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ABLCS through the years 02/06/2018 10:22 PM ETBy David Penrose / TheABL.com.au
Brisbane and Canberra will vie for the Claxton Shield when they clash in the best-of-three Australian Baseball League Championship Series presented by BORAL® this weekend. The Bandits are aiming to become the first team to win three-straight crowns while the Cavalry are hoping to bring the Claxton Shield to the nation's capital for the second time. Ahead of the 2018 version, we take a look back the past ABLCS winners:
2011 - Perth HeatPerth claimed the first title in the reborn Australian Baseball League, downing Adelaide two games to one. The Heat dropped game one 4-3 before fighting back to claim Western Australia's 12th Claxton Shield. Benjamin Moore tossed a complete game in the decider, striking out 10 and giving up one run on four hits to be named MVP of the series.
2012 - Perth HeatPerth claimed back-to-back ABL crowns, defeating Melbourne in three games at Baseball Park. The Heat won game one and three, walking off on a wild pitch in the deciding match-up. Perth fell behind 6-3 but tied the ballgame in the fifth before walking off in the 13th. Pitcher Virgil Vasquez was named ABLCS MVP after working a complete game in the series-opener.
2013 - Canberra CavalryCanberra made history, defeating Perth in straight-sets to bring the Claxton Shield to the nation's capital for the first time. Starter Brian Grening picked up the win as the Cavs prevailed 6-4 in game one before wrapping up the title 7-6 in game two. Veteran Michael Wells broke a 6-6 tie with a solo home run with two outs in the seventh.
2014 - Perth HeatPerth reclaimed the Claxton Shield with a 2-0 series victory over Canberra. The Heat won game one on Joey Wong's walk-off RBI-double and held off the Cavs 2-1 in game two. Brandon Tripp drove in a first-inning run and Allan de San Miguel added an insurance run, which proved crucial when Jeremy Barnes hit a solo homer an inning later. Wong was named series MVP.
2015 - Perth HeatPerth secured its fourth title in the current ABL, taking down Adelaide 2-1 at Norwood Oval to become the first side to win an ABLCS on the road. The Heat dropped game one before storming back to claim back-to-back titles. Perth won the decider 12-5 after jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second. Allan de San Miguel was named ABLCS MVP after going 5-for-18 with five RBIs.
2016 - Brisbane BanditsBrisbane won the ABLCS on its first trip to the playoffs, downing Adelaide two games to none at Holloway Field. The Bandits took the opening game 7-4 before capturing the Claxton Shield with a 7-1 victory in game two. Donald Lutz blasted a three-run homer to open the scoring in the third inning. He was named MVP of the series after going 3-for-7 with four RBI.
2017 - Brisbane BanditsBrisbane took down Melbourne in straight-sets at Melbourne Ballpark. The Bandits homered four times in a 6-2 game one victory before sealing its second-straight title with a 3-1 victory in game two. Starter Kramer Champlin tossed seven one-run innings in game two, giving up just one hit and striking out four. Logan Wade was MVP of the series.
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