History in the making

BUT HEAT IS ON FOR HOME DEBUT

GEELONG-KOREA will be hoping its historic first Australian Baseball League home series against Perth, starting tonight, will kickstart its season.

GK heads home to face the Heat without a win after being swept by Sydney on the opening weekend.

Geelong-Korea managed just four runs in its maiden ABL series, going 27-for-126 (. 214) as a team to fall to 0-4.

The team was struck out a league-high 48 times in week one as its first season got off to a rocky start.

GK’s cause was not helped by the fact it went 2-for-26 with runners in scoring position and grounded into an equal ABL-high five double plays.

Seung-Han Kim and YongWook Lee enjoyed solid ABL debuts, picking up five hits each, but Geelong-Korea’s pitching endured a rough time too.

Na-On Gil’s game three start was an exception. Despite falling to defeat, Gil worked 72/3 innings and struck out five hitters while allowing four runs.

GK needs to start clicking soon before theseason gets away from it.

It risks falling eight games back from top spot against the Heat.

Perth (4-0) arrives in Geelong having punished Auckland, the ABL’s other expansion team, on the opening weekend.

The Heat did not have it all its own way but found a way to win. In game two of the series, it had no hits through six innings before scoring five runs in the seventh to walk off on a Jake Bowey homer.

Catcher Alex Hall (six RBI) had an outstanding series, along with Tampa Bay prospect Tristan Gray (4-for-10 with five RBI), as Perth recorded the most runs (32) and hits (37) for the round.

The Heat also got vital wins from Aussie starters Nick Veale and Conor Lourey to close out the series.

GEELONG-KOREA v PERTH SERIES SCHEDULE

GAME 1: Tonight, 6.30pm at Geelong Baseball Centre, Waurn Ponds GAME 2: Tomorrow, 6.30pm at Geelong Baseball Centre, Waurn Ponds GAME 3: Saturday, 7pm at Geelong Baseball Centre, Waurn Ponds GAME 4: Sunday, 1pm at Geelong Baseball Centre, Waurn Ponds