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Canberra Today 8°/11° | Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

The Cavalry are coming back with all guns blazing

Owners Illya Mastoris and Brendon Major shake hands on securing the Canberra Cavalry

 

Baseball Australia announced that ACT-based Infielder Pty Ltd has bought the new licence of the club ahead of the next 2021/22 season.

“Infielder has an exciting vision for the continued growth and success of the Cavalry and the sport of baseball in Canberra,” Baseball Australia chief executive Glenn Williams said.

“We are looking forward to working closely with all of our sport’s stakeholders in Canberra to help make this vision a reality.

“It is a great sign of the state of the ABL that we received considerable interest in the Cavalry licence.

“We believe that with Infielder, we have a real partner that is looking to make the Cavalry a great franchise.”

Illya Mastoris and Brendon Major were ticked off as principle Cavalry owners after the club entered administration earlier in the month.

The pair have previous experience in management and directorship of several business.

Major, who currently holds the Infielder chief operating officer role, said it was a watershed day in the Cavalry’s history.

“We are looking forward to re-establishing a strong working relationship with our members and fans, our sponsors and the board of Baseball Canberra to help make the Cavalry a force again,” Major said.

“I couldn’t be more excited to work together with Illya as we work to build a first-class, championship organisation.

“I am already inspired by the fans’ passion for the game, our love of competition and desire to win the right way, and I know our players and fans are going to be inspired as well.”

The Cavalry’s season ended on a sour note when a lockdown in Melbourne and a desire to return back to Canberra forced the ABL to scrap their qualifying game for the season final.

But it also capped a tumultuous period of more than 12 months after copping a financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic on the back of intense bushfires earlier last year.

The smoke that drifted from nearby NSW cost the club about a third of its gate takings and other forms of revenue when matches were cancelled.

Mastoris, Infielder’s chief executive, wanted to bring fans back through the turnstiles and reward their loyalty after watching things fall apart in recent times.

“We have been a part of the Cavalry family for a long time and we are excited to return to the ballpark so to help make the Cavalry a force in the ABL, and help grow the sport of baseball in the ACT,” Mastoris said.

“Cavalry fans are so amazing – they have remained fiercely loyal to our franchise through some extraordinary times.

“Infielder will be determined to give the team, our great coach, staff and players support they need to do their best work on the diamond and we will do whatever is necessary to provide our fans and their families with the best game-night experience in the ABL.”

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Ian Meikle, editor

Andrew Mathieson

Andrew Mathieson

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