From Australia

The 2010 Claxton Shield has been going on for a while and I thought that I would check in on it. Unfortunately, Dan Floyd ('01, '02) is not playing for the BARBAGALLO Perth Heat this season...as far as I can tell.

The last time Floyd was mentioned on this blog was after he knocked in the winning run with a walk-off single in the final game of the 2009 Claxton Shield.

Looking through the rosters of the various participants for this year, I see a lot of familiar names, but none with a Timber Rattlers tie-in.

I did see that former Milwaukee Brewers catcher David Nilsson is managing the Queensland Rams.

Stalwart

There is a joke from an episode of the under-rated NewsRadio about the word stalwart. But, that is not what this post is about. Instead, it is about this:

Perth Heat successfully defended their Claxton Shield title with a thrilling win over NSW Patriots in the third and deciding game at Baseball Park in Thornlie last night.

The home team celebrated the 75th edition of Australia’s premier baseball competition with a 3-2 win after setting up the decider with a 5-4 on Saturday night after losing the opening game 5-3.

Perth held a two run lead going into the final innings before a late revival by NSW allowed the visitors to level the score.

But with two out and the game heading into extra innings, Perth’s Matt Kennelly took advantage of a throwing error which was compounded when NSW made a second error.

A clutch hit by stalwart Daniel Floyd batted in the winning run.

Here is the celebration picture. Floyd, a Rattler in 2001 and 2002, is in there somewhere:

Picture from Western Australia Baseball.

Claxton Shield Grand Final (Game Three)

The HEAT are the Champs!!!

......R...H...E
NSW...2...5...1
PERTH.3...9...2
Details

Ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) had the Shield-clinching hit in the bottom of the ninth. The HEAT had a 2-0 lead until New South Wales scored twice in the top of the ninth to tie the game.

That set up this for the champs:

PERTH 9th
D'ANTONIO to c.
HOUSE popped up to 2b.
KENNELLY,M reached on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to second on the error.
DESANMIGUEL intentionally walked.
DESANMIGUEL advanced to second on a wild pitch; KENNELLY,M advanced to third on a wild pitch.
FLOYD singled to right field, RBI; DESANMIGUEL advanced to third; KENNELLY,M scored, unearned.

If there are pictures or a story from any Perth newspapers, I'll link to them tomorrow.

Congratulations to Floyd and the HEAT!

60 dies insquequo Oris Dies

Claxton Shield Grand Final (Game Two)

It just went final a few moments ago and the Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- have forced Game Three in the best-of-three Grand Final down in Australia.

......R..H...E
Perth.5..12..2
NSW...4..10..0
Details

Floyd, 1-for-4

Nick Kimpton, a former Cedar Rapids Kernel, hit a home run in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie.

Claxton Shield Grand Final (Game One)

Tough start to the best-of-three Grand Final for the Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- for the Claxton Shield in Australia.

......R...H...E
NSW...5...5...2
Perth.3...8...1
Details

Floyd, LF, 2-for-4, RBI

Game two is later tonight.

Spanning the globe

First, my Tonbridge Angels keep solidifying their playoff spot in the Ryman Premier League. They defeated Margate 1-0. The Angels sit in third place with 49 points, nine clear of Dartford for the last playoff spot.

Second,the Claxton Shield Grand Final approaches.

The Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- are hosting the New South Wales Patriots this coming weekend.

Here are a few stories to get you ready.

Bring It Home: Perth HEAT Set To Fry Patriots

PERTH Heat has a burning desire for back-to-back championships and the side will get its chance against New South Wales Patriots next week.

The two sides will meet in a re-match of last year’s grand final on the February 6, 7 and, if required, 8 at Baseball Park.

Perth Heat wary of underdogs from east in grand final

HOST Perth Heat are favourites for this week's Claxton Shield final, but NSW Patriots coach Shane Barclay has warned not to take the underdogs too easily.
The states play off for glory and gold in the final, marking the 75th year of Claxton Shield baseball, at Thornlie on Friday night, Saturday and if required, Sunday.

WA won its 10th Shield last year, beating 13-time winner NSW at Sydney's Olympic Park.

The states have clashed four times this year - all in Sydney - for a 2-2 record.

"They've got some players back since then and we've lost players, so they'll be the favourites,'" Barclay said.

The Grand Final will also help support Team Spencer.

Guest bloggers (1/11)

Mehring is watching football. And, since I'm a Paul Tagliabue football, I'm not really doing anything. Not like I'm wanted or needed or anything like that. Besides, why would I want to freeze my laces off in New Jersey or Pittsburgh today?

Let's see...Where to start?

Lara was off in Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional on Saturday. They host La Guaria at 2:00pm Venezuela time today.

Now, here is a guest blogger for the results from the Claxton Shield in Australia.


G'day. Aussie Football here. No need for a signature on me. Anyway, my mates on the Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- along with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- beat the Victoria Aces again and picked up the sweep in the three-game series.

.......R...H...E
ACES....5..12..3
HEAT...11..15..0
Details

Floyd, 1-for-5, 2B, run, 2 RBI

The victory over the Aces clinches a spot in the GRAND FINAL of the Claxton Shield for the HEAT!

Now, for my guest blogger.


Good afternoon to you. The Tonbridge Angels, the team of football players in the Ryman Premier League whom the regular blogger of this blog follows, had their game with second place Staines postponed due to poor pitch conditions. A make up date for the important tie near the top the table has not yet been announced. Now, back to my American Cousin.
Mehring will be back tomorrow to play catch up with a lot of the news from the last few days. So, start your work week off with a healthy dose of Rattler Radio.

Now for some real Latin:

LXXXVIII dies insquequo Oris Dies!

Basically....

Compressing a few posts into one today.

In Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional:

............R...H...E
Lara........14..14..0
La Guaria....5..11..3
Box score

No ex-Rattlers got into the game for Lara.

Lara is off today. They are back in action on Sunday afternoon as they host La Guaria at 2:00pm Venezuela time.

In the Claxton Shield Tournament in Australia, the Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd -- won their fourth straight game and took over first place in the table:

.........R...H...E
Victoria.7...11..2
PERTH....8....9..3
Details

Floyd: 1-for-3, run, RBI

The HEAT host the Aces tonight in the final game of the series at 6:00pm Australia time.

Claxton Shield (1/8)

The Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd -- scored four times in the bottom of the eighth inning and picked up a 4-3 victory over the Victoria Aces in game one of their three game series in the Claxton Shield.

.........R...H...E
Victoria.3...5...2
Perth....4...8...1
Box score

Floyd: 0-for-4, 2K

Game two is tonight.

Claxton Shield

The Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- got off to a rough start of their three game series against the South Australia Bite in the latest part of the Claxton Shield. But it turned out much better by the end of the weekend.

Fri:
.......R....H..E
HEAT...2....8..4
Bite..11...13..0
Details

Floyd, 0-for-2, 2K

Sat (10 innings):
......R...H...E
HEAT..11..15..3
Bite...9..10..2
Details

Floyd, 1-for-5

Sun:
......R...H...E
HEAT..16..16..1
Bite...0...3..2
Details

Floyd, 2-for-4, 3 runs scored

The HEAT (9-4) host the Victoria Aces (8-2) in a three-game top-of-the-table series starting this Friday. Remember, folks, according to the HEAT website: First 200 families to each of the Barbagallo Perth HEAT vs Victoria Aces games get a 2 for 1 Pizza Voucher from Dominos Pizza. Make sure you get to see our team in action when they return home for the most important series of the year vs League Leaders, the Victorian Aces.

Also: Misti Vogt, the current Miss Montana USA, will toss out the first pitch on Friday night.

Claxton Shield

The Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) swept their three game series in the Claxton Shield tournament with a win on Sunday.

............R...H...E
Queensland..3...7...3
Perth.......6...7...2
Game details

Floyd, LF, 0-for-2, run

Up next for the HEAT is a three game home series against Victoria that starts on Thursday. Perth is 6-3 in the tournament. Victoria is 7-2.

Claxton Shield

The Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd (01, '02) -- has won the first two games of their three-game series with Queensland.

FRIDAY:
............R...H...E
Queensland..3...4...2
Perth.......6...6...0
Box score

Floyd, lf, 0-for-3

SATURDAY:
............R...H...E
Queensland..2...10..0
Perth.......4...12..2
Box score

Floyd, lf, 1-for-2, run, RBI, 2B, BB

Game three of the series is Sunday at 6:00pm* and it's PIZZA NIGHT tonight, too!

*-I think that 6:00pm Sunday in Perth = 3:00am Sunday in Appleton.

Claxton Shield

The Barbagallo Perth HEAT -- with ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) -- lost to the New South Wales Patriots in Claxton Shield action.

......R...H...E
HEAT..8...11..3
NSW...11..13..3
Box score

Floyd, LF 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 walks

Game story from the Illawarra Mercury

Illawarra's Tim Atherton and Trent D'Antonio played significant roles in the NSW Patriots' 11-8 win over reigning titleholder Perth Heat in a high-quality Claxton Shield fixture at Fred Finch Park yesterday.

Spectators were treated to six home runs, with Atherton slamming a 126m three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to give NSW a 5-0 lead.

Six runs by the Patriots in the third from a Tim Auty double, a Patrick Maat RBI double and Atherton's long ball proved the crucial inning in the outcome of a thrilling game, which was the only Claxton Shield fixture in country NSW this year.

D'Antonio played as the designated hitter and also made a good contribution when he batted in two runners in the bottom of the seventh, which took NSW to an 11-8 lead - the final score after Perth had fought back to make it 9-8 in the top of the sixth.

The HEAT play their next three game series at Baseball Park December 19-21 against Queensland.

Here is a google earth image of Baseball Park...I hope

Claxton Shield

The Home-and-Away series in the Australian tournament has begun.

We are following the Barbagallo Perth HEAT since ex-Rattler Dan Floyd ('01, '02) is playing for them.

In game one against New South Wales in Canberra:
......R...H...E
Perth.3...3...3
NSW...5...7...1
Box score

Floyd, LF, 2B: 0-for-2, BB

In game two against New South Wales in Canberra:
......R...H...E
Perth.7...13..1
NSW...2...7...0
Box score

Floyd, LF: 1-for-4

Next up is Perth against NSW. Here is the preview from the Illawarra Mercury.

Former Brewer Graeme Lloyd is a coach for Perth.

Here is a Google earth image of Fred Finch Park, where the game will be played.

Claxton Shield

Ex-Rattler Dan Floyd is playing for the Barbagallo Perth HEAT in the Claxton Shield. The Heat were off last night in the Showcase Round. But, I did find a few details in this story on their win over New South Wales from the other day.

#1. HEAT needs to be in ALL CAPS*

#2. I mentioned in yesterday's story that Floyd singled in the winning run. The story tells what kind of single it was:

With runners at first and second, and the scores locked at 3-all, HEAT designated hitter Daniel Floyd laid down a bunt that bounced past the outstretch glove of two Patriots infielders and scored the winning run.

The improbable play was fitting end to a tight contest that could have gone either way.

There was a link earlier in the week to the wikipedia page for the Claxton Shield. But, might as well provide one to the official site over Australia Baseball. Here is the History of the Claxton Shield.

First Claxton Shield

In 1934 Norrie Claxton (1880-1951) donated a trophy to be awarded to the State winning the annual Australian Championship. Norrie Claxton, who was the first president of the South Australian Baseball League in 1913, originally intended the team which won the trophy for three successive years to become the permanent holder. After South Australia won the first three years of competition involving presentation of the trophy, all States agreed that it become a permanent competition trophy and named it the Claxton Shield competition. Apart from the introduction of new States to the series, the format has always remained the same.

Down a little bit in the article after a mention of one ex-Brewer Grahame Lloyd there is this mention of another ex-Brewer:

1987 saw the arrival of 17-year-old phenomenon Dave Nilsson (Hall of Fame inductee). Nilsson was part of a baseball dynasty started by his father Tim and perpetuated by himself and brothers Gary and Bob.

Next game for the HEAT is Friday, December 12 vs. New South Wales in Canberra.

*-If any affiliated minor league team in the US decided to change its name to the ALL CAPS....Well, I'm not sure what I would do.

Whatever happened to....

Dan Floyd?

Remember Dan Floyd? An Australian utilityman for the Rattlers from 2001 and 2002? He's back in Australia and playing for the Barbagallo Perth Heat in the Claxton Shield , which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Right now the Shield is in something called the Showcase Round. Perth has three games in already and they are 2-1 so far.

Game One:
Queensland 8, Perth 2
Box score

Dan Floyd, 2B: 0-for-4

Game Two:
Perth 7, South Australia 0
Box score

Floyd 2B, CF: 2-for-4

Game Three:
Perth 6, Victoria 5 (11 innings)
Box score

Floyd RF, 1-for-5, RBI

Here is a link to the PDF of the Media Guide for the Claxton Shield. Next game for Perth is Friday vs. New South Wales.