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2009 Claxton Shield

2009 Claxton Shield
75th Claxton Shield
Diamond Anniversary
Claxton2009.jpg
Season details
Sport Baseball
Country Australia
Teams 5
Dates 2 December 2008 – 8 February 2009
Defending champions Perth Heat (2008)
Regular season
First place Perth Heat
(12–4)
Second place Victoria Aces
(10–6)
Third place New South Wales Patriots
(9–7)
Fourth place Queensland Rams
(8–8)
Fifth place South Australia
(1–15)
Finals series
Final
Champions Perth Heat (10th title)
Game score 2–1
Runner-up New South Wales Patriots
Semi final
Finalist New South Wales Patriots
Game score 2–1
Eliminated Victoria Aces
2008
2010
Clinched championship series berth
Clinched semi-final series berth

The 2009 Diamond Anniversary Claxton Shield was the 75-year anniversary of the Claxton Shield and was held from 2 December 2008 to 8 February 2009 and was the Shield's Diamond anniversary. The Perth Heat won the tournament after defeating the New South Wales Patriots 3-2 in the third game of a best of three series.

The 2009 Shield series excluded the Australian Provincial baseball team and consisted of four, three game series against each team including a two home, two away and a bye round for each of the teams. On top of this to start off the tournament, there was also a showcase round where each team played each other once. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, the showcase round also hosted a variety of other events such as a Home Run Derby. Teams that competed in the 2009 Claxton Shield were the New South Wales Patriots, Queensland Rams, Perth Heat, Victoria Aces and the South Australia.

The competition served as the primary selection trial for the national team to compete in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The first round of the WBC commenced Mexico City on 8 March 2009, a month after the final round.

The 2009 Claxton Shield will be competed between 5 teams from around Australia in 13 different venues.

The 2009 Claxton Shield finals series will have the top three teams after regular fixtures qualify. The team who finishes first will auto-qualify for the final where they will meet the winner of the 2nd vs 3rd. Both semi-finals and finals are best of three series.

Perth Heat def. New South Wales Patriots.

Blacktown Baseball Stadium experienced quite warm December summer weather for New South Wales. Although the average maximum temperature is 25 °C (77 °F), most games were above this, with Game 8 of the showcase round between South Australia and Victoria Aces hitting 32 °C (90 °F) during the match.


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