Red Sox to play Australian team

By Glenn Miller
Fort Myers News Press

The Australian baseball team has been added to the Boston Red Sox home spring-training schedule at City of Palms Park.

The Australians will play the Red Sox at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 5.

The Australians will work out at the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers March 3-6 in preparation for the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

Australia won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Tickets, which will cost half the price of regular spring-training tickets, go on sale today at the City of Palms Park box office. Ticket prices for the Red Sox game vs. Australia will be $12 and $10.50.

The Australian team is managed by Jon Deeble, the Red Sox coordinator of Pacific Rim scouting. One of five players listed on the Australian roster is Glenn Williams, who plays for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins train at the Lee County Sports Complex.

Australia's first game in the 16-team World Baseball Classic will be March 7 vs. Italy at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

The Italian team includes veteran big-league catchers Mike Piazza and Doug Mirabelli.