It’s remarkable that entering the final weekend of the ABL regular season that all six teams can make finals with Perth Heat needing a win over the top ranked Sydney Blue Sox to lock in a position but also having a chance to secure a home semi-final series.
Things couldn’t be closer across all six teams coming into this weekend’s final series of the regular season across the ABL with the Heat right in the thick of it capable of still potentially even nabbing top spot with a sweep of the Blue Sox at Blacktown International Sportspark starting Friday night.
At the same time, there’s a possibility that the Heat also miss out on post-season action altogether if things don’t go to plan and depending on other results.
Entering the final weekend of the regular season, it’s the Blue Sox sitting in top spot with a 22-14 record and they are the only team confirmed to be part of finals action coming into the last round with a five-game advantage on the fourth and fifth ranked teams.
The defending champion Adelaide Giants come into the last round in second spot at 20-16 but to guarantee a chance to make a run at a three-peat they will need a good series against Melbourne.
The Heat then come into the final round in third position with an 18-18 record and that has them still within striking distance of the Blue Sox if they can sweep them this weekend, but also only with a one game lead over the Aces and the Cavalry.
Both Melbourne and Canberra come into the last round with 17-19 record while even the Brisbane Bandits have an outside chance should they sweep the Cavalry and they have some luck across the other series.
For the Heat, their equation is simple, win as many games against the Blue Sox as possible and they have the chance to finish at least in third position and possibly higher depending on other results.
Perth comes into the match up with Sydney fresh off winning the last three games against the Cavalry in Canberra last weekend where they outscored them 21 runs to two.
That momentum is just the way the Heat would have been wanting to now come into this match up with the Blue Sox.
Sydney has the chance to wrap up top spot and home field advantage throughout the playoffs as well so there’s plenty to play for with both teams.
Heat manager Andy Kyle is glad that his team has their fortunes in their own hands coming into the last weekend having split their home series with the Blue Sox back in November.
“It’s in our hands and it’s playoff baseball now. We have to just focus on that first game and try to win one game at a time,” Kyle told 91.3 SportFM.
“The biggest thing for us is that we don’t want to be looking over our shoulder hoping other teams lose. It’s in our court and we’ve got to attack them.
“We know they will pitch the ball well and they are solid defensively, and put the ball in play. They’re a scrappy team but play really solid baseball all the way around.
“We’re going to have to play very well and will have to execute well, and find opportunities to score. We’ll attack from Game 1 and be ready to go.”
While there’s still some turnovers with the pitching staff, that’s where Kyle is most happy with how things are coming together for the Heat particularly with Dariel Fregio, Tucker Smith, Young Woo Shin, Warwick Saupold, Jake Bowey and Tyler Beardsley.
“Over the last few weeks I think our starts have been really good and we’ve really started to settle. I think Fregio over his last two outings has been outstanding giving us five, six innings and opportunities to win the ball game,” Kyle said.
“(Jong-Hae) Won’s been solid but unfortunately we’ve lost him last week and he’s gone back to Korea so that’s a bit of a hit to our starting rotation. But guys like Bowey have stepped up, Tucker’s been solid in the No. 1 hole and has given us innings and opportunities to win ball games.
“The last two weeks have started to settle and the guys are throwing the ball well, and our pen was outstanding against Canberra with the introduction of Steffon Moore and Waz threw the ball really well, and Beardsley being Beardsley. It’s starting to come together.”
ABL SEASON 2024/25 – ROUND 10 (January 17-19)
PERTH HEAT v SYDNEY BLUE SOX – at BLACKTOWN INTERNATIONAL SPORTSPARK
GAME 1 – Friday 4.30pm WST
GAME 2 – Saturday 12.30pm WST
GAME 3 – Saturday 3.30pm WST
GAME 4 – Sunday 9.30am WST