Canberra Cavalry wins historic Asia Series final
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The Canberra Cavalry created history by annihilating the Uni Lions 14-4 to
stun the baseball world and win the Asia Series.
A grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to tournament MVP Jack Murphy sealed
the historic win on Wednesday night as fireworks erupted around the Taichung
Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan.
His second home run of the tournament gave him seven runs batted in (RBI) in
the final and allowed him to pip second-baseman Jon Berti for the MVP title.
But it was more brilliance from Berti, and a flawless five-from-five hitting
display from centre-fielder Mitch Dening that were the foundations upon which
the remarkable upset was built.
"It's unbelievable. Extremely special," third-baseman Jeremy Barnes said from
the winning clubhouse.
"The whole series was surreal. It's hard to even put into words right now."
The Cavalry had already rewritten the record books at the tournament.
Previously no Australian side had won a match before the Australian Baseball
League champions downed Taiwan's EDA Rhinos in their first game.
They topped that by beating South Korean champions Samsung Lions on Tuesday
to become the first team from outside of Japan, Taiwan and Korea to reach the
final.
But more was to come.
Trailing 4-3 late in the game, the Cavalry rallied with a monster five-run
seventh inning to turn the match on its head.
Berti, Denning and Murphy each knocked home RBIs, before veteran Michael
Wells crushed a two-RBI double to silence the partisan home crowd.
Berti then turned on his defensive flair, producing an acrobatic fielding
effort to turn a double play and end the Lions' eighth innings.
With the Lions on the ropes, catcher Murphy delivered the telling blow in the
bottom of the eighth with a grand slam - his second home run of the
tournament - to extend the lead to 10 runs.
Closing pitcher Sean Toler made no mistake, icing victory in cool fashion to
spark wild on-field celebrations.
Murphy had also been the match-winner on Tuesday, hitting a two-run homer to
break a 5-5 deadlock.
Prior to that hit, the 25-year-old Toronto Blue Jays prospect had endured a
miserable tournament - grabbing just one hit.
"He started off the tournament a little slow but he got hot at the right time
and he really carried us (in the final)," Barnes said.
"That home run at the end was the dagger that ended it all."
Barnes said Murphy was a deserved MVP, but also heaped praise on the allround
efforts of Berti, labelling him a "big time player".
"He has played such big defence for us and has sparked us by getting big hits
and stealing bases," Barnes said.
"You could've easily given Berti the MVP as well."
Barnes' late-game heroics in the semi-final and final will deliver a $500,000
winning cheque to the ABL, which will be spread among the six teams to grow
the sport in Australia.
interview : Michael Collins
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/interview-michael-collins/5107102
interview : Jack Murphy
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/interview-jack-murphy/5107098
interview : Hayden Beard
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/interview-hayden-beard/5107122
interview : Thom Carter
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/interview-thom-carter/5107108
冠軍盃高清無碼1080P近照
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-21/asia-series-trophy/5107016