Preliminary Series, 2017
vs 
Preview: Adelaide finished the season at 35-25, 2 games back from securing a Claxton Shield Appearance. As the Bite look to repeat they will rely on the same core of players as last year. Stefan Welch and Gordon Moy lead the batters as both rank in the top 3 of HRs and Welch is a clear Helms Award finalist. Adelaide will need star pitchers Tim Atherton and Matthew Williams to have the form they did last year in the playoffs, while getting key performances from their OF of Brice, Jackson, and Akhurst will determine their success in the series. Meanwhile, Canberra was expected to finish the year in the top 2, has finished in third with a .500 record of 30-30. Canberra is lead by suspect pitching at times from Ryan Bonnot and James Parr, but this team will go as far as Justin Trapp, Stefan Anslow, Zach Penprase, and Glen Neumann's bats take them.
Game 1 - Adelaide, South Australia
In game one of the Preliminary Series Adelaide threw Ace Tim Atherton while Canberra trotted out James Parr. Parr with a sub 3 era on the year while Atherton has a 3.25 with only 5 wins. Adelaide's Atherton would come up big tonight as he pitched 8.1 before turning it over to closer Vic Black. Black and Atherton would combine for the shutout while only giving up 5 hits. Offensively, Adelaide was lead by their nine hole hitter, 32 year old, 2B, Josh Cakebread. Cakebread hit a 2 run HR in the fourth to push Adelaide's lead to 3-0. Adelaide would add another two runs in the fourth and would complete the shutout.
Adelaide 5, Canberra 0
Game 2 - Adelaide, South Australia
Adelaide, with the advantage, sent out Wins leader Matthew Williams (10-3, 4.01 ERA), Williams however, was prone to the longball during the season, but like Atherton, has a rep for showing up for big games. Canberra sent out Luke Wilkins, a signing this year, who posted a 5-9 record with an outlandish 5+ ERA. In the bottom of the first Stefan Welch hit a solo shot, his first of the playoffs, to take a 1-0 lead. Not to be outdone, 1B Gordon Moy would also hit his first HR of the playoffs, a 2 run HR over left field to push the lead to 3-0. Adelaide's power really helped them early and often in this game. In the fourth it was more of the same struggles for Wilkins. Wilkins gave up another solo HR to Aaron Baker. However, Glen Neumann would bust up Williams' no hitter in the fifth as he scored SS Jermey Barnes who reached on an error. 4-1. In another display of power Adelaide OF Tye Edwards would hit a 3 run HR to retire Wilkins for the night. 7-1. Matthew Williams would pitch a complete game, 13Ks, 2 H, 0 BB, and would get the win.
Adelaide was powered by the long ball this series. Will their inability - or appearance of such - to manufacture runs hurt them against a stingy Sydney team?
Adelaide 7, Canberra 1