20 November 2019

Cavs move training to Questacon ahead of ABL season opener

| Dominic Giannini
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Cavalry at Questacon

How fast is your pitch? Cavalry players headed out to Questacon to test their skills with young baseballers from the Rebels Baseball Club. Photos: Region Media.

Canberra Cavalry’s newest American imports may be seasoned baseballers and elite sportspeople, but there are still some arms too fast for even the best. Questacon’s near-unbeatable robotic air-hockey proving too much but the pitching speed net was more to their liking.

It also proved a hit with the U9s from the Junior Rebels who joined the Cavs at the science hub and took daring freefalls, all in the name of science.

After warming up his pitching arm on the four-faceted air-hockey table, pitcher James Mulry told Region Media that although this is his first season in Australia, he’s already seen a lot of potential.

Pitching at Questacon

Outfielder Tucker Nathans and Pitcher James Mulry from the Canberra Cavalry teaching young baseballers the tricks to pitch like a pro. Photo: Region Media.

“We’ve been meshing pretty well together already, some great bats, some great arms and our staff, so I’m pretty excited about our team,” he says.

New Yorker turned Canberran Tucker Nathans, who has previously played in Australia for the Perth Heat, says the Australian league is becoming a lot more competitive.

“I think a lot of people view America as the home of baseball, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other good leagues and good players,” he says.

Tucker Nathans

Tucker Nathans describing the tricks to getting your grip right.

“When I was over here for the 2013-14 season, it was a very high-quality league, there’s a lot of guys here that go on to play in America, that go on to play in the big leagues and I just see the league getting better every year. It’s not so different anymore. There’s a lot of really good Australian players and they do a really great job at bringing some imports in to try and help baseball grow in Australia.”

Baseball in Australia is being pulled along with the recent success of the international team, currently ranked the best team in Oceania and 7th internationally, the highest we’ve ever been.

“As you can see on the international level, Australia is showing that they can play and compete with the best of the best,” says Nathans.

Tucker Nathans

Cavalry player, Tucker Nathans at their pre-season doubleheader on Saturday, 16 November. Photo: Peter Norton.

But back at home, the Canberra Cavs are focusing on one thing, and that’s clinching the title from the Brisbane Bandits, who have won the ABL for the last four seasons, including over Canberra in 2017/18.

“I guess if you won it the year before you’re going to be the favourites,” says Nathans.

“But I like our chances to be honest, from the last three games we showed that we can hit, we got some good pitching, and I think it’s going to be a close team that’ll definitely help carry us through the year.”

With the recent signing of two MLB veterans, JJ Hoover and Gavin Cecchini, the Cavs are looking strong heading into the season opener against the Melbourne Aces on Thursday, 21 November at MIT Ballpark in Canberra.

More information on fixtures, players and tickets can be found at https://canberracavalry.com.au.

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