News

Leading sports executive Andy Crook has been appointed by Baseball Australia to usher in an exciting new era for the Australian Baseball League.

Crook was instrumental in leading the National Basketball League to record fan bases, attendances, media audiences and revenue in five years as the competition’s chief operating officer.

Sydney-based SCA Sports Pty Ltd, trading as Sports Management Australia, have been appointed as the new licensee of the Sydney Blue Sox.

Baseball Australia today announced Sports Management Australia, a leading sports management company based in Sydney Olympic Park and Southeast Asia, would take over the Blue Sox licence for the 2021/22 Australian Baseball League season and beyond.

Melbourne infielder Darryl George has capped off an impressive Australian Baseball League season by being named the 2021 Helms Award winner.

The 27-year-old became the second Aces player to collect the honour in the modern-day ABL after coming out on top of a 3-2-1 vote by the six managers.

Brisbane lefty Aaron Brown has been named the Virgin Australia 2021 Australian Baseball League Reliever of the Year.

The 28-year-old reliever was voted as the 2021 winner after the league’s six managers submitted a 3-2-1 vote at the completion of the regular season.

Sydney infielder Manny Rodriguez has been named the New Era 2021 ABL Defensive Player of the Year.

The New York Mets prospect was voted as the 2021 winner after the league’s six managers submitted a 3-2-1 vote at the completion of the regular season.

The Australian Baseball League enjoyed a 47% overall increase in per-game reach during the 20/21 season despite multiple postponements, cancellations, reschedules and the loss of two teams prior to the season’s start.

Overall fans reached per game increased from 170,000 per game during the 19/20 season, to 264,000 this year.

Perth is one win away from the 2021 Australian Baseball League Championship Game following an emphatic win over Adelaide at Melbourne Ballpark on Thursday.

The Heat crushed seven home runs and set a new ABL postseason record for runs in a game in a 26-6 win over the Giants to book their spot in tomorrow’s Qualifying Final.

Perth will enter the ABL Playoffs in Melbourne without three key members of its roster.

The Heat have lost infielder Robbie Glendinning, utility Ford Proctor and starting pitcher Nathan Wiles ahead of getting their playoff campaign underway against Adelaide on Thursday.

Canberra’s hopes of claiming a second Australian Baseball League title remain alive after coming out on top in the Wild Card Game for a third-straight season on Tuesday night.

The Cavalry downed Sydney 3-2 at MIT Ballpark behind strong pitching and timely offence to set up a clash with first seed Melbourne at Melbourne Ballpark on Thursday.

Dustin Beggs is ready to make his return from injury while Adelaide has also named a couple of possible debutants ahead of its ABL Playoff campaign getting underway on Thursday.

Last season’s Rookie of the Year Elliot Johnstone has been named for his club debut after missing the regular-season with injury and Riley Yeatman, who turns 17 on Friday, could make his ABL debut in the playoffs.