1997–98 Australian Baseball League season

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.

1997–98
Australian Baseball League
Season details
SportBaseball
Country Australia
Teams8
Dates31 October 1997 – 15 February 1998
Defending champions Perth Heat (1996–97)
Champions Melbourne Reds (3rd title)
MVPBrendan 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 played211
Best batting averageAdam Burton ( Reds) (.388)
Most homeruns hitAdam Burton ( Reds) (21)
Best ERAMark Respondek ( Reds) (2.57)

Last updated on 7 February 2013

Teams

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.

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† 3220.615–––
Sydney Storm† 3222.5931––
Melbourne Reds† 3021.5881​1⁄2––
Gold Coast Cougars† 3122.5851​1⁄2––
Perth Heat 3023.5662​1⁄2––
Adelaide Giants 2627.4916​1⁄2––
Brisbane Bandits 2033.33312​1⁄2––
Hunter Eagles 1043.18922​1⁄2––

    Top 10 Stats

    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.[1]

    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.[1]

    Game 1: 10 February 1998
    Team123456789RHE
    Gold Coast Cougars?????????7??
    Melbourne Monarchs?????????5??
    WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Cougars: ?
    Monarchs: ?

    Game 2: 10 February 1998
    Team123456789RHE
    Melbourne Reds?????????18??
    Sydney Storm?????????5??
    WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Reds: ?
    Storm: ?

    Game 3: 11 February 1998
    Team123456789RHE
    Melbourne Monarchs?????????1??
    Sydney Storm?????????5??
    WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Monarchs: ?
    Storm: ?

    Game 4: 11 February 1998
    Team123456789RHE
    Gold Coast Cougars?????????1??
    Melbourne Reds?????????2??
    WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Cougars: ?
    Reds: ?

    Game 5: 12 February 1998
    Team123456789RHE
    Sydney Storm?????????6??
    Gold Coast Cougars?????????8??
    WP: ? (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Storm: ?
    Cougars: ?

    Game 6: 12 February 1998
    Team123456789RHE
    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† 21.667-2518
    Gold Coast Cougars† 21.667-1613
    Melbourne Monarchs 12.33311817
    Sydney Storm 12.33311627

      Game 1: 14 February 1998
      Team123456789RHE
      Gold Coast Cougars0000003003??
      Melbourne Reds10002010-4??
      WP: David White (1-0)   LP: ? (0-1)   Sv: ?
      Home runs:
      Cougars: -
      Reds: Shane Hogan (1)

      Game 2: 15 February 1998
      Team123456789RHE
      Melbourne Reds00000103046?
      Gold Coast Cougars0000000000??
      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. "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.
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