1997–98 Australian Baseball League season

1997–98
Australian Baseball League

Season details
Sport	Baseball
Country	Australia
Teams	8
Dates	31 October 1997 – 15 February 1998
Defending champions	Perth Heat (1996–97)
Champions	Melbourne Reds (3rd title)
MVP	Brendan Kingman ( Storm)
Final positions
Champions	Melbourne Reds
Runners-up	Gold Coast Cougars
Finalists	Melbourne Monarchs
Finalists	Sydney Storm
Fifth place	Perth Heat
Sixth place	Adelaide Giants
Seventh place	Brisbane Bandits
Eighth place	Hunter Eagles
Regular season
Games played	211
Best batting average	Adam Burton ( Reds) (.388)
Most homeruns hit	Adam Burton ( Reds) (21)
Best ERA	Mark Respondek ( Reds) (2.57)
← 1996–97 1998–99 → Last updated on 7 February 2013

The 1997–98 Australian Baseball League season was the 9th season of the original Australian Baseball League, contested between eight teams representing state and regional capitals: Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits, Gold Coast Cougars, Hunter Eagles, Melbourne Monarchs, Melbourne Reds, Perth Heat and Sydney Storm. The Melbourne Reds became the first three-time champions defeating the Gold Coast Cougars 2 games to 0 in the Championship series, in front of a small home crowd of 600 at the Melbourne Ballpark.

Teams

Adelaide Giants

Brisbane Bandits

Melbourne Monarchs

Gold Coast Cougars

Melbourne Reds

Hunter Eagles

Perth Heat

Sydney Storm

Each of the 8 teams from the previous season returned, however the Sydney Blues changed their name to the Sydney Storm after legal action taken by Cricket NSW during the offseason.

In the season opening press release, The league called for expressions of interest in a licence to reform the Canberra Bushrangers for the 1998-99 season, The Bushrangers previously folded at the end of the 1994-95 season.

Rosters

During the regular season each team made use of an active roster of 22-24 men, with a maximum of 4 import players.

Melbourne Monarchs

Melbourne Monarchs roster - 1997–98 ABL
Active roster				Coaching Staff
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 21 John Challinor 43 Phil Dale 24 Jon Deeble 23 Cameron Forbes 9 Keith Gogas 25 Cameron Hardy 18 Steven Schram 8 Russel Spear Left-handed pitchers 34 Micah Bowie 5 Earl Byrne 11 Erick Nelson		Catchers 14 Brett Caulfield 28 John Edwards 35 Tristen McDonald 36 Steve Dax Norris Infielders 19 Rohan Brasher 45 Clayton Byrne 10 Mark Doubleday 22 Ben Risinger 7 Richard Vagg 4 Jay Willis Outfielders 9 Keith Gogas 37 Ben Hammer 33 Aaron Harvey 17 George Lombard 16 Dean Marnell		Manager 24 Jon Deeble Coaches - Neil Bourke - Mike Deeble
Current as of February 1998.[1]

Melbourne Reds

Melbourne Reds roster - 1997–98 ABL
Active roster				Coaching Staff
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 52 Jason Beverlin 49 Jason Blejwas 15 Michael Crooks ? Andrew Fennell 27 Matthew Gourlay 24 Lee Hogan 41 Rob Hogan 37 Warren May 10 David Simpson 29 Sloan Smith 28 Ben Smith 36 Jarrod Warner ? David White Left-handed pitchers 44 Ben Donald ? Ryan Francis 25 Rikki Johnston		Catchers 34 Mark Cater 8 Scott Dawes 7 Andrew Utting Infielders 14 Chris Ashby 22 Myles Barnden 20 Adam Burton ? Ross Cameron 16 Shane Hogan 26 Jeff Spencer 30 Ben Utting Outfielders ? Glynn Kimberley 35 Glen Reeves 46 Derek Shumpert 18 Paul Weichard 19 Darren White		Manager -- Tom Nieto Coaches -- David Clarkson -- Gavin Marshall
Current as of February 1998.[2]

Perth Heat

Perth Heat roster - 1997–98 ABL
Active roster
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers 17 Simon Eissens ? Gabe Molina ? Peter Moylan 10 Grant Moyle ? Chad Paronto 22 Shane Tonkin ? Brett Walters Left-handed pitchers ? Fred Lindberg 15 Robert Wells		Catchers ? Toby Barnett ? Gavin Edmondson 42 John Moore 11 Michael Toohey Infielders 31 Clayton Barnes 20 Sean Jones 25 Ben Needle ? Dean Robertson Outfielders ? Mathew Davis ? Johnny Isom 4 Gerard Prosper ? Shane Smith
Current as of February 1998. [3]

Sydney Storm

Sydney Storm roster - 1997–98 ABL
Active roster
Pitchers Right-handed pitchers ? Grant Balfour 27 John Boothby 7 Graham Cassel 28 Brent Iddon Left-handed pitchers 11 Shane Pepper		Catchers 15 Gary White Infielders 19 Mark Shipley 43 Craig Stone 4 Scott Tunkin ? Rodney van Buizen 18 Glenn Williams Outfielders 3 Matt Everingham 22 Brendan Kingman 23 Jeff Maloney 30 Will Skett
Current as of February 1998. Incomplete

Venues

Teams in the ABL

Team	City	State	Stadium	Ref
Adelaide Giants	Adelaide	South Australia	Norwood Oval
Brisbane Bandits	Brisbane	Queensland	Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre
Gold Coast Cougars	Gold Coast	Queensland	Carrara Oval
Hunter Eagles	Newcastle	New South Wales	Newcastle International Sports Centre
Melbourne Monarchs	Melbourne	Victoria	Melbourne Ballpark
Melbourne Reds	Melbourne	Victoria	Moorabbin Oval
Perth Heat	Perth	Western Australia	WACA Ground
Sydney Storm	Sydney	New South Wales	Concord Oval

Regular season

Round 1: 31 October–5 November 1997

Round 1

Perth Heat	3	d.	Adelaide Giants	1	(6-5, 6-3, 6-5, 2-8)
Gold Coast Cougars	2	d.	Brisbane Bandits	1	(7-1, 8-6, 13-14)
Melbourne Monarchs	3	d.	Melbourne Reds	1	(8-6, 10-6, 7-2, 2-8)
Sydney Storm	2	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(11-10, 5-3)

Round 2: 7–9 November 1997

Round 2

Perth Heat	3	d.	Sydney Storm	1	(3-5, 3-2, 10-3, 4-1)
Adelaide Giants	3	d.	Melbourne Monarchs	1	(1-3, 3-0, 9-4, 7-4)
Gold Coast Cougars	2	d.	Melbourne Reds	1	(6-3, 6-10, 5-4, W/out)
Brisbane Bandits	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(6-4, 7-4, 4-3, 2-4)

Round 3: 14–16 November 1997

Round 3

Perth Heat	2	dr.	Sydney Storm	2	(1-5, 5-9, 4-3, 11-7)
Melbourne Reds	3	d.	Gold Coast Cougars	1	(4-1, 6-2, 3-2, 1-2)
Adelaide Giants	3	d.	Melbourne Monarchs	1	(N/A, 7-2, N/A, N/A)
Brisbane Bandits	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(9-1, 13-11, 12-6, 9-10)

Round 4: 21–23 November 1997

Round 4

Perth Heat	2	dr.	Melbourne Monarchs	2	(6-7, 6-1, 9-5, 0-2)
Melbourne Reds	3	d.	Brisbane Bandits	1	(7-11, 20-7, 12-7, 12-9)
Gold Coast Cougars	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(10-5, 0-3, 8-4, 8-1)
Sydney Storm	3	d.	Adelaide Giants	1	(1-5, 3-2, 5-2, 6-3)

Round 5: 28–30 November 1997

Round 5

Melbourne Reds	4	d.	Brisbane Bandits	0	(12-8, 12-1, 11-7, 11-7)
Gold Coast Cougars	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(5-2, 0-6, 7-6, 15-3)
Sydney Storm	2	dr.	Adelaide Giants	2	(6-5, 1-4, 8-7, 2-6)

Round 6: 5–7 December 1997

Round 6

Melbourne Reds	4	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(2-1, 10-6, 7-6, 8-1)
Brisbane Bandits	2	d.	Gold Coast Cougars	1	(9-3, 14-9, 10-15)
Sydney Storm	3	d.	Melbourne Monarchs	1	(3-2, 6-5, 4-8, 18-5)
Adelaide Giants	3	d.	Perth Heat	1	(2-7, 7-1, 5-1, 6-3)

All Star Games: 12–13 December 1997

The series was held at Carrara Oval.

Game 1 was played against the Japanese Industrial League Champions and Game 2 against combined team of Americans playing in the ABL.

12 December

Mitsubishi Juko Kobe		Vs	Australia All-Stars

13 December

U.S.A. All-Stars	15	d.	Australia All-Stars	9

Round 7: 14–16 December 1997

Round 7

Sydney Storm	2	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(8-5, 4-1, 4-6)
Gold Coast Cougars	1	d.	Brisbane Bandits	0	(N/A)
Sydney Storm	2	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(N/A)

Round 8: 19–21 December 1997

Round 8

Sydney Storm	2	dr.	Melbourne Monarchs	2	(5-3, 3-6, 0-1, 6-5)
Gold Coast Cougars	3	d.	Brisbane Bandits	0	(8-3, 9-8, 15-8)
Perth Heat	2	dr.	Adelaide Giants	2	(4-2, 4-0, 2-5, 2-6)
Melbourne Reds	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(4-5, 17-7, 8-7, 7-0)

Round 9: 26–28 December 1997

Round 9

Perth Heat	2	dr.	Melbourne Reds	2	(13-6, 7-6, 2-3, 3-8)
Sydney Storm	4	d.	Brisbane Bandits	0	(23-9, 3-2, 10-0, 10-7)
Melbourne Monarchs	4	d.	Gold Coast Cougars	0	(4-1, 4-1, 4-0, 6-0)
Adelaide Giants	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	1	(12-4, 1-6, 6-2, 7-3)

Round 10: 30 December 1997, 2–6 January 1998

Round 10

Brisbane Bandits	2	d.	Perth Heat	1	(11-1, 18-2, 2-15)
Sydney Storm	2	d.	Melbourne Reds	1	(4-1, 1-10, 8-4)
Gold Coast Cougars	3	d.	Adelaide Giants	0	(8-6, 9-8, 10-9)
Melbourne Monarchs	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(8-3, 7-5, 3-2)
Sydney Storm	1	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(17-14)

Round 11: 9–11 January 1998

Round 11

Sydney Storm	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(10-3, 14-3, 10-3)
Melbourne Monarchs	2	d.	Melbourne Reds	1	(6-2, 3-7, 14-4)
Adelaide Giants	2	d.	Brisbane Bandits	1	(4-2, 4-8, 8-6)
Perth Heat	2	d.	Gold Coast Cougars	1	(2-19, 8-7, 8-2)

Round 12: 16–18 January 1998

Round 12

Melbourne Monarchs	3	d.	Brisbane Bandits	1	(1-2, 4-3, 11-10, 12-11)
Gold Coast Cougars	4	d.	Sydney Storm	0	(17-12, 7-2, 15-7, 10-8)
Melbourne Reds	3	d.	Adelaide Giants	1	(4-5, 10-6, 10-8, 11-10)
Perth Heat	2	dr.	Hunter Eagles	2	(0-8, 11-6, 6-8, 5-2)

Round 13: 22–25 January 1998

Round 13

Brisbane Bandits	2	d.	Sydney Storm	1	(2-3, 6-1, 2-1)
Melbourne Monarchs	2	d.	Gold Coast Cougars	1	(10-9, 5-1, 3-4)
Adelaide Giants	1	dr.	Hunter Eagles	1	(9-1, 4-5, W/Out)
Perth Heat	2	d.	Melbourne Reds	0	(2-0, 9-6)

Round 14: 26–29 January 1998

Round 14

Brisbane Bandits	1	dr.	Melbourne Monarchs	1	(N/A, 15-10)
Melbourne Reds	2	d.	Adelaide Giants	1	(N/A, 11-2, 5-6)
Perth Heat	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(15-5, 8-7, 17-6)
Gold Coast Cougars	2	d.	Sydney Storm	1	(9-3, 8-5, 7-12)

Round 15: 30 January-3 February 1998

Round 15

Perth Heat	2	d.	Brisbane Bandits	1	(0-12, 12-6, 5-1)
Gold Coast Cougars	2	d.	Adelaide Giants	1	(1-4, 9-6, 7-5)
Melbourne Monarchs	3	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(9-0, 9-5, 7-6)
Sydney Storm	2	d.	Melbourne Reds	1	(14-11, 4-13, 10-9)

Round 16: 6–8 February 1998

Round 16

Perth Heat	2	d.	Gold Coast Cougars	1	(6-2, 3-10, 7-4)
Adelaide Giants	2	d.	Brisbane Bandits	1	(13-12, 12-10, 8-9)
Melbourne Monarchs	1	dr.	Melbourne Reds	1	(5-4, 4-5, W/Out)
Sydney Storm	1	d.	Hunter Eagles	0	(11-5)

Ladder

Key

†	Clinched final berth

1997-98 regular season standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Melbourne Monarchs^†	32	20	.615	–	–	–
Sydney Storm^†	32	22	.593	1	–	–
Melbourne Reds^†	30	21	.588	1^1⁄2	–	–
Gold Coast Cougars^†	31	22	.585	1^1⁄2	–	–
Perth Heat	30	23	.566	2^1⁄2	–	–
Adelaide Giants	26	27	.491	6^1⁄2	–	–
Brisbane Bandits	20	33	.333	12^1⁄2	–	–
Hunter Eagles	10	43	.189	22^1⁄2	–	–

Top 10 Stats

Defensive Stats Name Wins Losses Saves ERA Mark Respondek 4 0 0 2.57 Warren May 6 1 1 4.96 Robert Hogan 5 2 0 5.97 Pat Ahearne 3 4 0 3.46 David White 2 4 2 7.79 Jason Beverlin 2 4 0 6.22

Offensive Stars Name Avg HR RBI Adam Burton .388 21 55 Ben Utting .346 7 34 Myles Barnden .343 6 28 Chris Ashby .314 6 18 Jeff Spencer .306 7 41 Shane Hogan .298 18 49

Postseason

Finals Series at Melbourne Ballpark

In previous years the post season was played as home and away best of 3 games, with the two winner of each series meeting for a best of 5 series{fact}, in 1997–98 this was changed to a round robin play-off format with each team playing 3 games, 1 against each of the other 3 qualified teams, with the two highest places teams playing off in the Championship Series.^[4]

All games for the 9th ABL title were played at the Melbourne Ballpark from February, 10-12 with the best of three championship series 14–15 February.^[4]

Finals Series

Game 1: 10 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Gold Coast Cougars	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	7	?	?
Melbourne Monarchs	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	5	?	?
WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Cougars: ? Monarchs: ?

Game 2: 10 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Melbourne Reds	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	18	?	?
Sydney Storm	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	5	?	?
WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Reds: ? Storm: ?

Game 3: 11 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Melbourne Monarchs	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	1	?	?
Sydney Storm	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	5	?	?
WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Monarchs: ? Storm: ?

Game 4: 11 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Gold Coast Cougars	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	1	?	?
Melbourne Reds	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	2	?	?
WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Cougars: ? Reds: ?

Game 5: 12 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Sydney Storm	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	6	?	?
Gold Coast Cougars	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	8	?	?
WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Storm: ? Cougars: ?

Game 6: 12 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Melbourne Monarchs	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	12	?	?
Melbourne Reds	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	5	?	?
WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Monarchs: ? Reds: ?

Postseason Ladder

Key

†	Clinched Championship series berth

1997-98 postseason season standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	For	Against
Melbourne Reds^†	2	1	.667	-	25	18
Gold Coast Cougars^†	2	1	.667	-	16	13
Melbourne Monarchs	1	2	.333	1	18	17
Sydney Storm	1	2	.333	1	16	27

Championship Series

Game 1: 14 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Gold Coast Cougars	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	?	?
Melbourne Reds	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	-	4	?	?
WP: David White (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ? Home runs: Cougars: - Reds: Shane Hogan (1)

Game 2: 15 February 1998

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Melbourne Reds	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	4	6	?
Gold Coast Cougars	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	?	?
WP: Jason Beverlin (1-0)   LP: Paxton Crawford (0-1)   Sv: - Home runs: Reds: Shane Hogan (1), Myles Barnden (1) Cougars: -

Awards

Award	Person	Team
Batting Champion	Brendan Kingman	Sydney Storm
Golden Glove	Glenn Williams	Sydney Storm
Manager of the Year	Tom Nieto	Melbourne Reds
Most Valuable Player	Brendan Kingman	Sydney Storm
Championship M.V.P.	Shane Hogan	Melbourne Reds
Rookie of the Year	Rodney Van Buizen	Hunter Eagles
Reliever of the Year	Gabe Molina	Perth Heat
Pitcher of the Year	Erick Nelson	Melbourne Monarchs
Umpire of the Year	Gerard Tancred	New South Wales

All-Star Team

Position	Name	Team
Catcher	Gary White	Sydney Storm
1st Base	Ron Johnson	Gold Coast Cougars
2nd Base	Adam Burton	Melbourne Reds
3rd Base	Paul Gorman	Gold Coast Cougars
Short Stop	Ben Utting	Melbourne Reds
Out Field	Glen Barker	Brisbane Bandits
Out Field	Trent Durrington	Gold Coast Cougars
Out Field	Grant McDonald	Brisbane Bandits
Designated Hitter	Brendan Kingman	Sydney Storm
Starting Pitcher	Erick Nelson	Melbourne Monarchs
Relief Pitcher	Gabe Molina	Perth Heat
Manager	Tom Nieto	Melbourne Reds

References

1. "Melbourne Monarchs Roster". Melbourne Monarchs. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
2. "Melbourne Reds Roster". Melbourne Reds. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
3. "Perth Heat Player Profiles". Perth Heat. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
4. "FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998.". Press Release. Australian Baseball League. Archived from the original on 30 June 1998. Retrieved 19 November 2012.

• Flintoff, Peter; Dunn, Adrian (August 1998). Flintoff & Dunn's Australian Baseball League Almanac 1998 Edition. Melbourne: Flintoff & Dunn.