Canberra Cavalry and Perth Heat to compete in Australian Baseball League final series

Canberra Cavalry will face Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League 2024-25 final series. The winner will claim the 2025 Claxton Shield. Empire Ballpark in Perth will host the best-of-three series on Friday, January 3, Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2.

Perth eliminated the two-time defending champions Adelaide Giants. They will make their 10th Championship Series appearance since 2010.

Angel Mateo provided all the runs the Heat needed to win the first game (2-1) with a two-run homer in the top of the second. Lachlan Wells went the distance to earn the win, allowing only one run.

The Heat earned their spot in the final with a 5-3 Game Two win. Ulrich Bojarski batted in the go-ahead run in the top of the third, and Alex Hall scored the second on a groundout. Hall made it 3-0 with a solo homer.

Adelaide got to Perth starter Jong-Hae Won in the sixth, tying the game at three. The Heat took the lead back in the top of the seventh on Jhon Diaz's two-run home run. International baseball veteran Warwick Saupold struck out Nikau Pouaka-Grego to end the game with Adelaide's potential winning run on base.

Canberra swept the regular season winners Sydney Blue Sox and will compete in the final for the fourth time.

The Cavalry rallied in the ninth to win Game One, 3-2. Landen Bourassa dominated Canberra for eight innings, allowing only three hits and one walk. Miles Simington, Sam Kimmorley and Matt Halbach got to Coen Wynn with three RBI singles in the top of the ninth. Jon Kennedy pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.

Canberra won Game Two 5-1 after taking control in the top of the third when Armond Upshow hit a two-run homer off Sydney's Alex Wells. They didn't need to look back. Colten Davis earned the win, allowing one run over five hits in six innings. Ryo Kohigashi pitched two scoreless innings, and Jon Kennedy got the final three outs.