The Sydney Blue Sox have secured a place in the ABL Championship Series for the first time in the club’s history, qualifying for the 2025/26 decider after a landmark season.
The best-of-three ABL Championship Series will take place at Blacktown International Sportspark from 23–25 January 2026, with the Blue Sox set to host the competition’s second-placed team in a winner-takes-all showdown to determine the 2025/26 ABL Champion. The visiting finalist is expected to be confirmed during Round 10 of the ABL next week.
Championship Series Schedule
Game 1: Friday, 23 January – 7:00pm
Game 2: Saturday, 24 January – 7:00pm
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, 25 January – 6:00pm
A deciding third game will only be played if the series is level, with the Championship Series decided under a best-of-three format.
A Historic Breakthrough
Qualification for the ABLCS marks a significant moment for the Blue Sox organisation and its supporter base, bridging the long-standing tradition of New South Wales baseball with the modern ABL era.
While NSW teams have previously enjoyed national success, including the Sydney Blues’ 1995/96 championship and the NSW Patriots’ Claxton Shield titles in the mid-2000s, this is the first time the Blue Sox themselves have advanced to the Championship Series since the ABL’s relaunch in 2010. The achievement comes one season after narrowly missing out despite finishing atop the ladder in 2024/25.
Momentum Under New Ownership
The breakthrough season also represents early validation for Black Pearl Sporting Group, who assumed ownership of the club ahead of the campaign. Director Cole Sherertz described the Championship Series qualification as confirmation that the club’s long-term vision is beginning to take shape.
“Our focus from day one was building a sustainable, competitive organisation that reflects and supports its community,” Sherertz said. “Reaching the Championship Series in our first year is an important step, but it also highlights the potential this club has moving forward.”
Championship Series Format
The ABL Championship Series features the top two teams from the regular season in a best-of-three showdown to decide the 2025/26 ABL champion. The higher-seeded team earns the right to host all games, increasing the stakes of the final regular-season matchups.
With their spot already confirmed, the Blue Sox are now just one win away from clinching hosting rights, a result that would see the Championship Series staged in Sydney for the first time and spotlight Western Sydney as the focal point of Australian baseball.