Bears gift hitter for Cavalry's finals run

Canberra Cavalry will go into the most important series of its short existence bearing a welcome gift from a good Samaritan.

Ainslie Gungahlin Bears-import Kody Hightower, one of the keys to the Cavalry's batting line-up, will play all five away games against the Melbourne Aces.

The Bears have put their own needs on hold to help the Cavs make a tilt at an historic first appearance in the Australian Baseball League play-offs.

Not only is Hightower available for all five games, but the Bears' other imports - who are contracted to Ainslie first and the Cavalry second - pitcher Drew Dowl and Kellen Kmiecik, will also make the trip south.

Dowl will start tonight's game before flying back to Canberra with Kmiecik after Saturday's fourth game.

It's not just a boost for Canberra but for Hightower's career as well.

Every ABL game he plays will improve his chances of being signed by a Major League franchise.

''My goal right now is to get back into the States and play baseball there, I want to have a full year back home,'' Hightower said.

Currently fourth, one spot ahead of Melbourne, Cavalry are in a five-way struggle for three play-off spots.

Perth are the only team sure of playing in the finals. With two wins separating second from last going into an exciting final round all kinds of permutations leave the make-up of the final four up in the air.

However, a series win over the Aces will put Cavalry in the best position possible.

But if Cavalry can win one more game in Melbourne than Sydney does over league-leaders Perth, and have at least the same number of wins as Brisbane in Adelaide, they are in the final four.

Manager Steve Schrenk knows how important each game is to the Cavs chances.

''To me it's play-off baseball already, if you're looking at it that way, it's to get into the play-offs but every game is a must-win situation, that's just how it is,'' Schrenk said.