Australian Baseball League

SYDNEY, 20 July - Australian baseball’s elite will begin preparations for the upcoming 2013 World Baseball Classic by taking on the Sydney Blue Sox in a special three-game “Australia Series” from 26-28 October 2012 at Blacktown International Sportspark.

Just two weeks out from the 2012-13 Australian Baseball League (ABL) Season Opening Day, the Australia Series will provide an opportunity for the strengthening Blue Sox roster to size up against the nation’s Senior National Team.  The series marks the return of the National Team to Sydney for the first time since 2006, when their game sold out in just 48 hours.

For Team Australia, the series will be a test of talent, as the team prepares their roster in the lead-up to the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Team Australia manager, Jon Deeble said “This series will be the first stage of player selections for the WBC team, and it will give us a good chance to look at some of our newer players coming through and how they play at the elite competition level.”

Following the success of the ABL’s ConocoPhillips All-Star Game in Perth last year, the Australia Series in Sydney will provide baseball fans on the east coast the chance to support Team Australia on home soil.

Jason Pospishil, new head coach of the Blue Sox, said “I’m excited and I think it’s exciting for New South Wales. They’ll get to see the best baseball players in Australia playing at the best baseball venue in Australia. For our players, going up against elite players of that calibre will definitely get us ready for the upcoming season.”

Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) CEO, Brett Pickett, said that “the Australia Series is another fantastic opportunity for the Australian Baseball fraternity to get behind their National Team on home soil, and for the general public to experience a first-class baseball event, presented by the Australian Baseball League”.

Venue              Blue Sox Stadium
Blacktown International Sportspark
Blacktown, Sydney, NSW

Game times      Friday 26 October, 7:30pm
Saturday 27 October, 7:30pm
Sunday 28 October, 12:30pm.

Tickets
To say thank you for your support all Sydney Blue Sox Season Members will receive a FREE ticket to one game of the Australia Series and up to an additional two half-price tickets for the other games. Members can purchase their half price tickets from Friday 20 July 2012. 

For new members, the Blue Sox are offering a special Australia Series 10% off membership, plus a FREE ticket to one game of the Australia Series and up to an additional two half-price tickets for the other games also starting Friday 20 July 2012.

Email sales@sydneybluesox.com.au or call 02 8006 1423 to take up this special offer and reserve your member seats.

Tickets go on sale to the General Public on 3 September 2012.

For media enquiries please contact
Sydney Blue Sox - Bob Turner - 0402 414 545
Team Australia - Trish Quayle - 0431 446 176