2010 Claxton Shield

2010 Claxton Shield
The logo for the 2010 Claxton Shield
Sport	Baseball
Defending champions	Perth Heat (2009)
Duration	6 November 2009 – 7 February 2010
Number of teams	5
Regular season
Season champions	Victoria Aces (17–7)
Second place	South Australia (14–10)
Third place	New South Wales Patriots (14–10)
Championship series
Champions	Victoria Aces (22nd title)
Runners-up	South Australia
Seasons
← 2009

The 2010 Claxton Shield was the 76th Claxton Shield tournament, the premier baseball competition in Australia, and was held from 6 November 2009 to 7 February 2010. It was hailed as the precursor to the new Australian Baseball League that would start in the place of the Claxton Shield in late 2010 to early 2011.^[1] The Victoria Aces defeated South Australia two games to nil in the championship series to win the tournament; this was the 22nd time the Claxton Shield had been awarded to a Victorian team.^[2] The competition was sponsored by Domino's Pizza.^[3][4]

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Victoria Aces finished in first place with a 17–7 record, earning home-field advantage for the three-game championship series. South Australia hosted the three-game semi-final series against the New South Wales Patriots. Both teams finished with a 14–10 record. The Perth Heat (12–12) and Queensland Rams (3–21) both failed to qualify for the finals.^[5]

In June 2009, it was announced that the rights to the Claxton Shield had been sold to a new Australian Baseball League (ABL), with ownership split between Major League Baseball's 75 percent share and the 25 percent share owned by the Australian Baseball Federation. The 2010 tournament was considered preparation for the inaugural ABL season starting in 2010–11.^[6] It varied from the 2009 Claxton Shield by expanding the season to include ten rounds. Since an uneven number (five) teams were involved, four teams paired off for each round and played a three-game series, while the remaining team took a bye. During the season, each team had two bye rounds and played two rounds against each other team, one at home and one away. In total, the schedule allowed for 24 regular-season games per team before a postseason similar to the 2009 edition: the first-place team directly qualified for the championship series and played against the winner of a playoff series between the second- and third-place teams.^[7]

During the regular season, games were played on a Friday night and a doubleheader on Saturday; in each doubleheader one of the two games was shortened to seven innings. The exception to this was when Perth played their home games; they played on a Thursday night instead of a doubleheader on Saturday. Each postseason series was scheduled for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.^[7]

The 2010 series allowed each team to make use of a 19-man active roster.^[6] Exceptions were made in two cases that allowed teams' active rosters to expand to 21 players, both times for the same reason. Two games during the season had to be postponed because of poor weather. Both games involved teams meeting for the first time during the season; make-up games were scheduled at the start of the return series between the teams, and this resulted in two four-game series. In both cases, the teams had a 19-man roster for the make-up game, and an expanded 21-man roster for the originally scheduled series.^[8]

The New South Wales Patriots announced on 4 November 2009 both their 30–man roster^[9] and their 19–man roster for the opening series of the season.^[10]

New South Wales Patriots roster
Active roster				Inactive roster		Coaches
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 21 Jarrett Commane 32 Todd Grattan 14 Lee Ingram 44 Wayne Lundgren  9 Jarryd Sullivan 26 Matthew Williams Left-handed pitchers 31 Craig Anderson 10 Tim Cox 19 Matthew Rae		Catchers 23 Andrew Graham 20 Patrick Maat Infielders 24 Mark Holland 16 Michael Lysaught Outfielders 30 Tim Atherton 33 Tim Auty 17 Mitch Dening 25 David Kandilas Utility players 11 Trent D'Antonio  6 Jason Pospishil		-- Alessio Angelucci  3 Scott Dalgairns 36 Josh Dean 43 Josh Freeman 37 Vaughn Harris 22 Alex Johnson 42 Boss Moanaroa 12 Shannon Pender  2 Trent Schmutter 28 Aaron Sookee  5 Tim Stanford 39 Bradley Tippett 29 Mark Trau 35 Todd Van Steensel		Manager 18 Glenn Williams Coaches 15 Gary White (assistant coach)  7 Graham Cassel (assistant coach) 31 Chris Oxspring (pitching coach) Other Staff Eddie Bray (Executive Officer)
Correct as of 31 January 2010[9][11]

Queensland Rams roster
Active roster				Inactive roster		Coaches
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 41 James Albury 45 Justin Erasmus  5 Brett Montgomery 48 Simon Morriss 37 Drew Naylor 44 Aaron Thompson 29 Matthew Timms Left-handed pitchers 11 Chris Lamb 21 Rodney Wodson		Catchers 25 Joel Naughton 18 Mitch Nilsson Infielders 31 Andrew Campbell 24 Brad Dutton 15 Daniel Lamb-Hunt  8 Alan Schoenberger Outfielders  6 Joel McInnes Utility players 52 Ryan Battaglia 20 Andrew Utting 13 Shayne Watson		42 Trent Baker -- PJ Bevis 35 Jarrod Bruce 27 Nathan Crawford -- Tristan Crawford -- Wade Dutton -- Todd Fairbrother 46 Aven Fletcher -- Stephen Greer -- James Linger -- Jay Nilsson -- Carlos Prichard -- Rory Rhodes -- Ryan Searle -- Phil Stockman -- Logan Wade  9 Luke White		Manager 14 Dave Nilsson Coaches 17 Peter Gahan (assistant coach)  7 Brett Ward (assistant coach) 19 Gary Nilsson (pitching coach) Other Staff Robert Moden (Executive Officer) Chris Beaton (physiotherapist)
Correct as of 24 January 2010[12][13]

Perth Heat roster
Active roster				Inactive roster		Coaches
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 17 Benn Grice 32 Mark Kelly 35 Scott Mitchinson 22 Dylan Peacock 30 Warwick Saupold 21 Brendan Wise Left-handed pitchers 26 Daniel Schmidt 33 Terrence Wohlever		Catchers 11 Allan de San Miguel  9 Chris House Infielders 34 Dallas Christison  2 Mitch Graham 16 Luke Hughes  4 Andrew Kyle Outfielders 38 Brandon Dale 10 Nick Kimpton Utility players 19 Matthew Kennelly 23 Timothy Kennelly 14 Dean White		1 Corey Adamson 40 Robin Adamson 21 Lachlan Dale 29 Nathan Driessen 20 Jesse Barron 18 Liam Hendriks 12 Liam Hopkins 31 Bryant Kraus -- Cameron Lamb -- Richard Michell  7 Todd Murphy -- Travis Murphy 27 Aaron Ottoway -- Ben Risinger -- Graeme Scorer  6 Jason Smit		Manager  5 Don Kyle Coaches 40 Greg Jelks (assistant coach) 37 Graeme Lloyd (assistant coach) 28 Steven Kirkham (pitching coach) Other staff Annie Italiano (physiotherapist)
Correct as of 24 January 2010

South Australia roster
Active roster				Inactive roster		Coaches
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 27 Richard Bartlett 17 Hayden Beard 26 Darren Fidge 62 Chris Lawson 21 Steven O'Connor 32 Wayne Ough 99 Dushan Ruzic Left-handed pitchers 23 Paul Mildren		Catchers 29 Michael Collins 20 Dan Wilson Infielders  6 Josh Cakebread 51 Jeremy Cresswell  4 Scott Gladstone 55 Ryan Murphy 22 Stefan Welch Outfielders  8 Angus Roeger  3 David Washington 37 Ben Wigmore Utility players 15 Mathew Smith		-- Dylan Child  5 Chris Doyle -- Wilson Lee -- Ben Lodge  9 Jackson Lodge 11 Ricky Meinhold -- Brendan Pett 18 Nick Talbot		Manager 14 Tony Harris Coaches 16 Warwick Marks (pitching coach) 12 Craig Watts (assistant coach) Other Staff David Hilterbrand (Executive Officer) Andrew Darcey (physiotherapist)
Correct as of 7 February 2010[14][15]

Victoria Aces roster
Active roster				Inactive roster		Coaches
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 18 Matthew Blackmore  4 Ross Hipke 15 Shane Lindsay 17 Russell Spear Left-handed pitchers  5 Elliot Biddle 22 Adam Blackley 11 Adam Bright 19 Donovan Hendriks		Catchers 16 Grant Karlsen 24 Tristan McDonald Infielders  7 James Beresford 10 Josh Davies 23 Hayden Dingle 12 Brad Harman  6 Matthew Lawman Outfielders  3 Andrew Russell 14 Paul Weichard Utility players  2 Brett Tamburrino  9 Scott Wearne		27 Dean Barker -- Blake Cunningham -- Josh Davies -- Matthew Gourlay -- Lee Hogan -- Justin Huber -- Casey Jones 13 Scott McIntyre -- Matthew Prior -- Tim Sullivan 28 Greg Wiltshire		Manager 43 Phil Dale Coaches 29 Phil Allen (assistant coach) 26 David Clarkson (assistant coach) Other Staff Alicia Tang (physiotherapist)
Correct as of 7 February 2010[16][17]

The 2010 Claxton Shield was contested between five teams from around Australia. In previous years, many of the teams had played their home games at multiple venues. This season each team held their home games at only one venue. There was one scheduled exception to this at the start of the season: the New South Wales Patriots' final home series against the Perth Heat was held at Gilchrist Oval, whereas all of their other home games were held at Blacktown Baseball Stadium.^[7]

As a result of poor attendance at Geelong Baseball Park, game one of the fifth-round series between New South Wales and the Victoria Aces was moved to La Trobe University, Melbourne.^[18] Although the Geelong games had attracted crowds of no more than 500,^[19] the moved game had an attendance of 2,200.^[20] Though no further regular season games were moved, the finals series hosted by the Aces was held at La Trobe University as well.^[21]

The venues are as follows:

Team	Stadium(s)	Location(s)
New South Wales Patriots	Blacktown Baseball Stadium Gilchrist Oval	Rooty Hill (Sydney) Campbelltown (Sydney)
Perth Heat	Baseball Park	Thornlie (Perth)
Queensland Rams	Holloway Field	Newmarket (Brisbane)
South Australia	Norwood Oval	Norwood (Adelaide)
Victoria Aces	Geelong Baseball Park La Trobe University	Grovedale (Geelong) Bundoora (Melbourne)

The regular season was held from 6 November 2009 through to 23 January 2010. All five teams competed in a double round-robin format; playing each other team in two series of three games each, totaling 24 games played each. The top three teams progressed to the finals series. The top team automatically qualified for the championship series, to face the winner of the semi-final series between the second and third placed teams.^[7]

The Queensland Rams were the first team to be eliminated from contention for the finals, after being swept four games to nil by the Victoria Aces in round 8.^[22][23] The following round saw South Australia clinch a position in the finals, despite finishing the round in second position.^[22][24] It was not until the final round that the last two spots in the finals were decided: the Aces clinched top spot by sweeping the Perth Heat, which combined with the New South Wales Patriots sweep of the Rams eliminated Perth from contention and secured the last finals spot for the Patriots.^[24][25]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Victoria Aces	24	17	7	.708	—	Advance to Championship series
2	South Australia	24	14	10	.583	3	Advance to Semi-final series
3	New South Wales Patriots	24	14	10	.583	3
4	Perth Heat	24	12	12	.500	5
5	Queensland Rams	24	3	21	.125	14

The New South Wales Patriots and the Victoria Aces hosted the opening round of the 2010 Claxton Shield, against the Queensland Rams and the Perth Heat respectively. New South Wales overcame a loss in their first game to take both games in the doubleheader, while Victoria had a first up win, then split their double header with Perth.

The Perth Heat hosted their first series of the competition, winning their series against the New South Wales Patriots two games to one. South Australia had their first games of the season, hosting and sweeping the Queensland Rams three–nil. The second game of both series featured the first extra innings games of the season, with the respective home teams winning both matches.

As a result of their sweep, South Australia (3–0) took the outright lead of the competition, leaving Victoria (2–1) in second, New South Wales and Perth (3–3) tied, and Queensland (1–5) in last position.

The Queensland Rams hosted the Perth Heat, while South Australia travelled to Geelong to face the Victoria Aces. After winning the opening game, Queensland (2–7) dropped both games of the doubleheader to fall further behind the rest of the field. With Perth's (5–4) series win, they moved ahead of New South Wales (3–3) into outright third.

South Australia (4–1) and Victoria (3–2) split their series. The final game of their doubleheader suspended in the bottom of the second due to rain with South Australia leading 2–0. At the time the game administrators considered continuing the game from the point of suspension when the teams next met in Round 9, though the game was actually restarted and eventually won by South Australia.^[5]

South Australia, closely followed by New South Wales, had the first games called prior to their scheduled end due to a mercy rule. South Australia's 10–run win helped to set up their series win against Queensland in Brisbane, while the Patriot's 13–run win over Victoria snapped a 3–game losing streak and was the significant part of the 20 runs they scored in the two games for the day.

South Australia (6–2) extended their tournament lead to a game and a half over New South Wales and Perth (5–4), once again tied. Victoria (4–4) fell to fourth, while Queensland (3–9) remained in last.

As a result of poor attendance at Geelong Baseball Park, game one of the fifth round series between New South Wales and the Victoria was moved to La Trobe University, Melbourne.^[18] Having previously attracted crowds of no more than 500,^[19] the moved game had an attendance of 2,200, which the home team won 3–2.^[20] The series concluded in a doubleheader at Geelong, split between the two teams, giving the Aces the series win. Despite winning the series at Norwood Oval, South Australia suffered their first defeat at home, losing to Perth in the second game of the series.

At the end of the round, South Australia (8–3) held a two-game lead over Victoria (6–5). New South Wales and Perth (6–6) remained tied, having dropped to third place, while Queensland (3–9) remained in last position.

For the second time in the season, the Queensland were swept in a series this time by the Heat at Baseball Park. The Patriots hosted South Australia, and after dropping the first game won both games in the doubleheader to win the series, and inflict their first series loss of the season.

Despite their series loss, South Australia (9–5) remained in first place. Perth (9–6) moved to second place on the back of their sweep, only one half game behind. Victoria (6–5) dropped to third without playing a game. New South Wales (8–7) fell to fourth, while Queensland (3–12) remained in last place.

Going into the final round, the Perth Heat and the Victoria Aces were the two teams that could have taken first place and assured themselves of a home final. In the first game of their series though, the Aces clinched the top spot, and in doing so made the Patriot's chance of overtaking the Heat and making the finals easier.^[26] The following two games saw New South Wales beat Queensland to move them into third position,^[27] and Perth drop another game to Victoria to allow South Australia to secure second, and a home semi final series.^[28]

The Patriots secured the last remaining finals berth in the first game of their doubleheader, beating the Rams 16–0 and eliminating the Heat from finals contention.^[29]

The finals series made use of the same structure as had been used in the 2009 season. The top three teams at the conclusion of the ten rounds of regular season games qualified. The second and third placed teams faced each other in a best-of-three series hosted by the second placed team. The winner of that series then faced the first placed team for a best of three series. South Australia hosted the New South Wales Patriots at Norwood Oval, Adelaide for the semi-final series, while the Victoria Aces hosted the championship series at La Trobe University, Melbourne.^[7]

In the finals, the home team and away team alternated during each of the series. As a result, South Australia was officially the away team for game two of its series against New South Wales,^[31] as was Victoria in game two of the championship series.^[32]

South Australia came from behind in the semi-final series to win 2–1. New South Wales won game one 1–0 on the back of Timothy Auty's RBI-double, as well as Timothy Cox and Lee Ingram combining for a four-hit shutout.^[33] Despite being outhit 10–6, South Australia won game two 3–2. Unusually, the winning run was scored in the top of the ninth inning without a safe hit being recorded.^[34] Game three was won by South Australia 1–0, largely through the man of the match performance of Ryan Murphy; he pitched a complete game shutout, and scored the only run of the game on a solo home run to right field.^[35]

Despite splitting their regular season games 3–3,^[36] Victoria swept South Australia in the championship series 2–0.^[37] Despite taking an early lead in game one, South Australia was unable to hold on after allowing six runners to reach base resulting in three runs scoring in the fourth inning. Victoria held its 5–3 lead for the rest of the game through the pitching of Russell Spear and finals MVP Matthew Blackmore.^[38] In game two, South Australia led for much of the game, but a costly error by Ben Wigmore in the sixth inning, hits from Andrew Russell, Paul Weichard, James Beresford and Matthew Lawman in the ninth, and a run-free pitching performance from Ross Hipke and Russell Spear in the final three innings allowed Victoria to come from behind two nights in a row to win 7–4, and claim the states' 22nd Claxton Shield title.^[32][39]

	Semi-final series					Championship series
						1	Victoria Aces	2
	2	South Australia	2			SF W	South Australia	0
	3	New South Wales Patriots	1

The finals series started off with a pitcher's duel: both teams were held scoreless through the first six innings, with both New South Wales' Timothy Cox and South Australia's Paul Mildren holding their opposition to only three hits in that time. But in the seventh, Patrick Maat led off the inning for the Patriots with a base hit to centre field. He then advanced to second base on Andrew Graham's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Timothy Auty's double. Cox pitched 8 innings, giving up 4 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 9 batters to pick up the win. Lee Ingram came into the game for the ninth inning to close the game, picking up a strike out while retiring three hitters in a row to get the save.^[33]

29 January 19:05 (GMT+10:30) at Norwood Oval, Adelaide

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New South Wales Patriots (1–0)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	1
South Australia (0–1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
WP: Timothy Cox (1–0)   LP: Paul Mildren (0–1)   Sv: Lee Ingram (1) Attendance: 2,157 Boxscore

In another tight contest, South Australia snapped a streak of eight losing efforts in a row in finals games to New South Wales,^[33] winning 3–2. South Australia opened the scoring in the top of the fifth. Ben Wigmore and Dan Wilson hit back–to–back singles, Mathew Smith grounded out to advance both. With two out, Jason Pospishil errored on Scott Gladstone's hit to second base, allowing both runners to score.^[34]

Pospshil helped the Patriots to recover immediately in the bottom of the inning, with a single to lead off the inning. He then scored on Mark Holland's double to cut the deficit in half. In the eighth inning, New South Wales evened the game, with David Kandilas's infield hit driving in Patrick Maat. In the ninth however, South Australia regained the lead without a hit: two walks and two hit by pitches allowed Stefan Welch to score.^[34]

30 January 19:05 (GMT+10:30) at Norwood Oval, Adelaide

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
South Australia (1–1)	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	3	6	0
New South Wales Patriots (1–1)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	10	1
WP: Darren Fidge (1–0)   LP: Wayne Lundgren (0–1)   Sv: Hayden Beard (1) Attendance: 2,119 Boxscore

Like the first two games of the semi-final series, the third and deciding game was also decided by one run. Ryan Murphy was named man of the match, after pitching a two–hit shutout, and hitting a solo home run in the second inning to score the only run in the game. Prior to the game, Murphy had not started on the mound in any game in the season, and had only pitched one and a third innings in one prior appearance.^[40] Michael Lysaught almost tied the game in the third inning with a solo home run of his own. Only Dan Wilson's catch from over the fence in right field prevented it.^[35]

31 January 19:05 (GMT+10:30) at Norwood Oval, Adelaide

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New South Wales Patriots (1–2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
South Australia (2–1)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	7	1
WP: Ryan Murphy (1–0)   LP: Craig Anderson (0–1) Home runs: NSW: None SA: Ryan Murphy (1) Attendance: 1,500 Boxscore

Baseball returned to La Trobe University for the Victoria Aces' home championship series, after having just the one game there during the regular season. Unlike the semi-final series, scoring started immediately in the championship series, with South Australia scoring in the top of the first inning: Jeremy Cresswell singled and then advanced to third when Stefan Welch reached on a throwing error by catcher Grant Karlsen. Michael Collins and Ryan Murphy each walked in consecutive plate appearances, advancing Cresswell to score the first run. Before the inning could be closed out, Welch scored on a wild pitch to extend South Australia's lead to two.^[38]

Brad Harman opened the scoring for Victoria in the second inning, with a first pitch solo home run to halve the deficit.^[41] Victoria tied the game up at 2–2 through back to back doubles in the third, first from Brett Tamburrino and followed by Andrew Russell to drive Tamburrino in. South Australia briefly regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning: Ben Wigmore lead off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on Mathew Smith's single, and scored on Scott Gladstone's double.^[38]

Gladstone's RBI-double was the final pitch for Adam Blackley, having scattered 4 hits over 3+1⁄3 innings pitched, striking out 7 and allowing 3 runs, only 1 of which was earned. He was replaced by Matthew Blackmore, who pitched into the ninth inning, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 4 over 5 innings pitched. Neither starting pitcher pitched beyond the fourth inning, as South Australia's Paul Mildren was also replaced after 3+1⁄3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 5 runs (4 earned), and striking out 3.^[42]

Victoria regained the lead permanently in the bottom of the fourth, and in the process drove Mildren from the game. James Beresford led off the inning with a walk, advanced to third on Matthew Lawman's double and scored on Elliott Biddle's single. Scott Wearne reached second on a throwing error by second baseman Smith, which also allowed Lawman to score. Tamburrino received a walk, followed by Russell being hit by a pitch which forced Biddle to score.^[41] The hit batter resulted in Chris Lawson replacing Mildren on the mound. Like the other relievers in the game, Lawson did not allow a run to score over his 2+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[42] The 5–3 score at the end of the fourth inning would be maintained for the rest of the game. Russell Spear entered the game in the ninth inning to close the game for Victoria, earning the save.^[41] Blackmore was credited with the win, while Mildren was charged with the loss for South Australia.^[42]

5 February 19:35 (GMT+11) at La Trobe University, Melbourne

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
South Australia (0–1)	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	2
Victoria Aces (1–0)	0	1	1	3	0	0	0	0	X	5	7	2
WP: Matthew Blackmore (1–0)   LP: Paul Mildren (0–1)   Sv: Russell Spear (1) Home runs: SA: None VIC: Brad Harman (1) Boxscore

The second game of the series started in even fashion: both sides were retired in order in the first inning, and each got runners into scoring position without actually scoring in the second.^[32] The games' first run came in the third inning, and for the fourth time in the 2010 postseason a run was driven in by a walk. Tristan McDonald led off the inning with a single to center field. He advanced to second on Brett Tamburrino's single to right field, to third when Andrew Russell was hit by a pitch, then scored when Paul Weichard drew a walk. South Australia tied the score again in the fourth inning. Ben Wigmore walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to second when Dan Wilson ground out to first base. Wigmore then scored on Mathew Smith's single.^[43]

Victoria immediately regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Tamburrino singled, and then advanced to third on Russell's own base hit. Weichard hit a deep fly ball to center field, allowing Tamburrino to score on the sacrifice fly. However South Australia took the lead for the first time in the game in the bottom of the inning, when Shane Lindsay—pitching in relief of Adam Bright, who'd struck out 5 and allowed 5 hits, 1 walk and 1 run over 4 innings pitched—walked David Washington and Jeremy Cresswell, before giving up a home run to Michael Collins to take the score to 4–2.^[43] After the home run Lindsay, Ross Hipke and Russell Spear would combine to keep South Australia from scoring again in the game.^[32]

That lead was halved in the sixth through an unearned run. Elliot Biddle got on through an infield hit, and then advanced to third when Ben Wigmore dropped a fly ball in center field off the bat of Hayden Dingle. This allowed Tristan McDonald to drive Wigmore in on a sacrifice fly. Richard Bartlett entered the game to pitch for South Australia in the seventh inning, but was unable to hold on to the one-run lead he was given, allowing the tying run to score in the eighth when he walked McDonald and gave up an RBI-double to Scott Wearne.^[32]

James Beresford drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning in the form of Paul Weichard after he and Andrew Russell hit back to back infield singles. Hayden Beard was brought in by South Australia to try to stop the flow of runs, but gave up a two run-double to Matthew Lawman to take Victoria to a 7–4 lead.^[37] Russell Spear entered the game for Victoria as closer for the second night in a row, and despite giving up two hits was able to keep South Australia scoreless to earn a second save.^[43]

6 February 19:35 (GMT+11) at La Trobe University, Melbourne

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Victoria Aces (2–0)	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	1	3	7	13	1
South Australia (0–2)	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	4	8	2
WP: Ross Hipke (1–0)   LP: Richard Bartlett (0–1)   Sv: Russell Spear (2) Home runs: VIC: None SA: Michael Collins (1) Boxscore

At the conclusion of the finals series, the winner of two awards were announced. Matthew Blackmore won both the Pitcher of the Year award and the Finals Series MVP award.^[44] At the Baseball Australia Diamond Awards, held on 6 March at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide, Wayne Lundgren was announced as the 35th winner of the Helms Award; the Claxton Shield's Most Valuable Player award. Lundgren was the first pitcher to win since 1986. Runners-up by two votes were Paul Mildren and Michael Collins.^[45]

• 2010 Claxton Shield – Official Tournament Website
• Official Baseball Australia Website