Wednesday 19th September 2007
Australian baseball has taken
the next step in a continued renaissance, signing a ground-breaking
deal with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) that will see the
Australian National team head to Fukuoka this November to compete
in a spectacular two-game friendships series
Billed as the Japan-Australia Friendly Baseball Games, the match-up
between Australia’s best and what will potentially be one
of the strongest Japanese sides ever assembled, is sure to ignite
the interest of fans, with the two sides virtually inseparable
in international competition dating back to the 2004 Olympic Games
in Athens
Australian Baseball Federation
(ABF) President Mr Geoff Pearce, who countersigned the agreement
with NPB Executive Secretary Mr Kazuo Hasegawa, is excited about
the deal and remains optimistic about the Aussies’ chances
this November
“It is a genuine honour to be afforded this opportunity by
NPB and the Japanese National team” Mr Pearce said
“We are certainly humbled by the invitation, and while there
is no doubt Japan will enter the Series as favourites, when you
consider how close the teams have been in the last three or four
years, I am sure it will be a great spectacle for the fans”
he said
Since 2004, Australia and Japan have shared the bragging rights
in official international competition, with the traditional Asia-Pacific
rivals winning two games each in recent match-ups - the last three
contests separated by just two runs or less
However for many Japanese, this head-to-head series will represent
their first real opportunity to avenge their ‘shock’
1-0 loss to Australia in the 2004 Olympic semi-final - a game
in which the Boston Red Sox superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka was the
losing pitcher
Mr Kyosuke Nakamura, NPB Director of Sales and Special Events,
is adamant that results in Athens are still fresh in the minds
of his countrymen - and played a large part in making the Friendly
Games a reality
“In 2004 we felt like Japan had a very strong side with genuine
aspirations of a Gold Medal” Mr Nakamura said
“But after twice being beaten by Australia in that tournament,
we felt that Australia was the best team to judge ourselves against
in the lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games” he said
The Australian team will fly into Fukuoka straight from the IBAF
Baseball World Cup in Taipei - the culmination of an intensive
program that could see the Aussies play as many as 16 games in
the space of 24 days
While the final make-up of the 2007 World Cup squad is yet to
be determined, Australia’s highest profile stars have already
indicated a willingness to play for their country this November
And while many decisions may be influenced by professional commitments,
as many as nine current or former Major Leaguers may be on hand
for the Aussies - making it a virtual dream team for the Green
and Gold
The Japanese, who are likely to send a team of predominantly amateur
players to the World Cup because it falls within the final stages
of the NPB season, will use the two “friendlies” against
Australia to showcase their multi-million dollar line-up - jam
packed with superstars!!
The games, to be played November
22nd and 23rd at the Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome, will serve as
immediate preparation the Japanese squad for the Asian Olympic
Qualifying series starting in Taiwan in early December
Recent International Results - Australia v Japan
------------2004 Olympic Games (Round 1)
------------Australia 9 - Japan 4
------------2004 Olympic Games (Semi Final)
------------Australia 1 - Japan 0
------------2005 IBAF World Cup
------------Japan 4 - Australia 2
------------2006 Intercontinental Cup
------------Japan 4 - Australia 3