I bought a book on keeping score, and I made my first attempt at it for this game (game 2 of the final). I lasted three innings. Bloody hell, it was stressful.

And I was just doing it in it's most basic form. I'd like to get better, but it'll take practice, and more research e.g. it was loaded bases and the 4 position caught the batter out but threw it to second base (where the 6 position was covering) for a double play. Fairly simple, but my head felt like it was going to explode when it came to writing it down. Then, as I was figuring it out, the next batter hit to LF and the RBIs started coming in, at which point I threw my scorecard on the floor 🤣

Does anyone else do this? Are you good at it?

Big baseball fan my whole life, getting more into international baseball

This is it.

In a result nobody except for u/MagicWeasel 's Instagram Voodoo predicted, Perth Heat will host Canberra Cavalry in the ABL Championship Series.

I'm posting this early to let everyone post their predictions, sledges (not too over the top please, I don't want to use my mod powers too much) and all around banter about this series. (Also, in between Doctors visits, a funeral and work, I'm not sure when I'll get the chance later this week to post it)

The Helms Award is awarded to the best player in the Claxton Shield each season.

Canberra Cavalry @ Sydney Blue Sox

Perth Heat @ Adelaide Giants

All Times are AEDT

Adelaide Giants vs Perth Heat

Game 1: 7:00pm ACDT Friday 24th January

Game 2: 7:00pm ACDT Saturday 25th January

Game 3: 6:00 pm ACDT Sunday 26th January

https://adelaidegiants.com.au/tickets/

ABL Semi-Finals!!

Jan 24 - Jan 26

Sydney Blue Sox vs Canberra Cavalry at Blacktown International Sportspark

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!!

Don’t miss out, Lock in your seats today and secure your spot for this epic showdown!

Game Times:

Friday, Jan 24 - 7:30 PM

Saturday, Jan 25 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, Jan 26 - 5:00 PM

Get your tickets here

Friday January 24th https://vivenu.com/event/blue-sox-vs-tbc-srrxbi

Saturday January 25th https://vivenu.com/event/blue-sox-vs-tbc-copy-fh09ey

Sunday 26th January https://vivenu.com/event/blue-sox-vs-tbc-sunday-853o48

If each week in the ABL this season (24/25) had an accumulative scoring system as opposed to each game in the series counting separately, this is what things would have looked like...

1. Giants (8-2)
2. Blue Sox (7-3)
3. Cavalry (4-6)
4. Heat (4-6)
5. Aces (4-6)
6. Bandits (3-7)

(the 4-6 teams' rankings being decided by their head to head results with each other).

Completely pointless, I know, but I was interested to know, and being as I took the time to figure it out I thought I might as well share it 😅

Astros prospect Carlos Calderon went 3.0 innings allowing two hits and one run for the Cavs to get Canberra rolling.

A third hit of the day for Jason Matthews in the sixth inning made it 9-1 in the sixth.

The final score was 9-2.

It means that Canberra are in the playoffs but ONLY in Melbourne lose…. 4:30PM AEDT: Giants score six runs in ninth inning to steal playoff spot away from the Aces

Pre-game scenario: Melbourne must win to get into the playoffs. If they lose, the winner of Canberra & Brisbane’s 1:00PM AEST will sneak into the post-season. A loss for Melbourne and they are eliminated. Adelaide can’t move up or down. They finish second.

First pitch: 1:00PM AEDT.

If they Aces lose, the Brisbane vs Canberra game becomes a play-in game.

The Aces struck first thanks to a Darryl George RBI double in the first inning.

Adelaide responded with a two-RBI double in the third off the bat of Phillies prospect Louie Albrecht.

But the Aces bats awoke from a slumber in the fifth. They brought fifth to the plate, scoring three runs thanks to clutch RBI from Jarrod Belbin and Robbie Glendinning.

At this moment, they are back in the playoffs.

Jarryd Dale whacked home his third RBI of the afternoon in the seventh to put the Aces in front 5-3.

Now, Johnathan Tripp is in the game for the Aces. Tripp threw 88 pitches in his start on Thursday.

Jarryd Dale, Robbie Glendinning and Jarrod Belbin all had three-hit afternoons.

Chris Burke hit a two-run homer in the eighth to provided a nice cushion, 7-3 Aces.

The cushion was not enough.

Rixon Wingrove and Jared Carr had back-to-back hits to plate three runs. Just like that, it was 7-6.

Then, with two outs and two on, Niko Hulsizer stepped up to the plate.

He launched a three run homer to put Adelaide in front, push Melbourne to the brink, and cap off a six run ninth inning.

Enter Todd Van Steensel.

The Adelaide closer sealed the final three outs, eliminated the Aces, sent the Canberra Cavalry to the playoffs and set the all-time ABL Saves Record in the process.Canberra and Melbourne finish with an identical 18-22 record, but Canberra win the tiebreaker on head-to-head (5-3).

Post Game Scenario: Adelaide eliminates Melbourne, Todd Van Steensel sets save records

CURRENT STANDINGS – 3:45PM AEDT

*clinched playoffs

^ clinched home final

1: Sydney Blue Sox 24-16*^

2: Adelaide Giants 23-17*^

3: Perth Heat 20-20*

4: Canberra Cavalry 18-22*

5: Melbourne Aces 18-22

6: Brisbane Bandits 17-23

With Canberra’s loss this morning, Perth has clinched a playoff berth, to face either Sydney or Adelaide depending on other results.

u/MagicWeasel, you’d better keep your instagram voodoo going, but not if you face the Blue Sox

It's the final day of the Australian Baseball League season. After 116 competition games, every team still has a chance to make the playoffs

Here's what your team needs to do to get into the post-season

Perth Heat can clinch finals with one of the following:

• Perth win over Sydney; OR

• Brisbane win over Canberra; OR

• Adelaide win over Melbourne;

Canberra Cavalry can clinch finals with:

• Two Canberra wins over Brisbane; OR

• One Canberra win AND one

Melbourne loss;

Melbourne Aces can clinch finals with:

• Melbourne win over Adelaide AND one of the following:

a) Perth Lose to Sydney; OR

b) One Brisbane win over Canberra

Brisbane Bandits can clinch with:

• Win last two games vs Canberra AND:

• Melbourne must lose last game vs Adelaide

Scenarios & Schedule will be updated here today: www.theabl.com.au/news/ablround10/

First game begins at 10AM AEST on Baseball+.

The Giants have secured a top two spot and a home best-of-three final series in the ABL Semi Final.

DATES & TIMES

Game 1 - Friday 24, 7:00PM

Game 2 - Saturday 25, 7:00PM

Game 3 - Sunday 26, 6:00pm TBC (if necessary)

TICKET INFO:

9:00AM, Sunday January 19: Member Pre Sale

5:00PM, Sunday January 19: On sale to public

Tickets are cheaper online than at door, and subject to sell out.

To book in VIP tickets or drink packages, contact us at email provided in ticket links.

For ticket information: www.adelaidegiants.com.au/tickets

OPPONENT

Perth, Melbourne or Canberra

G'day all. I've just started attending ABL games in Altona. I live in Lara and so it's an easy drive up the M1. I am a cricket nut but have a passing interest in baseball and played softball at Keilor Park and then in Abu Dhabi. Been to the last two Friday night games and wow!!!! What a great night out. Cheap tickets, a good ballpark, free popcorn and those fireworks. I know we're chocabloc for sports here but it really is a hidden gem. In fairness we have had two good crowds - 1900-odd last week and an apparent record of 2600 last night. I am hoping to catch the series with the Korean team who are based down here for a fortnight against Australia. Really, really impressed with the whole setup. I took a mate along last night and he loved it too - his first ever baseball game.

I do wonder how viable the whole thing is though especially with travel. A player's girlfriend told me they train all the time. That cannot be easy with having to hold down a job and getting all that time off to go interstate. Anyway, I have cricket training on Thursdays and a match on a Saturday but may even go on Sunday arvo. Love it!!!

Sydney Blue Sox Clinch ABLSF Home Series!

Best of 3 Game Series

Jan 24 - Jan 26

Opponent: TBC

Member Pre-Sale Live Now! Check you emails for your ticket link

General Ticket Sales Live Monday 20th January 9:00am

Members, lock in your seats today and secure your spot for this epic showdown!

Game Times:

Friday, Jan 24 - 7:30 PM

Saturday, Jan 25 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, Jan 26 - 5:00 PM

General Public Tickets: Available Tuesday, Jan 21 at 9 AM

Don’t miss this action-packed series! Get your tickets now!

Nail biting time!

TODAY'S FINALS CLINCHING SCENARIOS 🔒

Only the Sydney Blue Sox and Adelaide Giants can clinch a spot in the post-season today. Here's what needs to happen for each:

SYDNEY BLUE SOX

Clinch playoffs with any one of the following:

1. Two Sydney wins over Melbourne Aces OR;
2. One win over Melbourne & two Perth losses OR;

ADELAIDE GIANTS

Clinch playoffs with:

1. One win over Brisbane + two Perth losses to Canberra