Canberra Cavalry wins historic Asia Series final - ABC Online

Updated November 21, 2013 09:03:56

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.

AAP

Topics: baseball, sport, taiwan, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted November 21, 2013 09:02:49