the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
After Friday night, the two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday, with games at 7:05pm and 10:05pm AEDT. The series concludes on Sunday with a 7:05pm AEDT first pitch.
Team rosters for the 2015/16 season can be found here. Tickets for this weekend's games are still available and can be purchased online at theabl.com.au/tickets. Games will also be streamed live and free on ABLtv.com.