A mouth-watering contest between an emerging Team Australia squad and the best of the international best playing in Australian Baseball League this summer, the All-Star Game has been a highlight of the Australian baseball calendar since its inception in 2011.
This will be the second time that the series has been held at the wonderfully revamped Melbourne Ballpark – now a jewel in the crown of Victorian baseball after losing favour as a venue when the earlier Australian Baseball League drew the curtain over a decade ago.
While the game will provide the Australian squad with an invaluable hit-out as it prepares for a Team Australia Challenge against Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks in March, it will be more, much more than that as our emerging young players seek to further establish their credentials against a group of playing professionals hungry to advance their own prospects in the sport.
“Australia will be playing two games in Sydney in March – one against each club,” Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble told Baseball Victoria. “It’s going to be a challenge to get some of our professionals back during spring training, but we’ll pick the best twenty-five that we can.”
“The All-Star game on Wednesday will give us a good look at what we have available for Sydney and for the years to come,” he said. "There are some players we would have liked who are not available - and a couple have pulled out with injury - but it is still an exciting squad that will acquit itself very well."
Heavily backed by Futuretronics, the All-Star Game will be televised (on Sunday) to a potential audience of millions by the ESPN network through Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Live commentary will be provided on ABC GRANDSTAND from 7.30 PM on Wednesday 18 December.
For those closer to home, the All-Star clash presents an opportunity for baseball lovers to see, feel and taste the game first-hand, to rub shoulders with baseball royalty and experience what is bound to be a memorable event between proud squads - both of whom have plenty of prove and both of whom will be going all-out for a win.
Overseen by long-term Manager Deeble, Team Australia will field a formidable squad that includes Victorians in right-armed pitchers John Hussey and Andrew Russell, left-armed wunderkind Lewis Thorpe along with infielders Josh Davies, Darryl George, Brad Harman and Justin Huber.
Both former Major League players with awesome hitting power, Harman and Huber are household names in Australian baseball who have been pivotal in the resurrection of Melbourne Aces fortunes during the current ABL season.
Injured players in Luke Hughes and Andy Campbell have been forced to withdraw and will be replaced by Victorians Sam Gibbons and Ryan Dale.
“The Australian side is going through a changing of the guard,” Deeble said.
“We’ve added some young kids to give them a taste of what it’s like playing for Australia.”
“The All-Star Game is going to be a really good test for them,” he said. “We ran out of spots this time but there will be others players definitely in contention for Sydney. Players like Rhys Niit, Luke Wilkins and Scott Mitchenson have done well in the ABL and will be getting a shot with the national squad.”
On his strategic approach to the All-Star Game, Deeble was clear and forthcoming.
“Every time now that an Australian team suits up it is out there to win,” he said. “We’ll play the game hard and we’ll do what we have to do with that purpose in mind.”
“Thorpe will pitch the first innings,” Deeble said. “He had an outstanding season with the Twins and he showed us what he can do against Brisbane on Friday night. Being a local boy, he will be a bit of a drawcard.”
“He’ll be followed by Ryan Searle, who touches 94 and dominated Canada in a game a couple of years ago. After that we’ll play it by ear, though we have plenty of arms at our disposal.”
Under impressive young Manager Michael Collins, the All-Stars will field a breathtaking array of professional talent drawn from four different baseball-playing nations – United States, Canada, Korea and Taiwan.
Former Major Leaguer Mike Ekstrom will head the pitching staff for an All-Stars squad that includes Melbourne Aces southpaw Joe Burns and evergreen Korean Dae-Sung Koo. The offence will present some fearsome hitters including Aces catcher Ryan Casteel, Blue Sox outfielder Keon Broxton, Brisbane Bandits slugger Joey Rickard and class acts from Canberra Cavalry in the persons of Jack Murphy, Casey Frawley, Michael Crouse and Jon Berti.
The 2013 All-Star Game is an occasion not to be missed by baseball aficionados.
It will be an occasion offering a golden opportunity for the next generation of Australian players to prove their worth against world-class professional players now helping set the benchmark of a resurrected national baseball league.
“Our immediate focus is on the All-Star game, although we are always looking to the future,” Deeble said. “There has been some talk about a Super Twelve international competition some time ahead – maybe travelling around the Australian states.”
“We definitely want to get more high-quality international games in Australia."
“With the media coverage that it will draw, the All-Star game is a magic opportunity for our players to again showcase Australian baseball and Australian players to the world.”
The All-Star Game will be played at Melbourne Ballpark on Wednesday 18 December, starting at 7.30 PM. It will be broadcast on ESPN Australia and New Zealand on Sunday 22 December from 8.00 PM to 10.30 PM AEDST.