Claxton Shield Championship, 2017
vs
Preview: Adelaide crushed Canberra in the Prelims. Sydney's defense and pitching however, lead by Clayton Tanner, will be tough for them to get the same sort of success. Sydney should be able to score, unless Atherton and Williams pitch their hearts out. Moy and Welch will have to show up for the Bite to repeat.
Game 1 - Blacktown, New South Wales
Adelaide led off with a lead off homerun by DH Moy. Taking a 1-0 lead, easy outs were exchanged until MVP candidate Quesada hit a HR in the bottom of the fourth. Nakahara would score on a De Jong double in the seventh to give Sydney the lead. Sydney would tack on an insurance run in the eight to bring the score to 3-1. Former MLB player Rowland-Smith got the win after coming in the 6th and striking out 3 in an 1.1 . Smith was key to shutting down Adelaide's offense in the late game while Tanner held them down as well. Atherton was saddled with the loss.
Sydney 3, Adelaide 1
Game 2 - Blacktown, New South Wales
Sydney took a two run lead early, going up 2-0 after one. Sydney then continued to pour the runs on Matthew Williams. Sydney would score 1 in the second, another in the third, and four more in the fourth. At the top of the fifth the score was 8-0. Adelaide finally was able to cash in in the top of the fifth scoring a run. But, Sydney would not let up. Sydney would score 3 in response. 11-1. Adelaide would try to get a rally going in the seventh as they scored two, but once again a response for Sydney. 12-3. Sydney's Michael Quesada would get the series MVP and Pitcher Eric Teaford struck out 7 in 7.2 giving up 3 runs.