The ABL Finals started off with a bang on Friday night between Canberra and Perth. The two teams have faced off against one another twice in the championship series splitting the two.
In Game 1, Perth jumped on top of the Cavalry 2-0 in the top of the 2nd. It started with a Tim Kennelly 2-run shot to left. But the lead did not last long. In the bottom half of the inning, George Callil gave Canberra a 3-2 lead on a homerun to left off of Perth starter Tucker Smith.
Kennelly led the Heat offense driving in 3 runs while going 3-for-4. He hit his 2nd homerun of the game in the Top of the 8th.
But Canberra did not stop in the 2nd. They scored 2 more in the 3rd, once in the 4th, and a pair of runs in each of the 5th and 6th. While Callil hit the only home run, Miles Simington and Ray Zuberer both went 3-for-4 to pace the Cavalry bats. Simington and Cam Warner both drove in a pair of runs as Canberra pounded out 14 hits.
Jack Mahoney went 5.0 innings and picked up the win despite giving up 6 runs. Jon Kennedy picked up the save giving up a single run in the 9th.
The two play again tonight (4AM EST) and once again you can watch it online through Baseball+.
Stay tuned for updates from Game 2 and possible Game 3 of the ABL Championship Series.