Grant Balfour, the Australian baseball player who pitched for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2008 World Series, is back in Australia this week following a dynamic season in US Major League Baseball.

Balfour, who originates from Kings Langley, will reunite with his former local and state representative teammates at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday 10 January, where the NSW Patriots will face South Australia in Round 5 of the 2009 Diamond Anniversary Claxton Shield.

Grant will commemorate the 75^th anniversary of Australia's oldest and most prestigious baseball competition by taking to the mound at 7.00pm to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Home crowd favourites and perennial powerhouses, the NSW Patriots, are currently in 3^rd place on the 09' Claxton Shield ladder with a 5 win- 5 loss ratio and are looking for a Series sweep against South Australia in a bid to secure their position on the ladder.

Whilst South Australia scored their first win of the 2009 Claxton Shield last weekend against the Perth HEAT in Glenelg, they are currently sitting at the bottom of the leader board.

New South Wales and South Australia will contest a three game series this weekend, playing two games at Blacktown Olympic Park on January 9 and 10 - both games start at 7:00pm, and a third game on Sunday 11 January at Aquatic Reserve in Manly from 12:00pm.

Grant Balfour will be available for media interviews and photo opportunities all week by appointment only and on Saturday from 6.30pm at Blacktown Olympic Park.

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Media Contact :
Ros Nicholas - Media & Marketing Officer - Blacktown Olympic Park - 9839 6595