Australia to face KBO's Doosan Bears in warm up for Olympic baseball qualifier

The Australian Men's National Baseball Team will face the KBO Champions Doosan Bears on 16 and 18 February in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, in a two-game series in preparation for the upcoming WBSC Final Olympic Qualifier, which will open in Taichung and Dou Liou, Taiwan, on 1 April.

For the two contests against the Bears, Australia selected 24 players, all currently active in the Australian Baseball League. Seven players were not on the roster that made the super round of the WBSC Premier12 in November. These players are:

PITCHERS (2) Josh Warner Canberra Cavalry) and Mitch Neunborn (Perth Heat)
INFIELDERS (3) Cam Warner (Canberra Cavalry), Curtis Mead (Adelaide Giants) and Jacob Younis (Sydney Blue Sox)
CATCHER (1) Alex Hall (Perth Heat)
OUTFIELDER (1) Ulrich Bojarski (Perth Heat)

The other players selected are:

PITCHERS (8) Tim Atherton, Travis Blackley , Sam Holland (Brisbane Bandits), Jon Kennedy (Melbourne Aces), Steve Kent (Canberra Cavalry), Dan Schmidt (Perth Heat), Ryan Searle (Brisbane Bandits), Luke Wilkins (Sydney Blue Sox)
CATCHERS (2) Allan de San Miguel (Melbourne Aces), Robbie Perkins (Canberra Cavalry)
INFIELDERS (4) Wade Dutton (Brisbane Bandits), Darryl George (Melbourne Aces), Tim Kennelly (Perth Heat), David Sutherland (Brisbane Bandits), Logan Wade (Brisbane Bandits)
OUTFIELDERS (3) Wade Dutton (Brisbane Bandits), Aaron Whitefield (Adelaide Giants), Boss Moanaroa (Sydney Blue Sox)

Australia also selected two reserve pitchers: Mitch Ellis (Melbourne Aces), Scott Mitchinson (Melbourne Aces).

Manager Dave Nilsson said that spots on the final roster are wide open.
"I’m sure there are some disappointed people but the reality of it is to have a successful Team Australia we need to have some depth. Everyone is still in the frame and part of a larger Australian squad. The message to them is to keep preparing and be ready.”

Nilsson's staff will include coaches Chris Oxspring, Brooke Knight, Shayne Watson, Russell Teichmann, Graeme Lloyd.

The two games will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS and streamed on multi-sport streaming service Kayo Sports.