Todd Van Steensel is a 12-year veteran of the Australian Baseball League (ABL), but he is yet to win a championship.
"I've won championships all over the world," Van Steensel said.
"Nothing would mean more than winning an ABL championship — this is our big leagues."
The 32-year-old relief pitcher joined the Adelaide Giants in 2020 after 10 years in Sydney, hoping to end both his and the club's title drought.
While baseball is one of the lesser-known sports on South Australia's busy events calendar, the local team has been quietly aiming for success, building towards the national play-offs with a winning mix of local and imported talent.
The Giants have qualified for the play-offs seven times since the league relaunched in 2010, but the team, which was previously known as the Adelaide Bite, has not clinched a championship – something Van Steensel is desperate to change.
"I grew up watching my favourite players hold up the Claxton Shield and for me to be able to do that, even one time, would be a dream come true," he said.
Team on a winning streak
One of the top teams in the competition, Adelaide set a modern-day Australian Baseball League record with 12 wins in a row earlier this season.
The Giants will go into the play-offs on a four-win run, locking in top spot of the South West Division with a victory over Geelong-Korea last weekend.
They have also been boosted by the recent form of American import Nick Ward, who is among the favourites for the league's most valuable player award.
But Ward's focus is on a bigger prize.
"You're not always chasing just the personal accolade — obviously you'd like it — but there's nine people on the field for a reason," he said.
"At the end of the day, we're really just chasing the team championship.
"If the personal accolade comes, that's awesome, but if not, that's OK too.
"I'd rather get that shiny ring on my finger."
One of the league's batting leaders, Ward has hit 11 home runs this season -- a big reason behind the team's success.
He is confident the Giants have what it takes to end Adelaide's ABL championship drought.
"Any time you have a chance to win a championship, it means something and it's pretty special," he said.
"There's something special about this group of guys.
"It would mean a lot to be a part of a championship team with this group."
Semi-final series against Auckland
First-up for the group is a post-season clash against Auckland in a three-game semi-final series this weekend.
A win at home would secure a spot in the championship series against either Brisbane or Perth.
Van Steensel said playing at home would give the Giants an added boost.
"No-one comes into West Beach and beats us up or bullies us, so that's the mentality we have whenever anyone comes in and that's the way we play," he said.
The three-game series begins tonight at Barratt Reserve in West Beach.
