2012–13 Australian Baseball League season

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox sports season

| sport = Baseball

| league = Australian Baseball League

| no_of_teams = 6

| duration = {{nowrap|1 November 2012}} – {{nowrap|9 February 2013}}

| season = Regular season

| MVP = Adam Buschini

| finals = Championship Series

| finals_venue = Narrabundah Ballpark

| finals_champ = Canberra Cavalry (1st title)

| finals_runner-up = Perth Heat

| no_of_games = 122

| attendance = 129,909

| prevseason_link = 2011–12 Australian Baseball League season

| prevseason_year = 2011–12

| nextseason_link = 2013–14 Australian Baseball League season

| nextseason_year = 2013–14

}}

The 2012–13 Australian Baseball League season was the third Australian Baseball League (ABL) season, and was held from 1 November 2012 to 9 February 2013. The season started with a game between the defending champions Perth Heat and the Adelaide Bite at Norwood Oval in Adelaide.

The season consisted of six teams competing in a 46-game schedule followed by a two-round postseason to determine the ABL champion. During the regular season, the Perth Heat participated in the 2012 Asia Series which included the host team and champion team from Korea Baseball Championship in South Korea, the champions from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, and an all-star team from China Baseball League in China. The 2012–13 champions will likewise qualify for the 2013 Asia Series.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Canberra Cavalry, the Sydney Blue Sox and the Perth Heat progressed to the postseason. Sydney were eliminated by Perth, to face Canberra in the championship series. Canberra defeated Perth two games to nil to win their first ABL championship and be awarded the Claxton Shield. It was the first time a team from the Australian Capital Territory won the Claxton Shield.

Changes from 2011–12 season

= Regular season schedule =

The previous season included 45 games for each team and facing each team nine times. This was expanded for the 2012–13 season to 46 games, to ensure that each team had the same number of home games as road games (23). This change also meant that each team did not play each other team an equal number of times. In the first three rounds, each team had a bye for one round and played one home and one away series of three games each, played "... against their two closest geographical neighbours; building upon both traditional and newly established rivalries."{{cite web | last=Whitaker | first=Terry | title=ABL announces 2012/13 season schedule | url=http://www.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120601&content_id=32556096&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=2 February 2013 | date=1 June 2012 | quote=Circuit's third season features record 138 games}} The remaining ten rounds were made up of four–game series with each team playing two series against the five other teams, one at home and one away.{{cite web | title=2012/13 Game Schedule | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/documents/2012/10/15/39808766/1/2012-13_Season_Master_Schedule.pdf | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=2 February 2013 | format=PDF}}

= Postseason structure =

In previous seasons, the postseason had followed the Page playoff system, with the top four teams participating over three weeks. However, in the 2012-13 season only the top three teams qualified for a two-week postseason. The team that finished first—the Canberra Cavalry—earned a direct entry into the ABL championship series and the right to host the series. The second- and third-placed teams—the Sydney Blue Sox and the Perth Heat respectively—are playing in the preliminary final series hosted by the higher finishing team. The winner of that series will qualify for the championship series.{{cite web | title=Playoff Procedures | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/playoff_procedures.jsp?lid=595&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=22 January 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129142126/http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/playoff_procedures.jsp?lid=595&sid=l595 | archive-date=29 January 2012 | url-status=dead }} Reduced from five games in the semi-final and preliminary final series in 2012, all rounds of the 2013 postseason are being held as best–of–three game series.{{cite web | title=2013 Postseason Bracket | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/events/page.jsp?ymd=20130129&content_id=41220422&vkey=events_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=2 February 2013}}

Teams

{{Australia locator map

| size = 400

| adelaide-label = Adelaide Bite

| adelaide-bb-icon = bite

| brisbane-label = Brisbane Bandits

| brisbane-bb-icon = bandits

| canberra-label = Canberra Cavalry

| canberra-bb-icon = cavalry

| melbourne-label = Melbourne Aces

| melbourne-bb-icon = aces

| perth-label = Perth Heat

| perth-bb-icon = heat

| sydney-label = Sydney Blue Sox

| sydney-bb-icon = blue sox

}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:100%;"

|+ Teams in the ABL

! scope="col" | Team

! scope="col" | City

! scope="col" | State

! scope="col" | Stadium

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref

scope="row" | {{ABL team | ADE}}

| Adelaide

| South Australia

| Norwood Oval

| {{cite web | title=Adelaide Bite Homepage | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4064 | work=Adelaide Bite|publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=9 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101111083928/http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4064| archivedate= 11 November 2010 | url-status= live}}

scope="row" | {{ABL team | BRI}}

| Brisbane

| Queensland

| Brisbane Exhibition Ground

| {{cite web | title=Brisbane Bandits Homepage | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4065 | work=Brisbane Bandits | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=9 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101111083933/http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4065| archivedate= 11 November 2010 | url-status= live}}

scope="row" | {{ABL team | CAN}}

| Canberra

| Australian Capital Territory

| Narrabundah Ballpark

| {{cite web | title=Canberra Cavalry Homepage | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4066 | work=Canberra Cavalry | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=9 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101108075942/http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4066| archivedate= 8 November 2010 | url-status= live}}

scope="row" | {{ABL team | MEL}}

| Melbourne

| Victoria

| Melbourne Ballpark

| {{cite web | title=Melbourne Aces Homepage | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4067 | work=Melbourne Aces | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=9 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101109201345/http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4067| archivedate= 9 November 2010 | url-status= live}}

scope="row" | {{ABL team | PER}}

| Perth

| Western Australia

| Baseball Park

| {{cite web | title=Perth Heat Homepage | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4068 | work=Perth Heat|publisher=Australian Baseball League |accessdate=9 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101109201346/http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4068| archivedate= 9 November 2010 | url-status= live}}

scope="row" | {{ABL team | SYD}}

| Sydney

| New South Wales

| Blue Sox Stadium

| {{cite web | title=Sydney Blue Sox Homepage | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4069 | work=Sydney Blue Sox | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=9 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101109025036/http://web.theabl.com.au/index.jsp?sid=t4069| archivedate= 9 November 2010 | url-status= live}}

= Venues =

Each of the six teams return from the previous season, and five of them will continue to use the same grounds for their home games. The sole exception is the Melbourne Aces, that played at the Melbourne Ballpark in the south-eastern suburb of Altona.{{cite web | title=Aces New Home is the Melbourne Ballpark | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120713&content_id=34869432&vkey=news_t4067&fext=.jsp&sid=t4067 | work=Melbourne Aces | accessdate=18 July 2012 | date=13 July 2012 | quote=ABL Team Moves to Laverton with Added Improvements to Grounds}} As part of the move from the Aces former home, the Melbourne Showgrounds, A$290,000 worth of improvements were made prior to the start of the season, including A$200,000 investment from the Victorian state government.{{cite press_release | url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/mediareleases/2012/November/121110_Delahunty_-_Melbourne_Aces_2012-13_season_launch_at_the_revitalised_Melbourne_Ballpark.pdf | title=Melbourne Aces 2012-13 season launch at the revitalised Melbourne Ballpark | publisher=Government of Victoria | date=10 November 2012 | accessdate=2 February 2013 | format=PDF}} The ground was the home ground of the Melbourne Monarchs and the Melbourne Bushrangers in the former ABL.{{cite web | last=Collins | first=Kingsley | title=Ballpark treated to major makeover | url=http://www.baseballvictoria.com.au/?Page=89171 | work=Baseball Victoria | accessdate=2 February 2013 | date=16 October 2012}}

= Rosters =

As in the previous season, each team has an active roster of 22 players available each round. These players are drawn from 35-man squads. These squads will be confirmed by each of the teams before the beginning of the season.

Regular season

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL

| update = complete |source={{cite web | title=2012 Australian Baseball League Current Standings | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/index.jsp?lid=595&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | access-date=26 January 2013 | archive-date=15 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115055928/http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/index.jsp?lid=595&sid=l595 | url-status=dead }}

| for_against_style = none | show_GB = y | ranking_style = %

| team1 = CAN| name_CAN = {{ABL team|CAN|season=2012–13}}

| win_CAN = 27 |loss_CAN =19

| team2 = SYD| name_SYD = {{ABL team|SYD|season=2012–13}}

| win_SYD = 26 |loss_SYD =19

| team3 = PER| name_PER = {{ABL team|PER|season=2012–13}}

| win_PER = 25 |loss_PER = 21

| team4 = BRI| name_BRI = {{ABL team|BRI|season=2012–13}}

| win_BRI = 23| loss_BRI =22

| team5 = ADE| name_ADE = {{ABL team|ADE|season=2012–13}}

| win_ADE = 21 |loss_ADE =25

| team6 = MEL| name_MEL = {{ABL team|MEL|season=2012–13}}

| win_MEL = 15 |loss_MEL =31

| res_col_header = Q

| result1 = C | result2 = Q | result3 = Q

| col_C = green1 | text_C = Advance to Championship Series

| col_Q = green2 | text_Q = Advance to Preliminary final

}}

= Statistical leaders =

{{col-float-begin|style=width:33em}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Batting leaders

! scope="col" width=50 | Stat

! scope="col" width=150 | Player{{#tag:ref | Minimum 2.7 PAs per team game. Correct as of 27 January 2013.{{cite web | title=League Batting Leaders | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=l_bat&lid=595&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=27 January 2013 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000806/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=l_bat&lid=595&sid=l595 | url-status=dead }} | name=bat | group=S}}

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

! scope="col" width=50 | Total

AVG

| Adam Buschini

| Canberra Cavalry

| .363

HR

| Adam Buschini

| Canberra Cavalry

| 15

RBI

| Adam Buschini

| Canberra Cavalry

| 50

R

| Adam Buschini


Kody Hightower

| Canberra Cavalry

| 37

H

| Mitch Dening

| Sydney Blue Sox

| 59

SB

| Zachary Penprase

| Sydney Blue Sox

| 16

{{col-float-break|style=width:33em}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Pitching leaders

! scope="col" width=50 | Stat

! scope="col" width=150 | Player{{#tag:ref | Minimum 0.8 IP per team game. Correct as of 27 January 2013.{{cite web | title=League Pitching Leaders | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=l_pit&lid=595&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=27 January 2013}} | name=pitch | group=S}}

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

! scope="col" width=50 | Total

W

| Craig Anderson

| Sydney Blue Sox

| 8

L

| Paul Mildren

| Adelaide Bite

| 7

ERA

| Craig Anderson

| Sydney Blue Sox

| 2.10

K

| Chris Oxspring

| Sydney Blue Sox

| 86

IP

| Craig Anderson

| Sydney Blue Sox

| {{frac|81|1|3}}

SV

| Matthew Williams

| Sydney Blue Sox

| 15

{{col-float-end}}

{{reflist | group=S}}

=All-Star Game=

{{Infobox baseball game

|year = 2012

|game = ABL All-Star Game

|image = ABL 2012 all star game logo.jpg

|visitor = World All-Stars

|top1 =0 | top2 =0 | top3 =2 | top4 =0 | top5 =0 | top6 =2 | top7 =0 | top8 =0 | top9 =0

|visitor_r = 4

|visitor_h = 5

|visitor_e = 2

|home = Team Australia

|bot1 = 0 | bot2 =3 | bot3 =1 | bot4 =0 | bot5 =2 | bot6 =0 | bot7 =0 | bot8 =0 | bot9 =X

|home_r = 6

|home_h = 9

|home_e = 1

|date = 16 December 2012

|venue = Melbourne Ballpark

|city = Melbourne

|MVP = Brad Harman{{cite web|last=Player|first=Xavier|title=Australia down World in All-Star thriller|url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121216&content_id=40667182&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595|publisher=Australian Baseball League|accessdate=16 December 2012|archive-date=26 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226103300/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121216&content_id=40667182&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595|url-status=dead}}

|attendance = 1,669{{cite web|title=All-Star Game Boxscore|url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2012_12_16_waswin_auswin_1&t=g_box&sid=l595|publisher=Australian Baseball League|accessdate=15 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221610/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2012_12_16_waswin_auswin_1&t=g_box&sid=l595|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

}}

The 2012 Australian Baseball League All-Star Game, known as the 2012 ConocoPhillips Australia ABL All-Star Game due to naming rights sponsorship from ConocoPhillips, was the second exhibition game held by the Australian Baseball League (ABL) between Team Australia and a team of World All-Stars. The game was held on Sunday, 16 December 2012 at Melbourne Ballpark in Melbourne, Victoria, the new home of the Melbourne Aces.{{cite web|last=Staudinger|first=Krista|title=ABL All-Stars to shine in Melbourne for 2012|url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121115&content_id=40292078&vkey=pr_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595|publisher=Australian Baseball League|accessdate=29 November 2012|archive-date=19 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619161835/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121115&content_id=40292078&vkey=pr_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595|url-status=dead}} The players involved were selected from the rosters of the six ABL teams, with players not eligible for selection in the Australian team for international tournaments eligible for the World All-Stars.

== Starting lineups ==

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ World All-Stars starters

! scope="col" width=50 | Order

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

! scope="col" width=50 | Position

1

| Kody Hightower

| Cavalry

| SS

2

| Carlo Testa

| Aces

| RF

3

| Jeremy Barnes

| Cavalry

| 3B

4

| Ji-Man Choi

| Bite

| 1B

5

| Jack Murphy

| Cavalry

| C

6

| Zachary Penprase

| Blue Sox

| 2B

7

| Ryan Stovall

| Cavalry

| LF

8

| Shota Nakata

| Cavalry

| DH

9

| Hirotoshi Onaka

| Bandits

| CF

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ World All-Stars reserves

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

! scope="col" width=50 | Position

Cody Clark

| Bandits

| C

K.C. Hobson

| Cavalry

| DH

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ World All-Stars Pitchers

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

Virgil Vasquez

| Heat

Brian Grening

| Cavalry

Anthony Claggett

| Heat

Zachary Fuesser

| Bite

Kevin Reese

| Aces

Seon Gi Kim

| Bite

Hirotaka Koishi

| Aces

Tyler Herr

| Blue Sox

Zachary Arneson

| Aces

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Team Australia starters

! scope="col" width=50 | Order

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

! scope="col" width=50 | Position

1

| Elliot Biddle

| Aces

| DH

2

| Chris Snelling

| Blue Sox

| RF

3

| Mitch Dening

| Blue Sox

| CF

4

| Justin Huber

| Aces

| 1B

5

| Stefan Welch

| Bite

| 3B

6

| Brad Harman

| Aces

| SS

7

| Allan de San Miguel

| Heat

| C

8

| Joshua Roberts

| Bandits

| LF

9

| Scott Wearne

| Aces

| 2B

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Team Australia reserves

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

! scope="col" width=50 | Position

Darryl George

| Aces

| 1B

Aaron Sayers

| Aces

| SS

Ryan Battaglia

| Bandits

| C

Ryan Dale

| Aces

| 2B

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Team Australia Pitchers

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

Paul Mildren

| Bite

Shane Lindsay

| Aces

Ryan Rowland-Smith

| Blue Sox

Chris Oxspring

| Blue Sox

Tim Atherton

| Blue Sox

Brendan Wise

| Heat

Daniel McGrath

| Aces

John Hussey

| Aces

Kyle Perkins

| Cavalry

{{col-end}}

== Box score ==

{{linescore

| Date = 16 December 2012

| Time = 14:00

| Location = Melbourne Ballpark, Melbourne, Victoria

| Road = World All-Stars | RoadAbr = WAS

| R1 =0 | R2 =0 | R3 =2 | R4 =0 | R5 =0 | R6 =2 | R7 =0 | R8 =0 | R9 =0 | RR =4 | RH =5 | RE =2

| Home = Team Australia | HomeAbr = AUS

| H1 =0 | H2 =3 | H3 =1 | H4 =0 | H5 =2 | H6 =0 | H7 =0 | H8 =0 | H9 =X | HR =6 | HH =9 | HE =1

| WP =S. Lindsay | LP =B. Grening | SV =K. Perkins

| HomeHR = B. Harman (1), A. de San Miguel (1) | RoadHR = -

| Attendance = 1,669

| BoxURL = http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2012_12_16_waswin_auswin_1&t=g_box&sid=t4067

}}

Postseason

The 2013 Australian Baseball League (ABL) postseason was held from 2 to 9 February 2013. It was scheduled to start on 1 February, but the first game of the preliminary final series was postponed due to wet weather, and was the first game of a doubleheader the following day. The postseason was contested by three of the six teams participating in the regular season, with the teams with the best winning percentages qualifying.

The preliminary final series was hosted by the Sydney Blue Sox at Blue Sox Stadium in Sydney, against the Perth Heat. The Heat won the series two games to nil, to then face the Canberra Cavalry at Narrabundah Ballpark in Canberra in the championship series. Canberra defeated Perth two games to nil to win their first ABL championship and be awarded the Claxton Shield. It was the first time a team from the Australian Capital Territory won the Claxton Shield

= Format =

At the conclusion of the regular season, the postseason will involve the teams in a two-round structure. Each round will consist of a best-of-three game series between the respective teams. The first-placed team will directly qualify for the championship series, and the second- and third-placed teams will play each other in the preliminary final series, the winner of which will qualify for the second place in the championship series.{{cite web | title=Playoff Procedures - Format for 2012/13 season | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/playoff_procedures.jsp?lid=595&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=22 January 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129142126/http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/playoff_procedures.jsp?lid=595&sid=l595 | archive-date=29 January 2012 | url-status=dead }}

= Bracket =

{{3TeamBracket

| RD1 = Preliminary Final Series
2 February 2013

| RD2 = Championship Series
8-9 February 2013

| team-width = 175

| RD1-seed1 = 2

| RD1-team1 = {{ABL team|SYD}}

| RD1-score1 = 0

| RD1-seed2 = 3

| RD1-team2 = {{ABL team|PER}}

| RD1-score2 = 2

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = {{ABL team|CAN}}

| RD2-score1 = 2

| RD2-seed2 = WP

| RD2-team2 = {{ABL team|PER}}

| RD2-score2 = 0

}}

== Qualification ==

The Sydney Blue Sox were the first team to clinch a postseason berth, when they defeated the Brisbane Bandits in the first game of their second series at Blue Sox Stadium in Sydney, the final series of the regular season.{{cite news | title=SportsDay Live, Friday January 25 | url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/sportsday-live/sportsday-live-friday-january-25-20130125-2daja.html | accessdate=27 January 2013 | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=25 January 2013 | agency=Fairfax Media}} In the second game of the same series the following night, the Blue Sox clinched a home postseason series by beating the Bandits again.{{cite web | last=Handley | first=Tom | title=Sox rip Bandits, clinch home Postseason series | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130126&content_id=41161522&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=27 January 2013 | date=26 January 2013 | quote=13-run rout is biggest of season for Sydney | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222142/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130126&content_id=41161522&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | url-status=dead }} The Canberra Cavalry clinched their first ABL postseason berth that same night, when they defeated the Adelaide Bite at Norwood Oval in Adelaide. The win also guaranteed a regular season finish no lower than second, and like the Blue Sox assured the Cavalry oh hosting a home postseason series.{{cite web | last=Munoz | first=Jessica | title=Cavalry into Postseason behind Buschini's big bat | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130126&content_id=41161502&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=27 January 2013 | date=26 January 2013 | quote=Second baseman records three hits, four RBI in win | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224119/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130126&content_id=41161502&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | url-status=dead }}

The final makeup of the postseason bracket was not determined until the final day of the regular season. The Cavalry guaranteed themselves first place and a place in the championship series when they beat the Bite in their final game. This win also confirmed the Blue Sox would finish in second place and host the preliminary final series.{{cite web | last=Munoz | first=Jessica | title=First Place | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130127&content_id=41200132&vkey=news_t4066&fext=.jsp&sid=t4066 | work=Canberra Cavalry | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=27 January 2013 | date=27 January 2013 | quote=Canberra finish regular season with win to capture regular season crown | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212742/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130127&content_id=41200132&vkey=news_t4066&fext=.jsp&sid=t4066 | url-status=dead }} The Perth Heat qualified for the final postseason position when they defeated the Melbourne Aces at Baseball Park in Perth in their final game. The win eliminated the Bandits from contention.{{cite news | title=Perth Heat rise to the occasion | url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/other/15964372/perth-heat-rise-to-the-occasion/ | accessdate=1 February 2013 | newspaper=The West Australian | date=27 January 2013 | archive-date=17 February 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217043400/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/other/15964372/perth-heat-rise-to-the-occasion/ | url-status=dead }}

= Preliminary final =

The Sydney Blue Sox hosted the Perth Heat in the preliminary final series at Blue Sox Stadium. The Blue Sox and Heat split their season series 4–4. The four game series played in Sydney in November 2012 was also split 2–2.{{cite web | last=Staudinger | first=Krista | title=Preliminary Final preview: Champs take on Sox | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130131&content_id=41253136&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=1 February 2013 | date=30 January 2013 | quote=Perth trying to reach third straight ABLCS; Sydney going for first | archive-date=13 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313140211/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130131&content_id=41253136&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | url-status=dead }} Over the three ABL seasons played up until this series, Perth has the better record head-to-head against Sydney, with a record of 18–9.{{cite web | title=2010 game-by-game results - Perth Heat | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2010&t=t_sch&cid=4068&sid=t4068&stn=true | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219133441/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2010&t=t_sch&cid=4068&sid=t4068&stn=true | url-status=dead | archive-date=19 February 2013 | work=Perth Heat | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=1 February 2013 }}{{cite web | title=2011 game-by-game results - Perth Heat | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2011&t=t_sch&cid=4068&sid=t4068&stn=true | work=Perth Heat | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=1 February 2013 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212531/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2011&t=t_sch&cid=4068&sid=t4068&stn=true | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=2012 game-by-game results - Perth Heat | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=t_sch&cid=4068&sid=t4068&stn=true | work=Perth Heat | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=1 February 2013 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235414/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=t_sch&cid=4068&sid=t4068&stn=true | url-status=dead }} The two teams have met in one postseason series before, in the 2011 major semi-final: the Perth Heat won the series 2–0 in Sydney.{{cite web | last=Maun | first=Tyler | title=Perth sweep Sydney away to Round 2 at BOP | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110128&content_id=16522844&vkey=news_t4069&fext=.jsp&sid=t4069 | work=Sydney Blue Sox | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=1 February 2013 | date=28 January 2011 | quote=Three runs in third, eighth send Heat to Championship Series | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193644/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110128&content_id=16522844&vkey=news_t4069&fext=.jsp&sid=t4069 | url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Head-to-head record:
Perth Heat v Sydney Blue Sox

! scope="col" | Game type

! scope="col" | Games
played

! scope="col" | Perth
won

! scope="col" | Sydney
won

scope="row" | Overall

| 27 || 18 || 9

scope="row" | In Sydney

| 14 || 12 || 2

scope="row" | In 2012–13 season

| 8 || 4 || 4

scope="row" | In Postseason

| 2 || 2 || 0

The first game of the series was scheduled to be played on 1 February, but was postponed due to wet weather. It was rescheduled to be the first game of a doubleheader the following day.{{cite web | last=Suttor | first=Matt | title=Preliminary Final game one postponed | url=http://www.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130201&content_id=41321996&vkey=news_t4069&fext=.jsp&sid=t4069 | work=Sydney Blue Sox | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=1 February 2013 | date=1 February 2013 | quote=Sox-Heat battle rescheduled for Saturday doubleheader}}

== Game 1 ==

{{linescore

| Date = 2 February 2013

| Time = 15:30 (UTC+11:00)

| Location = Blue Sox Stadium, Sydney

| Other =

| Road = {{ABL team | PER}} | RoadAbr = PER

| R1 = 0 | R2 = 1 | R3 = 0 | R4 = 0 | R5 = 0 | R6 = 0 | R7 = 3 | R8 = 0 | R9 = 0 | RR = 4 | RH = 10 | RE = 0

| Home = {{ABL team | SYD}} | HomeAbr = SYD

| H1 = 0 | H2 = 0 | H3 = 0 | H4 = 0 | H5 = 1 | H6 = 0 | H7 = 0 | H8 = 0 | H9 = 0 | HR = 1 | HH = 9 | HE = 0

| WP = Anthony Claggett (1–0) | LP = Wayne Lundgren (0–1) | SV = Brendan Wise (1)

| HomeHR = | RoadHR =

| Attendance = 794

| Notes =

| BoxURL = http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_02_02_prtwin_sydwin_1&t=g_box&sid=l595

}}

== Game 2 ==

{{linescore

| Date = 2 February 2013

| Time = 19:30 (UTC+11:00)

| Location = Blue Sox Stadium, Sydney

| Other =

| Road = {{ABL team | PER}} | RoadAbr = PER

| R1 = 2 | R2 = 0 | R3 = 4 | R4 = 2 | R5 = 0 | R6 = 0 | R7 = 0 | R8 = 0 | R9 = 0 | RR = 8 | RH = 14 | RE = 1

| Home = {{ABL team | SYD}} | HomeAbr = SYD

| H1 = 0 | H2 = 2 | H3 = 0 | H4 = 0 | H5 = 0 | H6 = 0 | H7 = 0 | H8 = 1 | H9 = 3 | HR = 6 | HH = 10 | HE = 1

| WP = Warwick Saupold (1–0) | LP = Brad Thomas (0–1) | SV = Brendan Wise (2)

| HomeHR = | RoadHR = Timothy Kennelly (1), Allan de San Miguel (1)

| Attendance = 1,212

| Notes =

| BoxURL = http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_02_02_prtwin_sydwin_2&t=g_box&sid=l595

}}

= Championship series =

The Canberra Cavalry will host the Perth Heat in the championship series at Narrabundah Ballpark. The Cavalry won their season series against the Heat 6–2. The four game series played in Canberra in January 2013 was won by Canberra 3–1. Over the three ABL seasons played up until this series, Canberra has the better record head-to-head against Perth, with a record of 13–12.{{cite web | title=2010 game-by-game results - Canberra Cavalry | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2010&t=t_sch&cid=4066&sid=t4066&stn=true | work=Canberra Cavalry | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=2 February 2013 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220904/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2010&t=t_sch&cid=4066&sid=t4066&stn=true | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=2011 game-by-game results - Canberra Cavalry | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2011&t=t_sch&cid=4066&sid=t4066&stn=true | work=Canberra Cavalry | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=2 February 2013 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212612/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2011&t=t_sch&cid=4066&sid=t4066&stn=true | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=2012 game-by-game results - Canberra Cavalry | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=t_sch&cid=4066&sid=t4066&stn=true | work=Canberra Cavalry | publisher=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=2 February 2013 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235503/http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?y=2012&t=t_sch&cid=4066&sid=t4066&stn=true | url-status=dead }} The two teams have not previously met in a postseason series; Canberra qualified for the postseason for the first time in 2013.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Head-to-head record:
Canberra Cavalry v Perth Heat

! scope="col" | Game type

! scope="col" | Games
played

! scope="col" | Canberra
won

! scope="col" | Perth
won

scope="row" | Overall

| 25 || 13 || 12

scope="row" | In Canberra

| 13 || 7 || 6

scope="row" | In 2012–13 season

| 8 || 6 || 2

scope="row" | In Postseason

| 0 || – || –

== Game 1 ==

{{linescore

| Date = 8 February 2013

| Time = 19:00 (UTC+11:00)

| Location = Narrabundah Ballpark, Canberra

| Other =

| Road = {{ABL team | PER}} | RoadAbr = PER

| R1 = 0 | R2 = 0 | R3 = 0 | R4 = 0 | R5 = 0 | R6 = 0 | R7 = 0 | R8 = 2 | R9 = 2 | RR = 4 | RH = 8 | RE = 1

| Home = {{ABL team | CAN}} | HomeAbr = CAN

| H1 = 1 | H2 = 3 | H3 = 0 | H4 = 2 | H5 = 0 | H6 = 0 | H7 = 0 | H8 = 0 | H9 = X | HR = 6 | HH = 12 | HE = 2

| WP = Brian Grening (1–0) | LP = Anthony Claggett (1–1) | SV = Sean Toler (1)

| HomeHR = Aaron Sloan (1), Ryan Stovall (1) | RoadHR = Timothy Kennelly (1), Luke Hughes (1)

| Attendance = 2,013

| Notes =

| BoxURL = http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_02_08_prtwin_canwin_1&t=g_box&did=milb&sid=l595

}}

== Game 2 ==

{{linescore

| Date = 9 February 2013

| Time = 19:00 (UTC+11:00)

| Location = Narrabundah Ballpark, Canberra

| Other =

| Road = {{ABL team | PER}} | RoadAbr = PER

| R1 = 2 | R2 = 0 | R3 = 0 | R4 = 0 | R5 = 4 | R6 = 0 | R7 = 0 | R8 = 0 | R9 = 0 | RR = 6 | RH = 8 | RE = 2

| Home = {{ABL team | CAN}} | HomeAbr = CAN

| H1 = 1 | H2 = 4 | H3 = 1 | H4 = 0 | H5 = 0 | H6 = 0 | H7 = 1 | H8 = 0 | H9 = X | HR = 7 | HH = 13 | HE = 0

| WP = Brodie Downs (1–0) | LP = Jack Frawley (0–1) | SV = Sean Toler (2)

| HomeHR = Kody Hightower (1), Michael Wells (1) | RoadHR =

| Attendance = 2,043

| Notes =

| BoxURL = http://web.theabl.com.au/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_02_09_prtwin_canwin_1&t=g_box&did=milb&sid=l595

}}

Awards

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Player of the Week award winners

! scope="col" width=50 | Round

! scope="col" width=150 | Player{{cite web | title=2012/13 Delta Air Lines Players of the Week | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/page.jsp?ymd=20121115&content_id=40282960&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=26 January 2013}}

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

1

| K.C. Hobson

| Canberra Cavalry

2

| Elliot Biddle

| Melbourne Aces

3

| Carlo Testa

| Melbourne Aces

4

| Cody Clark

| Brisbane Bandits

5

| Angus Roeger

| Adelaide Bite

6

| Justin Howard

| Adelaide Bite

7

| Kody Hightower

| Canberra Cavalry

8

| Ji-Man Choi

| Adelaide Bite

9

| Ryan Stovall

| Canberra Cavalry

10

| Adam Buschini

| Canberra Cavalry

11

| C.J. Beatty

| Brisbane Bandits

12

| Trent D'Antonio

| Sydney Blue Sox

13

| Adam Buschini

| Canberra Cavalry

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Pitcher of the Week award winners

! scope="col" width=50 | Round

! scope="col" width=150 | Player

! scope="col" width=150 | Team

1

| Chris Oxspring

| Sydney Blue Sox

2

| Chris Oxspring

| Sydney Blue Sox

3

| Chris Smith

| Brisbane Bandits

4

| Chris Oxspring

| Sydney Blue Sox

5

| Anthony Claggett

| Perth Heat

6

| Sean Toler

| Canberra Cavalry

7

| Chris Smith

| Brisbane Bandits

8

| Craig Anderson

| Sydney Blue Sox

9

| Chris Smith

| Brisbane Bandits

10

| Adam Bright

| Melbourne Aces

11

| Matthew Williams

| Sydney Blue Sox

12

| Dushan Ruzic

| Adelaide Bite

13

| Jack Frawley

| Perth Heat

{{col-end}}

References

{{reflist |2| refs=

}}