ABL Claxton Shield gets closer and closer for Adelaide Bite

UNFINISHED business has been the theme for Adelaide this season — now just four wins sit between the Bite and lifting the Claxton Shield.

TOM BRICE, STEVE MINTZ - Action from Game 4 the 9th Round of the 2015 / 2016 Australian Baseball League between Adelaide Bite and Perth Heat played at Norwood Oval, Adelaide, South Australia, Sunday December 20th, 2015. [Photo: Ryan Schembri - SMP Images - ABL Media]

UNFINISHED business has been the theme for Adelaide this season — now just four wins sit between the Bite and lifting the Claxton Shield.

After the heartbreak of losing last season’s Australian Baseball League Championship Series to the Perth Heat the Bite are again in a position to end SA baseball’s 36-year title drought.

Adelaide will face Canberra in a three-game preliminary final series after claiming a 3-1 victory against the Cavalry in its final regular-season series.

The winner will advance to the Championship Series against Brisbane Bandits starting February 5.

Manager Steve Mintz said Adelaide was peaking at right time after a slow start to the season.

“The last couple of weeks we’ve played some really good baseball and the guys have come together and gelled and are having fun,” Mintz said.

“We’re pitching well, hitting well, and even in the close games we are finding a way.

“Every thing is coming together — the last three or four series we’ve had the same 22 guys and that helps because we’re spending time in the clubhouse and on the road.”

Sunday the Bite capped off the regular season with a 2-1 victory over the Cavalry at Norwood Oval to notch 30 wins for the second time in franchise history.

Travis Demeritte homered with the first at-bat for the Bite and Ben Lodge scored on a throwing error with the score locked at 1-all in the seventh.

Adelaide outscored Canberra 35-15 across the series as it shutdown the Cavalry’s potent offence.

Mintz said it was good to get a look at the Cavalry ahead of meeting again in the best-of-three preliminary final series but said it counted for little starting Friday.

Game one of the preliminary final series is at Norwood Oval on Friday night with game two and three (if needed) in Canberra.

Originally published as ABL Claxton Shield gets closer and closer for Adelaide Bite