NSW to feel Heat in Claxton clash

Illawarra baseball officials expect the showery conditions that were experienced in the lead up to tomorrow's Claxton Shield fixture at Fred Finch Park, between the NSW Patriots and reigning title holders the Perth Heat, will do little more than get the facility in top order for what should be an exciting match up.Conditions were wet yesterday but today's predicted hot and windy weather should dry out the Berkeley venue in time for tomorrow's game, which starts at 1pm.This year is the 75th diamond anniversary of the Claxton Shield.Australian Baseball has taken the game into the provincial regions and the Illawarra is the only NSW Country affiliated region to host one of the games.A showcase round was played at Blacktown Olympic Park last week.Following the outcome of that 10-game series, the Perth Heat will start favourite tomorrow.Perth defeated NSW in last season's tournament and they backed up with a tight 4-3 win in this year's showcase round at Blacktown Olympic Park last week.The two Illawarra members of the NSW team, Trent D'Antonio and Tim Atherton, both produced class performances for the Patriots in the round robin format, which was played as a curtain-raiser for the home and away series that started this week.Both D'Antonio and Atherton are expected to start the game tomorrow and pass on their local knowledge to team-mates.The only Australian to play with a winning team in the US Major Baseball League World Series will be at the game.Graeme Lloyd, who played with the winning New York Yankees, in 1996 and 1998, is a coach with Perth Heat.The game will be the third in a series between NSW and the Perth Heat and will follow matches in Canberra last night and tonight.Officials have organised a family day at Fred Finch Park for the match, with a special guest throwing the first pitch of the game, as well as other entertainment to take place during the afternoon.A minute's silence will be observed at the start of the game, in memory of dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Olympic marathon runner, the late Kerryn McCann, who died on Sunday after battling cancer.McCann was a special guest - and threw the ceremonial first pitch - at the 2007 Australian Provincial Baseball Championships, which were also held at Fred Finch Park.