Canberra Cavalry's historic triumph in the Asia Series has put Australian baseball on the map, third baseman Jeremy Barnes says.
The Cavalry took down Taiwan champions the Uni Lions 14-4 in the final on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT), to become the first Australian team to win the tournament.
In doing so, they trumped the champions from Taiwan, South Korea and Japan - validating the fledging Australian Baseball League (ABL), according to Barnes.
"This is a tournament of champions," Barnes told AAP.
"Everyone here was the best of the best of their league.
"We're not just talking about little scrub leagues around the world.
"These are some of the top leagues in the world.
"For an ABL team to come over here and win it, it has to put the ABL on the same level as those leagues right now in terms of talent.
"We just proved we can play with anybody. That proves a lot."
Over the course of the tournament, the Cavalry defeated the Taiwanese champions and runners-up as well as the champions of the South Korean league and went toe to toe against the best from Japan.
Before the Cavalry's stunning run this week, no Australian team had even won an Asia series match.
Now they return not only as champions, but with a $500,000 cheque for the ABL - which will be used to promote the game in Australia.
"It puts Australia on the map," Barnes added.
"It proves the ABL's legitimacy.
"It shows we're right there on par with everybody else.
"I think that's huge. It gives the ABL a ton of credibility and for us ... talk about a confidence booster."
While criticised for their liberal use of the import system, the Cavalry also proved its worth - with their American stars having an enormous impact.
Toronto Blue Jays prospects Jack Murphy and Jon Berti were the major contenders for the tournament's MVP title - with Murphy taking the honours following his grand slam, seven-RBI effort in the final.
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