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Tim Kennelly: Exciting times ahead as quiet confidence among Perth Heat playing group forms a great bond

Tim KennellyThe West Australian
VideoThe Perth Heat are looking to build on encouraging start to the ABL season.

Another solid series by the Heaters (3-1) on our home ballpark over the weekend against Geelong-Korea leaves us sitting in top spot by a game with one more series before the Christmas break which marks the halfway mark already of the ABL season.

I still believe we're not quite playing our best baseball just yet which is a good sign of where we are at and things to come. There is definitely a quiet confidence among the playing group which has formed a great bond over the past month.

The signs are especially good when we can bounce back like we showed in that series against Geelong-Korea. They got the better of us late on Friday night, but the way we responded across the weekend to win another series meant there was a lot for us to like right now.

The fact that it means we now sit on top of our conference and have the best record in the league is an added bonus, and given the improvement we still have left in us, that's actually pretty exciting for us all.

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Perth Heat captain Tim Kennelly
Camera IconPerth Heat captain Tim Kennelly Credit: James Worsfold / SMP Images / Baseball Australia

This week we come up against Adelaide who are a close second behind us in an important top of the table clash. The Adelaide Giants boast a balanced squad with some young Aussie talent. That includes Aaron Whitefield who was a teammate of mine at the Premier 12 tournament last month.

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That was a great tournament to be part of representing Australia with the best 12 baseball nations all involved. The fact that Korea finished second only highlights how well we did last weekend to win our series against Geelong-Korea as well.

But back to Aaron, he brings a lot of speed on the base paths so keeping him off base will be vital in us trying to seal yet another series win. This is going to be a great series to be part of and knowing that the winner will head into Christmas in top spot, there's that added motivation there too just in case anyone needed it.

VideoThe Perth Heat are looking to build on encouraging start to the ABL season.

The newly renovated park has been looking great and we can't wait to get back out there this weekend for our second home series in a row. This weekend brings a Christmas spirit with some great themed activities for fans to enjoy. With that Christmas spirit brings the Christmas jersey which we will be rocking Saturday night which will be a lot of fun.

Knowing the imports are so far away from their families and friends over the festive season and with the Heat playing group so close we traditionally throw a Christmas Heat boat trip to Rotto each year over the break.

In past seasons the Rotto trip has sparked a remarkable second half record, so if we can take care of business this weekend we should set ourselves up for an exciting run into the back end of the season.

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