Wednesday, 30 January 2019:
If the Perth Heat manage to knock the Brisbane Bandits off their perch during this week's ABL Championship series, there will be one family celebrating harder than any other.
Andy Kyle guided Perth back to the finals last year from the wooden spoon the year before, and he is now just two wins away from lifting them to championship glory.
Standing in his way are the all-conquering Bandits, who have won the past three titles and will start as slight favourites against the Heat.
Game one will be played in Perth, but games two and three (if required) are scheduled for Brisbane.
Making the Heat's resurgence even more special is the fact that Kyle's dad - former Heat head coach Don Kyle - is serving as his assistant.
Andy Kyle's seven-year-old son Braxton has also been part of the journey as the team's bat boy.
"My dad was involved for many years, coaching me at the Heat to a championship in 2009," Andy Kyle said.
"He's one of the most experienced Aussie coaches in the country, so it's always a bonus having him by the side.
"It would be nice to come back and win a championship both as coaches. It would be pretty special."
Although the Bandits will hold home ground advantage during games two and three, Brisbane holds no fears for Perth.
The Heat played the Bandits four times in Brisbane this season and came up trumps in three of those games.
"Brisbane winning the last three championships - they've got that confidence and they bring the benchmark," Kyle said.
"But I like our chances. We were up against it against Sydney, but the guys showed a lot of heart and competitive drive to get the series win."
KEY PLAYERS
HEAT
*Robbie Glendinning (.364 batting average and 25 RBI in 28 games).
*Tim Kennelly - Has enjoyed an MVP calibre season. Led the team in hits during the regular season (54 in 38 games).
*Conor Lourey - Perth's best starting pitcher this season.
BANDITS
*Tim Atherton - Arguably the best Australian starting pitcher.
*TJ Bennett - The Chicago White Sox minor leaguer led the league in homers during the past two seasons.
*Logan Wade - Team Australia shortstop, missed the first half of the season through injury.
