The ABL have flown in to hold crisis talks over the weekend to solve the serious rift between the Canberra Cavalry management and the players - less than two weeks before the start of the season.
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ABL chief executive Cam Vale met with the players on Saturday, he's spoken with Cavalry manager Keith Ward and will meet with management on Sunday.
He's also expected to meet with Baseball Canberra.
It's hoped a resolution will be reached to ensure all the Cavalry players take the field against the Perth Heat in their season-opening series in Perth, starting Friday week.
A forfeit would be a breach of the Cavalry's ABL licence and while it wouldn't see them stripped of it, it would carry a serious penalty.
At the very least the Cavalry's subsequent home series at Narrabundah Ballpark from January 7-10 would get moved to Perth.
Rescheduling the series was not an option in an already reduced season.
It's hoped a solution can be arrived at by Monday to ensure a strong core of Cavalry players take the field in Perth.
The Canberra Times revealed the Cavalry were struggling to fill a 22-man roster in time for that opening series.
In a sporting gesture, the Brisbane Bandits, who seem to meet the Cavalry in the play-offs every season, have put their hand up to help - offering their development players to help bolster Canberra's ranks.
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There's also a list of 14-16 unsigned players from around the country who could also be offered the chance to stake their claims for not only this ABL season, but seasons to come.
The fact there seems to be only eight Canberra- and Australia-based players at the Cavary's disposal, with six imports set to bolster that, led to the on-field group voicing their concerns with management on Thursday night.
It's not just the upcoming ABL season that's at stake for a big portion of those players, but the potential to be part of Australia's Olympic Games campaign as well.
Australia were in the mix to qualify for next year's Tokyo Olympics, with baseball potentially only making a one-off return to the multi-sport event.
In some good news for the Cavalry, returning import Tucker Nathans landed in Sydney on Friday and has started his two weeks' quarantine.
As have the two Toronto Blue Jays prospects the Major League Club sent out - infielder Samad Taylor and outfielder Chavez Young.
The remainder of the Cavalry's six imports, including former Major League pitcher Shawn Morimando, were set to fly out on Saturday.
There's the potential Nathans could be available for the double header in Perth on the Saturday, but was highly unlikely to make it in time for game one.
Whether you would risk playing him without any training following two weeks' quarantine was another matter.
The Blue Jays would likely want their prospects to spend plenty of time training before throwing them into the ABL cauldron.
ABL ROUND ONE
December 18: Canberra Cavalry v Perth Heat in Perth, 10pm. December 19 7pm and 10pm. December 20 7pm.
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
