Adelaide Giants win Australian Baseball League 2026

The Adelaide Giants defeated the Sydney Blue Sox in the best-of-three Championship Series at the Blue Sox Stadium in Blacktown, Sydney - the venue of the baseball competition at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - to claim the Australian Baseball League (ABL) 2025-26 title. It's the third Claxton Shield in four years for the Giants.

Adelaide took control of the deciding game in the third. With the teams tied at one, the Giants took full advantage of a walk allowed by reliever Ben Ferren with singles by Mitchell Evans, Jose Colmenares and Ben Fierenzi to take a 4-1 lead. They made it 6-1 in the sixth on a groundout and Robbie Glendenning's RBI double.

Adelaide starter Josh Hendrickson pitched 5-2 innings and left with a 6-2 lead. Relievers Ky Hampton, Todd Van Steensel and Danyony Pulido combined to close the door, allowing just one hit across the final innings.

The Giants won Game One behind a brilliant performance by starter Jack O'Loughlin, who retired 16 straight batters after falling behind 2-0 in the score. Devin Saltiban hit a solo home run in the fourth, and Mitch Evans homered in the ninth to walk the game off.

Sydney forced a decider with a 6-1 win in Game Two. Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Alexander Wells pitched seven solid innings, allowing just one run.

"I am just proud of the guys," commented Giants manager Chris Adamson. "I love it."

Adamson led the Giants to their third title in four years and is 6-0 in winner-takes-all games.

"We are just trying to put the guys in the best position to have the chance to succeed individually," he added. "The coaches are doing an outstanding job preparing these dudes, but ultimately, they are just ready to go every day."

Finals Series results

Giants-Blue Sox 3-2
Bluesox-Giants 6-1
Giants-Blue Sox 6-2

MLB's Philadelphia Phillies 20-year-old prospect Devin Saltiban earned MVP honours.

"I just want to thank my teammates. We went through battles in a long season Our pitching, our hitting, our defence, everybody did their part and this led us to this moment here."

Saltiban starred in centre field. His highlight was a diving catch in the fifth.

"I was just ready. I was just trying to leave it all on the field. I saw the ball flying, I charged it, it was do or die. I caught it, and it was an amazing feeling."