The Perth Heat produced a magnificent fight back from 1 - 0 down in the series to reclaim the Claxton Shield for 2009 on Sunday night against the NSW Patriots at Baseball Park, Western Australia.

Game three was once again a thrilling and exciting game of baseball which was expected from these two outstanding teams.

The Heat had Daniel Schmidt on the mound who set up the victory pitching 6.2 innings for only 2 hits and no runs.

A two run homer from designated hitter and Rookie of the Year Chris House gave the Heat the lead in the bottom of the 4th innings which they held until the top of the 9th inning.

The Patriots weren't able to get a score on the board until the top of the 9th where they squared the ledger and the game looked like it was going into a 10th innings.

The Heat had other ideas though and were able to muscle out a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to snatch victory away from the Patriots taking the game 3 - 2.

Wayne Lundgren started for the Patriots, conceding 7 hits and 2 runs in his time on the mound.

Matthew Williams closed the game for the Patriots but just fell short in getting his team home for the win.

The Patriots began the Grand Final series well taking out Game One: 5 - 0 with a dominate performance.

The Heat replied in Game Two and narrowly got home with a 5 - 4 victory to put the series to a decider.

This series win for the Heat gives them back to back Championships something that the Western Australian's have not done since 1977, 78, 79 where they won the Shield three years in succession.

The Patriots once again have fallen agonisingly short of the Claxton Shield, but their performance on the park this season has been courageous. With a relatively young side not many punters would have had the Patriots in the Grand Final this season. But they pulled together and put on some entertaining and exciting baseball for all to see.

Congratulations to the Perth Barbagallo Heat on a great season finishing 1st after the qualifying rounds and then taking the Grand Final series 2 games to 1.

In other Claxton Shield news NSW stand out pitcher Tim Cox was formally recognised for his superb performances this season on the mound being awarded the 2009 Claxton Shield Pitching Champion.

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