Australian Baseball League

SYDNEY, 8 February - Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces outfielder Carlo Testa has been named the winner of the 2013 ABL Fan Choice Award presented by Fielders Choice. Testa garnered over 2,000 votes to edge Brisbane Bandits pitcher Chris Smith for the accolade.

Though 2012/13 was a tough season for the Aces, Claxton Shield runners-up just a season ago, Testa was a shining light. The Kansas City Royals import, who spent the 2012 North American season with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, was a key piece of Melbourne's offence throughout this season's ABL campaign.

While playing all 46 games for the Aces, Testa endured ups and downs but finished strong for his side. The outfielder batted .294 overall in 2012/13, the best batting average among Aces' regulars, with six home runs, 19 runs batted in, and 10 stolen bases.

Testa beat out a field of 29 other competitors for this year's Fan Choice Award, fending off a late charge from his closest competitor in the 2013 Final Vote, Brisbane's Smith. The Bandits starter, who finished second in the league in ERA and fourth in strikeouts, would have been the second straight Bandits starter to claim the award after Alex Maestri took home the first ever Fan Choice Award last season.