2010 Claxton Shield
| 2010 Claxton Shield | |
|---|---|
 The logo for the 2010 Claxton Shield | |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Defending champions | Perth Heat (2009) |
| Duration | 6 November 2009 – 7 February 2010 |
| Number of teams | 5 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Victoria Aces (17–7) |
| Second place | South Australia (14–10) |
| Third place | New South Wales Patriots (14–10) |
| Championship series | |
| Champions | Victoria Aces (22nd title) |
| Runners-up | South Australia |
The 2010 Claxton Shield was the 76th Claxton Shield tournament, the premier baseball competition in Australia, and was held from 6 November 2009 to 7 February 2010. It was hailed as the precursor to the new Australian Baseball League that would start in the place of the Claxton Shield in late 2010 to early 2011.[1] The Victoria Aces defeated South Australia two games to nil in the championship series to win the tournament; this was the 22nd time the Claxton Shield had been awarded to a Victorian team.[2] The competition was sponsored by Domino's Pizza.[3][4]
At the conclusion of the regular season, the Victoria Aces finished in first place with a 17–7 record, earning home-field advantage for the three-game championship series. South Australia hosted the three-game semi-final series against the New South Wales Patriots. Both teams finished with a 14–10 record. The Perth Heat (12–12) and Queensland Rams (3–21) both failed to qualify for the finals.[5]
Overview
In June 2009, it was announced that the rights to the Claxton Shield had been sold to a new Australian Baseball League (ABL), with ownership split between Major League Baseball's 75 percent share and the 25 percent share owned by the Australian Baseball Federation. The 2010 tournament was considered preparation for the inaugural ABL season starting in 2010–11.[6] It varied from the 2009 Claxton Shield by expanding the season to include ten rounds. Since an uneven number (five) teams were involved, four teams paired off for each round and played a three-game series, while the remaining team took a bye. During the season, each team had two bye rounds and played two rounds against each other team, one at home and one away. In total, the schedule allowed for 24 regular-season games per team before a postseason similar to the 2009 edition: the first-place team directly qualified for the championship series and played against the winner of a playoff series between the second- and third-place teams.[7]
During the regular season, games were played on a Friday night and a doubleheader on Saturday; in each doubleheader one of the two games was shortened to seven innings. The exception to this was when Perth played their home games; they played on a Thursday night instead of a doubleheader on Saturday. Each postseason series was scheduled for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.[7]
Teams
Rosters
The 2010 series allowed each team to make use of a 19-man active roster.[6] Exceptions were made in two cases that allowed teams' active rosters to expand to 21 players, both times for the same reason. Two games during the season had to be postponed because of poor weather. Both games involved teams meeting for the first time during the season; make-up games were scheduled at the start of the return series between the teams, and this resulted in two four-game series. In both cases, the teams had a 19-man roster for the make-up game, and an expanded 21-man roster for the originally scheduled series.[8]
New South Wales Patriots
The New South Wales Patriots announced on 4 November 2009 both their 30–man roster[9] and their 19–man roster for the opening series of the season.[10]
| New South Wales Patriots roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | ||||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
|
Manager Coaches
Other Staff
| |||
| Correct as of 31 January 2010[9][11] | ||||||
Queensland Rams
| Queensland Rams roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | ||||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
|
|
Manager
Coaches
Other Staff
| |||
| Correct as of 24 January 2010[12][13] | ||||||
Perth Heat
| Perth Heat roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | ||||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers |
Catchers Infielders
Outfielders
|
|
Manager
Coaches
Other staff
| |||
| Correct as of 24 January 2010 | ||||||
South Australia
| South Australia roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | ||||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
|
Manager
Coaches
Other Staff
| |||
| Correct as of 7 February 2010[14][15] | ||||||
Victoria Aces
| Victoria Aces roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches | ||||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers Infielders
Outfielders
|
|
Manager
Coaches
Other Staff
| |||
| Correct as of 7 February 2010[16][17] | ||||||
Venues
The 2010 Claxton Shield was contested between five teams from around Australia. In previous years, many of the teams had played their home games at multiple venues. This season each team held their home games at only one venue. There was one scheduled exception to this at the start of the season: the New South Wales Patriots' final home series against the Perth Heat was held at Gilchrist Oval, whereas all of their other home games were held at Blacktown Baseball Stadium.[7]
As a result of poor attendance at Geelong Baseball Park, game one of the fifth-round series between New South Wales and the Victoria Aces was moved to La Trobe University, Melbourne.[18] Although the Geelong games had attracted crowds of no more than 500,[19] the moved game had an attendance of 2,200.[20] Though no further regular season games were moved, the finals series hosted by the Aces was held at La Trobe University as well.[21]
The venues are as follows:
Regular season
The regular season was held from 6 November 2009 through to 23 January 2010. All five teams competed in a double round-robin format; playing each other team in two series of three games each, totaling 24 games played each. The top three teams progressed to the finals series. The top team automatically qualified for the championship series, to face the winner of the semi-final series between the second and third placed teams.[7]
The Queensland Rams were the first team to be eliminated from contention for the finals, after being swept four games to nil by the Victoria Aces in round 8.[22][23] The following round saw South Australia clinch a position in the finals, despite finishing the round in second position.[22][24] It was not until the final round that the last two spots in the finals were decided: the Aces clinched top spot by sweeping the Perth Heat, which combined with the New South Wales Patriots sweep of the Rams eliminated Perth from contention and secured the last finals spot for the Patriots.[24][25]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria Aces | 24 | 17 | 7 | .708 | — | Advance to Championship series |
| 2 | South Australia | 24 | 14 | 10 | .583 | 3 | Advance to Semi-final series |
| 3 | New South Wales Patriots | 24 | 14 | 10 | .583 | 3 | |
| 4 | Perth Heat | 24 | 12 | 12 | .500 | 5 | |
| 5 | Queensland Rams | 24 | 3 | 21 | .125 | 14 |
Round 1
The New South Wales Patriots and the Victoria Aces hosted the opening round of the 2010 Claxton Shield, against the Queensland Rams and the Perth Heat respectively. New South Wales overcame a loss in their first game to take both games in the doubleheader, while Victoria had a first up win, then split their double header with Perth.
| 6 November 2009 | Queensland Rams | 4 – 3 | New South Wales Patriots |  Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| WP: Justin Erasmus (1–0) Sv: Matthew Timms (1) |
Boxscore | LP: Vaughn Harris (0–1) |
| 6 November 2009 | Perth Heat | 8 – 9 | Victoria Aces |  Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: Mark Kelly (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Casey Jones (1–0) | ||
| HR: Timothy Kennelly (1) | HR: Hayden Dingle (1) |
| 7 November 2009 | Queensland Rams | 1 – 10 | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| LP: James Albury (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Timothy Cox (1–0) |
| 7 November 2009 | Perth Heat | 3 – 8 | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: Travis Murphy (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Matthew Blackmore (1–0) | ||
| HR: Mitchell Graham (1) |
| 7 November 2009 | Queensland Rams | 3 – 4* | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| LP: Matthew Timms (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Aaron Sookee (1–0) |
| 7 November 2009 | Perth Heat | 11 – 1* | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| WP: Dylan Peacock (1–0) | Boxscore | LP: Greg Wiltshire (0–1) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 2
The Perth Heat hosted their first series of the competition, winning their series against the New South Wales Patriots two games to one. South Australia had their first games of the season, hosting and sweeping the Queensland Rams three–nil. The second game of both series featured the first extra innings games of the season, with the respective home teams winning both matches.
As a result of their sweep, South Australia (3–0) took the outright lead of the competition, leaving Victoria (2–1) in second, New South Wales and Perth (3–3) tied, and Queensland (1–5) in last position.
| 12 November 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 5 – 3 | Perth Heat |  Baseball Park, Perth
|
| WP: Matthew Rae (1–0) | Boxscore | LP: Benn Grice (0–1) | ||
| HR: Mitch Dening (1) |
| 13 November 2009 | Queensland Rams | 0 – 7 | South Australia |  Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Simon Morriss (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Darren Fidge (1–0) |
| 13 November 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 2 – 3 (F/11) | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: Jarrett Commane (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Travis Murphy (1–1) |
| 14 November 2009 | Queensland Rams | 5 – 6 (F/8)* | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Aaron Thompson (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Wayne Ough (1–0) |
| 14 November 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 5 – 6 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: Timothy Atherton (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Benn Grice (1–1) |
| 14 November 2009 | Queensland Rams | 0 – 9 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Chris Lamb (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Richard Bartlett (1–0) | ||
| HR: Angus Roeger (1) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 3
The Queensland Rams hosted the Perth Heat, while South Australia travelled to Geelong to face the Victoria Aces. After winning the opening game, Queensland (2–7) dropped both games of the doubleheader to fall further behind the rest of the field. With Perth's (5–4) series win, they moved ahead of New South Wales (3–3) into outright third.
South Australia (4–1) and Victoria (3–2) split their series. The final game of their doubleheader suspended in the bottom of the second due to rain with South Australia leading 2–0. At the time the game administrators considered continuing the game from the point of suspension when the teams next met in Round 9, though the game was actually restarted and eventually won by South Australia.[5]
| 20 November 2009 | Perth Heat | 1 – 8 | Queensland Rams |  Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| LP: Mark Kelly (0–2) | Boxscore | WP: Simon Morriss (1–1) | ||
| HR: Andrew Utting 2 (2), Brad Dutton (1) |
| 20 November 2009 | South Australia | 6 – 4 | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| WP: Paul Mildren (1–0) Sv: Wayne Ough (1) |
Boxscore | LP: Donavon Hendricks (0–1) |
| 21 November 2009 | Perth Heat | 7 – 4* | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Terrence Wohlever (1–0) | Boxscore | LP: Justin Erasmus (1–1) | ||
| HR: Timothy Kennelly (2), Chris House (1) |
| 21 November 2009 | South Australia | 2 – 3 | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: Darren Fidge (1–1) | Boxscore | WP: Casey Jones (2–0) Sv: Lee Hogan (1) |
| 21 November 2009 | Perth Heat | 4 – 3 | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Dylan Peacock (2–0) Sv: Warwick Saupold (1) |
Boxscore | LP: PJ Bevis (0–1) | ||
| HR: Mitchell Graham (2), Timothy Kennelly (3) | HR: Andrew Utting (3) |
| 21 November 2009 Game suspended – weather Replayed in Round 9 |
South Australia | 2 – 0 (Bot 2nd)* | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| Boxscore |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 4
South Australia, closely followed by New South Wales, had the first games called prior to their scheduled end due to a mercy rule. South Australia's 10–run win helped to set up their series win against Queensland in Brisbane, while the Patriot's 13–run win over Victoria snapped a 3–game losing streak and was the significant part of the 20 runs they scored in the two games for the day.
South Australia (6–2) extended their tournament lead to a game and a half over New South Wales and Perth (5–4), once again tied. Victoria (4–4) fell to fourth, while Queensland (3–9) remained in last.
| 27 November 2009 | Victoria Aces | 6 – 3 | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| WP: Casey Jones (3–0) Sv: Matthew Blackmore (1) |
Boxscore | LP: Todd Grattan (0–1) |
| 27 November 2009 | South Australia | 15 – 5 (F/7) | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Paul Mildren (2–0) Sv: Hayden Beard (1) |
Boxscore | LP: Simon Morriss (1–2) | ||
| HR: Dan Wilson (1), Stefan Welch (1), Ben Wigmore (1), Michael Collins (1) | HR: Joel Naughton (1) |
| 28 November 2009 | Victoria Aces | 5 – 18 (F/7) | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| LP: Donavon Hendricks (0–2) | Boxscore | WP: Timothy Cox (2–0) | ||
| HR: Grant Karlsen (1) | HR: Andrew Graham (1), Mitch Dening (2) |
| 28 November 2009 | South Australia | 3 – 2* | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Dushan Ruzic (1–0) Sv: Wayne Ough (2) |
Boxscore | LP: PJ Bevis (0–2) | ||
| HR: Michael Collins (2) | HR: Alan Schoenberger (1) |
| 28 November 2009 | Victoria Aces | 1 – 2* | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| LP: Dean Barker (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Wayne Lundgren (1–0) Sv: Matthew Rae (1) |
| 28 November 2009 | South Australia | 7 – 9 (F/8) | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| LP: Chris Lawson (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: PJ Bevis (1–2) Sv: Matthew Timms (2) | ||
| HR: Angus Roeger (2) | HR: Alan Schoenberger (2), Joel Naughton (2) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 5
As a result of poor attendance at Geelong Baseball Park, game one of the fifth round series between New South Wales and the Victoria was moved to La Trobe University, Melbourne.[18] Having previously attracted crowds of no more than 500,[19] the moved game had an attendance of 2,200, which the home team won 3–2.[20] The series concluded in a doubleheader at Geelong, split between the two teams, giving the Aces the series win. Despite winning the series at Norwood Oval, South Australia suffered their first defeat at home, losing to Perth in the second game of the series.
At the end of the round, South Australia (8–3) held a two-game lead over Victoria (6–5). New South Wales and Perth (6–6) remained tied, having dropped to third place, while Queensland (3–9) remained in last position.
| 4 December 2009 | Perth Heat | 1 – 2 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Warwick Saupold (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Hayden Beard (1–0) |
| 4 December 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 2 – 3 | Victoria Aces | La Trobe University, Melbourne
|
| LP: Aaron Sookee (1–1) | Boxscore | WP: Matthew Blackmore (2–0) |
| 5 December 2009 | Perth Heat | 4 – 2* | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| WP: Mark Kelly (1–2) Sv: Dean White (1) |
Boxscore | LP: Darren Fidge (1–2) | ||
| HR: Matthew Kennelly (1) | HR: Ryan Murphy (1) |
| 5 December 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 13 – 10 | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| WP: Todd Van Steensel (1–0) Sv: Matthew Rae (2) |
Boxscore | LP: Matthew Blackmore (2–1) | ||
| HR: Andrew Graham (2), Michael Lysaught (1) | HR: Grant Karlsen (2), Matthew Lawman (1) |
| 5 December 2009 | Perth Heat | 3 – 8 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Daniel Schmidt (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Dushan Ruzic (2–0) | ||
| HR: Matthew Smith (1) |
| 5 December 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 3 – 9* | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: Wayne Lundgren (1–1) | Boxscore | WP: Donavon Hendricks (1–2) | ||
| HR: David Kandilas (1) | HR: Scott Wearne (1), Paul Weichard (1) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 6
For the second time in the season, the Queensland were swept in a series this time by the Heat at Baseball Park. The Patriots hosted South Australia, and after dropping the first game won both games in the doubleheader to win the series, and inflict their first series loss of the season.
Despite their series loss, South Australia (9–5) remained in first place. Perth (9–6) moved to second place on the back of their sweep, only one half game behind. Victoria (6–5) dropped to third without playing a game. New South Wales (8–7) fell to fourth, while Queensland (3–12) remained in last place.
| 10 December 2009 | Queensland Rams | 2 – 5 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: Justin Erasmus (1–2) | Boxscore | WP: Dylan Peacock (3–0) Sv: Warwick Saupold (2) | ||
| HR: Luke Hughes (1) |
| 11 December 2009 | South Australia | 7 – 2 | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| WP: Paul Mildren (3–0) | Boxscore | LP: Timothy Cox (2–1) |
| 11 December 2009 | Queensland Rams | 0 – 1 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: PJ Bevis (1–3) | Boxscore | WP: Nathan Dreissen (1–0) Sv: Benn Grice (1) |
| 12 December 2009 | South Australia | 1 – 2 (F/9)* | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| LP: Hayden Beard (1–1) | Boxscore | WP: Matthew Rae (2–0) |
| 12 December 2009 | Queensland Rams | 3 – 10 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: Chris Lamb (0–2) | Boxscore | WP: Mark Kelly (2–2) | ||
| HR: Alan Schoenberger (3) |
| 12 December 2009 | South Australia | 5 – 6 | New South Wales Patriots | Blacktown Baseball Stadium, Sydney
|
| LP: Richard Bartlett (1–1) | Boxscore | WP: Aaron Sookee (2–1) Sv: Timothy Atherton (1) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 7
| 18 December 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 2 – 8 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Todd Grattan (0–2) | Boxscore | WP: Richard Bartlett (2–1) |
| 18 December 2009 | Victoria Aces | 3 – 2 (F/12) | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Matthew Blackmore (3–1) | Boxscore | LP: Matthew Timms (0–2) | ||
| HR: Andrew Utting (4) |
| 19 December 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 2 – 1* | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| WP: Wayne Lundgren (2–1) Sv: Matthew Rae (3) |
Boxscore | LP: Darren Fidge (1–3) | ||
| HR: Andrew Graham (3) | HR: Ryan Murphy (2) |
| 19 December 2009 | Victoria Aces | 5 – 2 (F/6)* | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Dean Barker (1–1) | Boxscore | LP: James Albury (0–2) | ||
| HR: Scott Wearne (2), Andrew Russell (1) | HR: Andrew Utting (5) |
| 19 December 2009 | New South Wales Patriots | 1 – 4 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Jarrett Commane (0–2) | Boxscore | WP: Paul Mildren (4–0) Sv: Hayden Beard (2) |
| 19 December 2009 Game postponed – weather Played in Round 8 |
Victoria Aces | – | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 8
| 8 January 2010 Postponed from 19 December 2009 (Round 7) |
Victoria Aces | 8 – 1* | Queensland Rams | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| WP: Adam Blackley (1–0) | Boxscore | LP: Simon Morriss (1–3) | ||
| HR: Paul Weichard (2), Brett Tamburrino (1) |
| 7 January 2010 | South Australia | 3 – 8 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: Paul Mildren (4–1) | Boxscore | WP: Dylan Peacock (4–0) |
| 8 January 2010 | Queensland Rams | 1 – 3* | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: James Albury (0–3) | Boxscore | WP: Matthew Blackmore (4–1) Sv: Russell Spear (1) |
| 8 January 2010 | South Australia | 6 – 4 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| WP: Richard Bartlett (3–1) | Boxscore | LP: Warwick Saupold (0–2) |
| 9 January 2010 | Queensland Rams | 3 – 9* | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: Drew Naylor (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Dean Barker (2–1) | ||
| HR: Daniel Lamb-Hunt (1) |
| 9 January 2010 | South Australia | 3 – 11 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| LP: Ricky Meinhold (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Todd Murphy (1–0) |
| 9 January 2010 | Queensland Rams | 0 – 2* | Victoria Aces | Geelong Baseball Park, Geelong
|
| LP: Justin Erasmus (1–3) | Boxscore | WP: Donavon Hendricks (2–2) Sv: Ross Hipke (1) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 9
| 14 January 2010 Postponed from 21 November 2009 (Round 3) |
South Australia | 13 – 6 | Victoria Aces | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| WP: Richard Bartlett (4–1) | Boxscore | LP: Lee Hogan (0–1) | ||
| HR: Michael Collins 3 (5) |
| 15 January 2010 | Victoria Aces | 2 – 5 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| LP: Adam Bright (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Paul Mildren (5–1) | ||
| HR: Michael Collins (6) |
| 15 January 2010 | Perth Heat | 2 – 8 | New South Wales Patriots | Gilchrist Oval, Campbelltown
|
| LP: Dylan Peacock (4–1) | Boxscore | WP: Tim Cox (3–1) Sv: Lee Ingram (1) | ||
| HR: Mitchell Graham (3), Luke Hughes (2) | HR: Michael Lysaught 2 (3) |
| 16 January 2010 | Victoria Aces | 13 – 5* | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| WP: Russell Spear (1–0) | Boxscore | LP: Dushan Ruzic (2–1) | ||
| HR: Justin Huber (1), Brett Tamburrino (2), Grant Karlsen (3) | HR: Ryan Murphy (3) |
| 16 January 2010 | Perth Heat | 12 – 8* | New South Wales Patriots | Gilchrist Oval, Campbelltown
|
| WP: Dean White (1–0) | Boxscore | LP: Matthew Williams (0–1) | ||
| HR: Luke Hughes (3), Matthew Kennelly (2), Chris House (2) | HR: Michael Lysaught (4) |
| 16 January 2010 | Victoria Aces | 8 – 3 | South Australia | Norwood Oval, Adelaide
|
| WP: Matthew Blackmore (5–1) | Boxscore | LP: Darren Fidge (1–4) | ||
| HR: Andrew Russell (2), Josh Davies (1) |
| 16 January 2010 | Perth Heat | 7 – 11 | New South Wales Patriots | Gilchrist Oval, Campbelltown
|
| LP: Scott Mitchinson (0–1) | Boxscore | WP: Jarrett Commane (1–2) Sv: Lee Ingram (2) | ||
| HR: Timothy Kennelly (4) | HR: Timothy Atherton (1) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Round 10
Going into the final round, the Perth Heat and the Victoria Aces were the two teams that could have taken first place and assured themselves of a home final. In the first game of their series though, the Aces clinched the top spot, and in doing so made the Patriot's chance of overtaking the Heat and making the finals easier.[26] The following two games saw New South Wales beat Queensland to move them into third position,[27] and Perth drop another game to Victoria to allow South Australia to secure second, and a home semi final series.[28]
The Patriots secured the last remaining finals berth in the first game of their doubleheader, beating the Rams 16–0 and eliminating the Heat from finals contention.[29]
| 21 January 2010 | Victoria Aces | 6 – 3 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| WP: Donovan Hendricks (3–2) | Boxscore | LP: Scott Mitchinson (0–2) | ||
| HR: Scott Wearne (3) |
| 22 January 2010 | New South Wales Patriots | 7 – 5 | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Vaughn Harris (1–1) Sv: Lee Ingram (3) |
Boxscore | LP: Simon Morriss (1–4) | ||
| HR: Joel Naughton (3) |
| 22 January 2010 | Victoria Aces | 5 – 4 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| WP: Matthew Blackmore (6–1) Sv: Adam Bright (1) |
Boxscore | LP: Benn Grice (1–2) | ||
| HR: Brandon Dale (1), Mitchell Graham (4) |
| 23 January 2010 | New South Wales Patriots | 16 – 0 (F/7) | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Wayne Lundgren (3–1) | Boxscore | LP: Chris Lamb (0–3) | ||
| HR: Trent D'Antonio (1), Patrick Maat (1), Tim Auty (1) |
| 23 January 2010 | Victoria Aces | 6 – 0 | Perth Heat | Baseball Park, Perth
|
| WP: Adam Blackley (2–0) | Boxscore | LP: Mark Kelly (2–3) | ||
| HR: Elliot Biddle (1) |
| 23 January 2010 | New South Wales Patriots | 5 – 1* | Queensland Rams | Holloway Field, Brisbane
|
| WP: Jarrett Commane (2–2) | Boxscore | LP: James Albury (0–4) | ||
| HR: Patrick Maat (2) |
- *—Scheduled as a 7–inning game
Statistical leaders
|
|
Finals series
The finals series made use of the same structure as had been used in the 2009 season. The top three teams at the conclusion of the ten rounds of regular season games qualified. The second and third placed teams faced each other in a best-of-three series hosted by the second placed team. The winner of that series then faced the first placed team for a best of three series. South Australia hosted the New South Wales Patriots at Norwood Oval, Adelaide for the semi-final series, while the Victoria Aces hosted the championship series at La Trobe University, Melbourne.[7]
In the finals, the home team and away team alternated during each of the series. As a result, South Australia was officially the away team for game two of its series against New South Wales,[31] as was Victoria in game two of the championship series.[32]
South Australia came from behind in the semi-final series to win 2–1. New South Wales won game one 1–0 on the back of Timothy Auty's RBI-double, as well as Timothy Cox and Lee Ingram combining for a four-hit shutout.[33] Despite being outhit 10–6, South Australia won game two 3–2. Unusually, the winning run was scored in the top of the ninth inning without a safe hit being recorded.[34] Game three was won by South Australia 1–0, largely through the man of the match performance of Ryan Murphy; he pitched a complete game shutout, and scored the only run of the game on a solo home run to right field.[35]
Despite splitting their regular season games 3–3,[36] Victoria swept South Australia in the championship series 2–0.[37] Despite taking an early lead in game one, South Australia was unable to hold on after allowing six runners to reach base resulting in three runs scoring in the fourth inning. Victoria held its 5–3 lead for the rest of the game through the pitching of Russell Spear and finals MVP Matthew Blackmore.[38] In game two, South Australia led for much of the game, but a costly error by Ben Wigmore in the sixth inning, hits from Andrew Russell, Paul Weichard, James Beresford and Matthew Lawman in the ninth, and a run-free pitching performance from Ross Hipke and Russell Spear in the final three innings allowed Victoria to come from behind two nights in a row to win 7–4, and claim the states' 22nd Claxton Shield title.[32][39]
Bracket
| Semi-final series | Championship series | ||||||||
| 1 | Victoria Aces | 2 | |||||||
| 2 | South Australia | 2 | SF W | South Australia | 0 | ||||
| 3 | New South Wales Patriots | 1 | |||||||
Semi-final series
Game 1
The finals series started off with a pitcher's duel: both teams were held scoreless through the first six innings, with both New South Wales' Timothy Cox and South Australia's Paul Mildren holding their opposition to only three hits in that time. But in the seventh, Patrick Maat led off the inning for the Patriots with a base hit to centre field. He then advanced to second base on Andrew Graham's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Timothy Auty's double. Cox pitched 8 innings, giving up 4 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 9 batters to pick up the win. Lee Ingram came into the game for the ninth inning to close the game, picking up a strike out while retiring three hitters in a row to get the save.[33]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales Patriots (1–0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| South Australia (0–1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Timothy Cox (1–0) LP: Paul Mildren (0–1) Sv: Lee Ingram (1) Attendance: 2,157 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2
In another tight contest, South Australia snapped a streak of eight losing efforts in a row in finals games to New South Wales,[33] winning 3–2. South Australia opened the scoring in the top of the fifth. Ben Wigmore and Dan Wilson hit back–to–back singles, Mathew Smith grounded out to advance both. With two out, Jason Pospishil errored on Scott Gladstone's hit to second base, allowing both runners to score.[34]
Pospshil helped the Patriots to recover immediately in the bottom of the inning, with a single to lead off the inning. He then scored on Mark Holland's double to cut the deficit in half. In the eighth inning, New South Wales evened the game, with David Kandilas's infield hit driving in Patrick Maat. In the ninth however, South Australia regained the lead without a hit: two walks and two hit by pitches allowed Stefan Welch to score.[34]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia (1–1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| New South Wales Patriots (1–1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Darren Fidge (1–0) LP: Wayne Lundgren (0–1) Sv: Hayden Beard (1) Attendance: 2,119 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 3
Like the first two games of the semi-final series, the third and deciding game was also decided by one run. Ryan Murphy was named man of the match, after pitching a two–hit shutout, and hitting a solo home run in the second inning to score the only run in the game. Prior to the game, Murphy had not started on the mound in any game in the season, and had only pitched one and a third innings in one prior appearance.[40] Michael Lysaught almost tied the game in the third inning with a solo home run of his own. Only Dan Wilson's catch from over the fence in right field prevented it.[35]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales Patriots (1–2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| South Australia (2–1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Ryan Murphy (1–0) LP: Craig Anderson (0–1) Home runs: NSW: None SA: Ryan Murphy (1) Attendance: 1,500 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship series
Game 1
Baseball returned to La Trobe University for the Victoria Aces' home championship series, after having just the one game there during the regular season. Unlike the semi-final series, scoring started immediately in the championship series, with South Australia scoring in the top of the first inning: Jeremy Cresswell singled and then advanced to third when Stefan Welch reached on a throwing error by catcher Grant Karlsen. Michael Collins and Ryan Murphy each walked in consecutive plate appearances, advancing Cresswell to score the first run. Before the inning could be closed out, Welch scored on a wild pitch to extend South Australia's lead to two.[38]
Brad Harman opened the scoring for Victoria in the second inning, with a first pitch solo home run to halve the deficit.[41] Victoria tied the game up at 2–2 through back to back doubles in the third, first from Brett Tamburrino and followed by Andrew Russell to drive Tamburrino in. South Australia briefly regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning: Ben Wigmore lead off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on Mathew Smith's single, and scored on Scott Gladstone's double.[38]
Gladstone's RBI-double was the final pitch for Adam Blackley, having scattered 4 hits over 3+1⁄3 innings pitched, striking out 7 and allowing 3 runs, only 1 of which was earned. He was replaced by Matthew Blackmore, who pitched into the ninth inning, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 4 over 5 innings pitched. Neither starting pitcher pitched beyond the fourth inning, as South Australia's Paul Mildren was also replaced after 3+1⁄3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 5 runs (4 earned), and striking out 3.[42]
Victoria regained the lead permanently in the bottom of the fourth, and in the process drove Mildren from the game. James Beresford led off the inning with a walk, advanced to third on Matthew Lawman's double and scored on Elliott Biddle's single. Scott Wearne reached second on a throwing error by second baseman Smith, which also allowed Lawman to score. Tamburrino received a walk, followed by Russell being hit by a pitch which forced Biddle to score.[41] The hit batter resulted in Chris Lawson replacing Mildren on the mound. Like the other relievers in the game, Lawson did not allow a run to score over his 2+2⁄3 innings pitched.[42] The 5–3 score at the end of the fourth inning would be maintained for the rest of the game. Russell Spear entered the game in the ninth inning to close the game for Victoria, earning the save.[41] Blackmore was credited with the win, while Mildren was charged with the loss for South Australia.[42]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia (0–1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Victoria Aces (1–0) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 7 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Matthew Blackmore (1–0) LP: Paul Mildren (0–1) Sv: Russell Spear (1) Home runs: SA: None VIC: Brad Harman (1) Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2
The second game of the series started in even fashion: both sides were retired in order in the first inning, and each got runners into scoring position without actually scoring in the second.[32] The games' first run came in the third inning, and for the fourth time in the 2010 postseason a run was driven in by a walk. Tristan McDonald led off the inning with a single to center field. He advanced to second on Brett Tamburrino's single to right field, to third when Andrew Russell was hit by a pitch, then scored when Paul Weichard drew a walk. South Australia tied the score again in the fourth inning. Ben Wigmore walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to second when Dan Wilson ground out to first base. Wigmore then scored on Mathew Smith's single.[43]
Victoria immediately regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Tamburrino singled, and then advanced to third on Russell's own base hit. Weichard hit a deep fly ball to center field, allowing Tamburrino to score on the sacrifice fly. However South Australia took the lead for the first time in the game in the bottom of the inning, when Shane Lindsay—pitching in relief of Adam Bright, who'd struck out 5 and allowed 5 hits, 1 walk and 1 run over 4 innings pitched—walked David Washington and Jeremy Cresswell, before giving up a home run to Michael Collins to take the score to 4–2.[43] After the home run Lindsay, Ross Hipke and Russell Spear would combine to keep South Australia from scoring again in the game.[32]
That lead was halved in the sixth through an unearned run. Elliot Biddle got on through an infield hit, and then advanced to third when Ben Wigmore dropped a fly ball in center field off the bat of Hayden Dingle. This allowed Tristan McDonald to drive Wigmore in on a sacrifice fly. Richard Bartlett entered the game to pitch for South Australia in the seventh inning, but was unable to hold on to the one-run lead he was given, allowing the tying run to score in the eighth when he walked McDonald and gave up an RBI-double to Scott Wearne.[32]
James Beresford drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning in the form of Paul Weichard after he and Andrew Russell hit back to back infield singles. Hayden Beard was brought in by South Australia to try to stop the flow of runs, but gave up a two run-double to Matthew Lawman to take Victoria to a 7–4 lead.[37] Russell Spear entered the game for Victoria as closer for the second night in a row, and despite giving up two hits was able to keep South Australia scoreless to earn a second save.[43]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Aces (2–0) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| South Australia (0–2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Ross Hipke (1–0) LP: Richard Bartlett (0–1) Sv: Russell Spear (2) Home runs: VIC: None SA: Michael Collins (1) Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards
At the conclusion of the finals series, the winner of two awards were announced. Matthew Blackmore won both the Pitcher of the Year award and the Finals Series MVP award.[44] At the Baseball Australia Diamond Awards, held on 6 March at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide, Wayne Lundgren was announced as the 35th winner of the Helms Award; the Claxton Shield's Most Valuable Player award. Lundgren was the first pitcher to win since 1986. Runners-up by two votes were Paul Mildren and Michael Collins.[45]
References
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External links
- 2010 Claxton Shield – Official Tournament Website
- Official Baseball Australia Website