Adelaide Giants’ shift in philosophy steers the club towards SA’s first national baseball title in 40 years

A commitment to blooding the best youth prospects, led by the country’s youngest top-flight manager, has steered Adelaide Giants to within reach of SA’s first national baseball title in 40 years.

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CHRIS Adamson was just 28 when he was handed the reins of SA’s sole professional baseball club.

Three years on and still the ABL’s youngest manager, the Adelaide Giants mentor is also trusting in youth as he closes in on the state’s first national title in four decades.

“It’s been a really fun ride,” said Adamson, who finished bottom in his debut campaign at the helm.

“The club probably took what a lot of people would’ve seen was a bit of a gamble backing me in.

“It’s a results-driven game and pressure is inevitable, so our first year was pretty tough.

“But our GM (Nathan Davison) believed in the new direction and philosophy I wanted to take, and I’m extremely thankful he stuck by me.

Adelaide Giants manager Chris Adamson, with young guns Curtis Mead and Rixon Wingrove, are targeting SA’s first national title in 40 years. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“We’ve come out of the other side of it, still with a lot of work to go, but definitely trending upwards.”

Adamson’s charges last week wrapped up Adelaide’s first minor premiership since 2015 on the back of an impressive 26-14 regular season record.

The Sydney-born boss spent five seasons as a catcher with the Giants, then known as the Bite, before transitioning to a playing coach then assistant over three campaigns.

But he said shifting the club’s recruiting policy when he was appointed manager had been critical in steering his side to this weekend’s semi-final series against Canberra Cavalry.

Adamson said the key role the likes of big-hitting teenagers Curtis Mead and Rixon Wingrove had played in the success, highlighted a commitment to blooding emerging Australian talent.

Teenager Rixon Wingrove has impressed during his debut season with Adelaide Giants. Picture: Ryan Schembri/SMP Images/Baseball Australia

“We were in a bit of rebuilding phase with a lot of our more senior guys retiring and moving elsewhere,” Adamson, 31, said.

“So we made a concerted effort to try and build a core of young Australians that we can build a team around, as opposed to having to backfill Australians around imports.

“You do have to remind yourself that the guys we’re rolling out are routinely 19 and 20 years old.

“But if we keep this group together for the long-term, there’s some pretty cool stuff on the horizon.”

Adelaide travels to the capital for the opening clash of the best-of-three series on Friday night, before returning for game two the next day and, if required, Sunday’s decider at West Beach.

SA-born Curtis Mead is one of a number of homegrown talents leading Adelaide Giants’ championship charge. Picture: Ryan Schembri/SMP Images/ABL Media

Mead (.373 batting average) and Wingrove (.326), both 19, will look to continue the breakout seasons which have placed them among the country’s hottest baseball prospects.

Adamson said his team was relishing the task of emulating SA’s last national championships triumph in 1980.

“Wins are extremely hard to come by in whatever walk of life,” said Adamson, who spent this past winter with US Major League outfit Texas Rangers.

“So for me it’s about actually celebrating success.

“Our kids are pretty excited and they just like going out there and playing, irrespective of the stage. It’s been a long-time coming and the guys can’t wait for a big weekend.”