Heat clinch berth in Claxton final

as posted on TheWest


Perth Heat have made up for last year’s abominable season by beating champions Victorian Aces to make the final of baseball’s Claxton Shield.

Perth wrapped up their series against Victoria 2-1 at Baseball Park in Thornlie on Saturday night with a come-from-behind 5-3 win in the deciding game to secure their passage to the final against next weekend’s Eastern Division winner.

It has been a remarkable turnaround after last year’s poor season in which the Heat did not win a game.

Canadian field manager Gordon Gerlack said the team had worked hard to finish at the top of their pool.

“Victoria had some veteran players who never gave in but we pitched the way we should,” he said.

Scott Mitchinson started on the mound for Perth on Saturday, pitching seven solid innings before leaving the game at the top of the eighth with the scores tied 2-2.

Gerlack said younger players had time to develop since last year in the US Minor Leagues or in local warmup games before the season.

“We have also had excellent leadership from some older players who were not involved last year and that’s been a big factor in our success,” Gerlack said.

Victoria have one more series remaining, against South Australia in a week, but even if they sweep the series they cannot replace Perth at the top of the table.

Queensland and NSW will be playing off to decide who joins Perth in the final at a venue to be decided from February 8-10.

GENE STEPHAN

as posted on TheWest