Canberra Cavalry

The Canberra Cavalry (nicknamed Cavs) is a professional baseball team in the Australian Baseball League. The team is based in the capital city of Canberra, Australia and the team's home ground is Narrabundah Ballpark.

Canberra Cavalry
Current season:
2019–20 Australian Baseball League season
Team Details
LeagueAustralian Baseball League
CityCanberra, Australian Capital Territory
BallparkMIT Ballpark
Year founded2010
Inaugural season2010/11
Postseason
Asia Series Championships1 (2013)
ABL Championships1 (2012/13)
Minor premierships1 (2012/13)
Finals appearances3 2012/13, 2013/14, 2017/18
Uniforms
Canberra Cavalry home and away orange uniform (also white shirt with orange and black writing)
Colours     Orange
     Black
     White
Management
Manager Keith Ward
OwnerCanberra Community Ownership Group
General Manager Donn McMichael
Assistant GM Anthony Cangelosi

Originally to be called the Colts, the team faced legal issues with the ACT Brumbies[1] that uses the same name for a local Rugby Union team.

History
Canberra Cavalry baseball team, with the Championship Claxton Shield for 2012-13.
2013 Asia Series champions banner

2012–13 Australian Baseball League season

In the 2012–13 season, the Cavalry won the Claxton Shield, having defeated the Perth Heat in the Championship Series in Canberra over 8/9 February 2013.[2] In November 2013, the Cavalry won the 2013 Asia Series resoundingly (14-4),[3] becoming the first non- Japanese or Korean side to do so.

    • Top of the stats by Christmas, then pulled away with significant wins against Perth Heat in away then home rounds in early January 2013.
    • Minor Premiership winners.
    • Premiership winners (Claxton Shield).
      • During the 2012-13 season, fan action caused the team to change the shirt number of a player. Marcus Knecht was wearing 51 but fans pointed out that he should have the number 4, in allusion to the game Connect Four; and, this became his catch-cry.

2013 Championship Series
Game 1

Score: Canberra Cavalry wins 6-4 over Perth Heat[2]

Game 2

Score: Canberra Cavalry wins 7-6. Takes Championship and Claxton Shield.[2]

2013 Asia Series - Champions
  • Cavalry won its first game against the CPBL Rhinos (2-0).
  • NPB Golden Eagles lost the second game (6-3).
  • Cavalry won the third game against the KBO Lions (9-5).
  • Cavalry advanced to the final, and played the U-Pres Lions, winning 14-4, to be Asia Series champions.[3]
    • The Cavalry was the 'home' side, on a coin toss. After being 2-0 up in the first inning, the Lions replied to be 4-2 up. The Cavalry replied in the fourth inning to be 4-3 down. In the seventh inning, Cavalry scored 5 runs, to be up 8-4. In the eighth inning, Jack Murphy scored a homer with loaded bases to make the score 14-4. The Cavalry's Toler pitched out the Lions to end the game.[3]

10th Season Redesign

In celebration of their 10th season of operation, the Cavalry redesigned their logo, uniforms, and hats. The change was first revealed on 3 July 2019 at MIT Ballpark.[5]

The Cavalry primary logo from 2010/11 - 2018/19

The logo went from a brown and black horse to a grey horse with fiery orange mane. The secondary logo was changed from an interlocking "CC" to interlocking horseshoes turned on their sides, giving the same "CC" effect.

The home white uniform had CAVALRY spelled across the chest while an orange alternate used the team's nickname, CAVS. A third jersey would later be unveiled: a black top with "The Capital" written in orange script. The new hats included a black, orange, and white colored panel hat with the primary horse logo on the front and an all orange hat with a single sideways horseshoe from the secondary logo.

Season-by-Season Records
Canberra Cavalry
Season Record Win % Manager Playoffs
2010/1112–24.333Steve Schrenk
2011/1220–25.444Steve Schrenk
2012/1327–19.587Steve Schrenk/ Michael CollinsWon ABL Championship vs. Perth Heat, 2-0
2013/1422–24.478Michael CollinsWon Preliminary Final vs. Sydney Blue Sox, 2-1
Lost ABL Championship vs. Perth Heat, 0-2
2014/1522–24.478Michael Collins
2015/1631–25.554Michael CollinsLost Preliminary Final vs. Adelaide Bite, 1-2
2016/1720–20.500Michael Collins
2017/1824–15.615Michael CollinsWon Preliminary Final vs. Perth Heat, 2-1
Lost ABL Championship vs. Brisbane Bandits 1-2
2018/1923–17.575Keith WardWon Wild Card vs. Melbourne Aces, 1-0
Lost Semi Final vs. Brisbane Bandits 1-2
2019/2017–17.500Keith WardWon Wild Card vs. Perth Heat, 1-0
Lost Semi Final vs. Adelaide Giants 1-2
Totals218–110.665— 10–12 Playoff Record
3 Championship Series Appearances, 1 ABL Championship

Players

Current Roster
Canberra Cavalry roster - 2019–20 ABL
Active RosterReassigned PlayersCoaching staff
Pitchers

Right-handed pitchers

Left-handed pitchers

 Catchers

Infielders

  •  6 Logan Kingham
  • 12 Lee Mills
  • 31 Jerrick Suiter
  •  4 Cam Warner
  • 24 Zach Wilson

Outfielders

Pitchers

  • -- Trent Buchanan
  • 21 Jonathan de Marte
  •  8 Frank Gailey
  • 34 Shingo Hirata
  • -- Tyler Leskiw
  • -- Cooper Morgan
  • 38 Dushan Ruzic
  • -- Tom Shakespeare
  • -- Stuart Tharle

Catchers

  • 11 Kyle Perkins

Infielders

Outfielders

  •  3 Jawuan Harris
  • -- Jack Middleton
Manager
  • 28 Keith Ward

Coaches


 : 7-day disabled list

25 December 2019.

Alumni in the Big Leagues

Players with the Cavalry who play, or have played, for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team or a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team:

Franchise Records

These are the franchise records for the Canberra Cavalry through the end of the 2019/20 season.

Single Season Records

Offensive

Hits
67‡…Brian Burgamy (2011/12)
63…Jason Leblejijian (2015/16)
62...David Harris (2015/16)

Doubles
19†… Jason Leblejijian (2015/16)
18…Jay Baum (2017/18)
17…Casey Frawley (2012/13)

Triples
5†…Casey Frawley (2013/14)
4…Buddy Reed (2017/18)
4…Ryan Stovall (2012/13)

Home Runs
15…Adam Buschini (2012/13)
12…Brian Burgamy (2011/12)
12…David Kandilas (2017/18)
12…Zach Wilson (2018/19)

Runs Batted In
50†…Adam Buschini (2012/13)
44…David Kandilas (2017/18)
44…Jason Leblejijian (2015/16)

Stolen Bases
31…Jon Berti (2013/14)
13…Scott Kelly (2016/17)
12...Josh Almonte (2016/17)
12…Kenny Wilson (2011/12)

Walks
34…Brian Burgamy (2011/12)
30…Jon Berti (2013/14)
30…Kyle Perkins (2017/18)
30…Bryan Pounds (2015/16)

† ABL Single Season Record
‡ Tied with Riley Unroe (2015/16) for ABL Single Season Record

Pitching

Wins
7…Steve Kent (2017/18)
6…Tim Atherton (2014/15)
6…Brian Grening (2015/16)
6…Steve Kent (2015/16)

Strikeouts
83…Brian Grening (2015/16)
79…Steve Kent (2015/16)
76…Steve Kent (2018/19)

Saves
11…Sean Toler (2012/13)
11…Sean Toler (2013/14)
10…Michael Click (2015/16)

Career Records

Offensive

Games Played
256…Robbie Perkins (2012/13-2019/20)
184…Kyle Perkins (2010/11-2013/14, 2016/17-2019/20)
164…Jack Murphy (2012/13-2015/16)

Hits
226…Robbie Perkins (2012/13-2019/20)
180…Jack Murphy (2012/13-2015/16)
162…David Kandilas (2016/17-2019/20)

Doubles
37…Jeremy Barnes (2012-2013, 2015/16)
37…Jack Murphy (2012/13-2015/16)
37…Robbie Perkins (2012/13-2019/20)

Triples
5…Casey Frawley (2013/14)
4…Buddy Reed (2017/18)
4…Ryan Stovall (2012/13)

Home Runs
25…Kyle Perkins (2010/11-2013/14, 2016/17-2019/20)
21…David Kandilas (2016/17-2019/20)
20…Jack Murphy (2012/13-2015/16)

Runs Batted In
114…Jack Murphy (2012/13-2015/16)
110…Robbie Perkins (2012/13-2019/20)
93…Boss Moanaroa (2015/16-2018/19)

Stolen Bases
31…Jon Berti (2013/14)
14…Mike Crouse (2013/14, 2018/19)
13...David Kandilas (2016/17-2019/20)
13…Scott Kelly (2016/17)

Walks
89…Robbie Perkins (2012/13-2019/20)
73…Kyle Perkins (2010/11-2013/14, 2016/17-2019/20)
72…Jack Murphy (2012/13-2015/16)

Pitching

Innings Pitched
433.2…Brian Grening (2011/12-2017/18)
299.1…Steve Kent (2010/11-2019/20)
121…Frank Gailey (2017/18-2019/20)

Wins
25…Brian Grening (2011/12-2017/18)
25…Steve Kent (2010/11-2019/20)
11…Tim Atherton (2010/11-2011/12, 2014/15, 2016/17)

Strikeouts
376…Brian Grening (2011/12-2017/18)
339…Steve Kent (2010/11-2019/20)
128…Frank Gailey (2017/18-2019/20)

Saves
22…Sean Toler (2012/13-2014/15)
18…Steve Kent (2010/11-2019/20)
15…Michael Click (2015/16, 2017/18)

Staff

Coaching Department

On 8 September 2010 former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and Lakewood BlueClaws pitching coach, Steve Schrenk, was announced head coach.

From 2012-18, former Cavalry player, Michael Collins was the manager.

Keith Ward replaced Michael Collins as manager starting in the 2018/19 season.

# Head Coach From To Reference
1 Steve Schrenk 20102012 [6]
2 Michael Collins 20122018 [7]
3 Keith Ward 2018present [8]

Club Management

General Managers (GM)
# GM Name From To Reference
1 Tony Fraser 20102011 [9]
2 Peter Bishell 20112012 [7]
3 Peter Bishell
Thom Carter		 20122013 [10]
4 Thom Carter 20132014
5 Donn McMichael 2014Current [11]

Assistant General Managers (AGM)
# AGM Name From To Reference
1 Megan Salic 20102011 [12]
2 Thom Carter 20112012 [13]
3 Anthony Cangelosi 20132014
4 Mac Laudenbach 20152016
5 Sonny Singh 2017current

Venue

The Cavs play home games at MIT Ballpark, located in the south-central Canberra suburb of Narrabundah, ACT, Australia. The fans nicknamed the venue "The Fort", which the Cavs management has embraced. The ballpark received a major renovation upgrade in 2010 with a second stage of upgrades planned for 2017.[14][15]

The Fort, 28 November 2014, game-ready field
  • 2010 View of the field of play at MIT Ballpark
  • Main Stand at MIT Ballpark
  • concourse + Dugout at MIT Ballpark
  • Bullpen at MIT Ballpark
Bushfire smoke

Club Identity

Mascot

The Canberra Cavalry team mascot is a Yosemite Sam-type character named 'Sarge', with an Australian slouch hat, Cavalry-orange shirt, Auscam pants and brown Army boots. The team song, played after winning games, is "I Wanna Be in the Cavalry" by Corb Lund. In the 2014-15 season, Sarge got a 'quad' car.

  • geeing up the crowd
  • Sarge in 2015
  • Sarge's 2014 car

Community work

In the 2012-13 season, the degree of community work and outreach was markedly up on previous seasons, with game-day shirts for sale to assist community organisations for most days of home seasons. This began with Legacy Australia that supports family members of service people, and included the Canberra Hospital Trust, the Heart Foundation, Red Cross ACT, and The Global Poverty Walk's Matt Napier.

Local politicians

MIT Ballpark is owned by the Government of the Australian Capital Territory. The Cavalry management regularly hosts local politicians and their families at games, to raise their awareness of baseball and the Australian Baseball League. This is extended to each part of the political spectrum.

Sponsors

The current major sponsor, since the 2015/16 season, is MIT Services.

See also

References
  1. The countdown is ON! Only 3 days to go!, 2 November 2010, ABLbuzz.com, accessed 25 January 2011
  2. Canberra Cavalry win ABL championship, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 February 2013, 11:12PM
  3. Canberra Cavalry wins Asia Series Archived 7 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, David Polkinghorne, Canberra Times, 21 November 2013
  4. Strike Zone, ABC Grandstand Sport, 15 February 2013, accessed 17 February 2013
  5. Tim Gavel (4 July 2019). "Keeping it simple: Canberra Cavalry rebrands to celebrate 10 years in the ABL". the-riotact.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. Fraser, Tom (8 September 2010). "Former Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher to Serve as Canberra Cavalry Head Coach". Canberra Cavalry. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  7. , Team Story about appoiontment
  8. , Ward replaces Collins
  9. , SMH about Fraser's hiring with Basketball ACT and reference to time with Cavalry
  10. Canberra Times, Cavalry CEO returns to States 1 July 2014
  11. The Canberra Elite Cavalry, and Baseball ACT welcome the appointment of Mr Donn McMichael, The ABL, 16 September 2014, accessed 6 January 2015
  12. Meet the Cavalry, Barry Barnes, 28 September 2010, accessed 25 January 2011
  13. team story, 3 January 2012, accessed 7 January 2012
  14. "An upgrade for Canberra's premier ballpark". www.act.gov.au. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  15. Polkinghorne, David (28 May 2016). "ACT govt to give Narrabundah Ballpark $4.5m facelift in budget". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 5 February 2017.

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