Kennelly, Heat seeking another ABL crown

Matt Kennelly has won so many Claxton Shields, he's nearly lost count.

"I think…," the Atlanta prospect and Perth Heat veteran says with a momentary pause, "I think I've won six, which is pretty awesome."

The Australian Baseball League's 2014-15 season comes to a close this weekend with its requisite powerhouse showcase in the ABL Championship Series, and in an annual rite of late summer Down Under, Kennelly's Heat are making their fifth consecutive trip to the league's final round. While Perth seeks back-to-back Claxton Shields and a fourth in five ABL seasons, the Heat will be facing a hungry Adelaide Bite team aiming to capture South Australia's first baseball title since 1980.

The Heat and the ABLCS have a relationship like the Yankees and World Series of the late '90s. However, this season's Perth iteration looked shakier than in years past. Just a month ago, the Heat were 16-18 and on the outside looking in at the ABL postseason race.

"At the start of the year, we were going through our struggles," Kennelly said from Perth Airport on Thursday as his team awaited their flight to Adelaide. "We were missing a few guys, guys like (Detroit prospect and 2012-13 ABL Pitcher of the Year) Warwick Saupold weren't here yet. We knew that we were going to get him in the second half of the year. A couple guys that showed up toward the back half of the season, [Rene] Tosoni and [Mike] McClendon have kind of boosted the roster a little bit. I honestly don't think, in the back of our minds, we had a thought we were going to not be here."

---

• Follow the Australian Baseball League Championship Series »

---

In trademark fashion, the Heat went on a roll, winning 12 of their final 14 games to finish the season in second place at 28-20.

"I think it was just a matter of time before we turned it around," said Kennelly, who played in 68 games for Double-A Mississippi in 2014. "There were a couple series there throughout the middle of the season where we kind of clicked, and then at the end of the year, we made our run. It was fun. A lot of fun."

Perth won five straight to end the regular season and dispatched Sydney in a two-game sweep of last week's best-of-3 Preliminary Final series. Now, they prepare to battle an Adelaide team that stormed through the ABL to the tune of a 32-16 record this season. The Bite had winning marks against all of the ABL's other teams in 2014-15 -- except the Heat. Perth took five of eight meetings between the two teams.

 "They're a very strong ballclub, managed by (former Heat manager) Brooke Knight, who's a great manager," Kennelly said. "They've got some powerful hitters in that lineup throughout the middle of the order, and they've got some arms, as well.

"We know exactly what [former Heat starter] Virgil Vasquez has -- or at least I should, I've caught him for a couple years. We know what he's got, and they do have a couple other good arms. We've got some scouting reports on these guys, and I think we should do just as good against them."

While the Heat have pulled in a series of former big league imports in recent seasons -- Anthony Claggett, Mike Ekstrom and 2014-15 stars McClendon and Tosoni among them -- it's a talented core of locals that has kept Perth atop the ABL season after season.

"It's the same guys that have been coming back, and I think that's what makes the ballclub successful," said Kennelly, the middle of three brothers on the Heat roster. "It's not always what we've got on the field, because there is a lot of talent, but I think it's off the field where we bond the most. Guys play for each other. We hang out off the field. I think that's the biggest key in the chemistry of baseball, having a team that bonds and molds off the field."

Kennelly's older brother Tim, formerly of the Phillies and Rangers, and younger brother Sam, a Pirates prospect who debuted in the GCL last year, have played big roles for their hometown club this season. A fourth brother, Josh, is signed with the Reds but hasn't played this ABL campaign.

"I really enjoy playing with my brothers," Matt said. "They're not just my brothers or teammates. They're more my mates. We hang out a lot off the field, play golf or go out to dinner and stuff. Having the opportunity to play with those guys in their prime -- Timmy's obviously in his prime, Sammy's coming up through the Minor League system, and I've had a chance to play with Joshy as well -- it's an awesome feeling just playing with these guys."

The Bite are expecting record crowds at Norwood Oval this weekend for the first South Australian-hosted ABLCS, and each game of the best-of-3 series is slated for a live television audience of millions on ESPN Australia/New Zealand and MLB Network in the United States. First pitches are set for night-owl or early-rising Americans at 3 a.m. Eastern Time Friday-Sunday.

Kennelly will report to Orlando and Braves camp in less than two weeks. Until then, it's Postseason business as usual for him and his Heat teammates.

"It's going to be a little bit different traveling away and playing interstate where the fans won't be as nice to us," he said with a laugh. "It's gotten a little easier being there, having that experience over the last few years. I think that's where it gives us a little bit of an advantage. I feel like it's just another game for us. The buildup throughout the week hasn't been over the top. It's just another series for us. The guys have gone through the regular training schedule that we go through during the year.

"Guys are just going about their business."

In brief

Scott to plead not guilty: Mariners pitching prospect Troy Scott has told an Australian court that he will plead not guilty to one charge of assault stemming from a benches-clearing brawl during a Jan. 16 game in Adelaide. The 21-year-old is alleged to have punched Rangers prospect and former first-round pick Kellin Deglan during the fight, which was caught on video, leaving Deglan with facial injuries that required dental work. Scott was arrested last week but released on bail. The Adelaide Magistrates Court gave the Californian permission to return to the United States for Spring Training on the condition he came back for a late-March court date.