ILLAWARRA baseballer Trent D'Antonio has set his sights on helping the Sydney Blue Sox win their first Australian Baseball League title.
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The Blue Sox have not won a championship since the new ABL began three seasons ago.
Sydney were known as the Blues when they won their last title in 1995-96.
The Blue Sox finished third in the opening two ABL seasons, but D'Antonio is quietly confident Sydney have the tools to win this season.
"We have been there or thereabouts in the first two campaigns," he said.
"In the inaugural season we finished as minor premiers, but got knocked out in the second round of the semi-finals.
"Last season we also got bundled out in the second round of the semis. We're looking pretty strong - our starting pitching is going to be stronger than it has been in the last couple of years.
"Having said that, it boosts our bullpen as well so we're looking very good."
Perth Heat have won both ABL titles to date, downing Adelaide Bite 2-1 in the inaugural three-game grand final series before backing up in 2011-12 to beat Melbourne Aces by the same score.
The new season starts on November 2 but first the Blue Sox will take on Team Australia on October 26-28.
D'Antonio has been included in the squad for the three-game series at Blacktown International Sportspark.