View source for 1997–98 Australian Baseball League season

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox sports season
| sport             = Baseball
| league            = Australian Baseball League
| no_of_teams       = 8
| duration          = {{start and end date|1997|10|31|1998|02|15|df=y}}
| season            = Regular season
| MVP               = [[Brendan Kingman]] ([[Sydney Storm]])
| finals            = Finals Series
| finals_venue      = [[Melbourne Ballpark]]
| finals_champ      = [[Melbourne Reds]] (3rd title)
| finals_runner-up  = [[Gold Coast Cougars]]
| no_of_games       = 211
| attendance        = 
| prevseason_link   = 1996–97 Australian Baseball League season
| prevseason_year   = 1996–97
| nextseason_link   = 1998–99 Australian Baseball League season
| nextseason_year   = 1998–99
}}
The '''1997–98 [[Australian Baseball League (1989-1999)|Australian Baseball League]] season''' was the 9th season of the original [[Australian Baseball League (1989–1999)|Australian Baseball League]], contested between eight teams representing state and regional capitals: {{ABL team | ADEG}}, {{ABL team | BRIB}}, {{ABL team | GOLD}}, {{ABL team | HUNT}}, {{ABL team | MELM}}, {{ABL team | MELR}}, {{ABL team | PERH}} and {{ABL team | SYDS}}. 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==
{{Australia locator map
| size = 400
| adelaide-label = [[Adelaide Giants]]
| adelaide-bb-icon = giants
| brisbane-label = [[Brisbane Bandits (1989–1998)|Brisbane Bandits]]
| brisbane-bb-icon = bandits
| gold-coast-label = [[Gold Coast Cougars]]
| gold-coast-bb-icon = Cougars
| melbourne-label = [[Melbourne Reds]]
| melbourne-bb-icon = reds
| geelong-label = [[Melbourne Monarchs]]
| geelong-bb-icon = monarchs
| perth-label = [[Perth Heat]]
| perth-bb-icon = heat
| newcastle-label = [[Hunter Eagles]]
| newcastle-bb-icon =eagles
| sydney-label = [[Sydney Storm]]
| sydney-bb-icon = 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 {{ABL season|1998–99}} season, The Bushrangers previously folded at the end of the {{ABL season|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.

*[[1997–98 Melbourne Monarchs season#Roster]]
*[[1997–98 Melbourne Reds season#Roster]]
*[[1997–98 Perth Heat season#Roster]]
*[[1997–98 Sydney Storm season#Roster]]

=== Venues ===

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:100%;"
|+ Teams in the ABL
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | City
! scope="col" | State
! scope="col" | Stadium
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | ADEG}}
| [[Adelaide]]
| [[South Australia]]
| [[Norwood Oval]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | BRIB}}
| [[Brisbane]]
| [[Queensland]]
| [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | GOLD}}
| [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
| [[Queensland]]
| [[Carrara Stadium|Carrara Oval]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | HUNT}}
| [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
| [[New South Wales]]
| [[Newcastle International Sports Centre]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | MELM}}
| [[Melbourne]]
| [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]
| [[Melbourne Ballpark]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | MELR}}
| [[Melbourne]]
| [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]
| [[Moorabbin Oval]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | PERH}}
| [[Perth]]
| [[Western Australia]]
| [[WACA Ground]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | {{ABL team | SYDS}}
| [[Sydney]]
| [[New South Wales]]
| [[Concord Oval]]
|
|}

==Regular season==

===Round 1: 31 October – 5 November 1997===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{{Infobox baseball game
|year = 1997
|game = Australian Baseball League All-Star Game
|image = 
|caption = 
|date = 12-13 December 1997
|venue = [[Carrara Oval]]
|city = [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
}}
The All-Stars Weekend, was the first series of All-Star exhibition games held by the Australian Baseball League. The games were contested over two nights at [[Carrara Oval]] on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], The then home of the [[Gold Coast Cougars]] franchise.<ref name="FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998.">{{cite web|title=FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998. |url=http://www.yellowpages.com.au/reds/releases/98_sum.htm |work=Press Release |publisher=Australian Baseball League |accessdate=19 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980630204341/http://www.yellowpages.com.au/reds/releases/98_sum.htm |archivedate=June 30, 1998 }}</ref>

The games were played between the Australian All-Stars, USA All-Stars and the 1997 Japanese Industrial League Champions the Mitsubishi Juko Kobe. The Australian and USA All-Star teams were selected from players who were at the time playing in the Australian Baseball League.<ref name="FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998."/>

==== Game 1: Australian All-Stars vs Mitsubishi Juko Kobe====
{{linescore
| Date = 12 December 1997
| Time = 19:00
| Location = [[Carrara Oval]], [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
| Road = Mitsubishi Juko Kobe | RoadAbr = MJK
| R1 = | R2 = | R3 = | R4 = | R5 = | R6 = | R7 = | R8 = | R9 = | RR =? | RH = | RE = 
| Home = Australian All-Stars | HomeAbr = AUS
| H1 = | H2 = | H3 = | H4 = | H5 = | H6 = | H7 = | H8 = | H9 = | HR =? | HH = | HE = 
| WP = | LP = | SV = 
| HomeHR =  | RoadHR = 
| Attendance = 
| BoxURL = 
}}

==== Game 2: Australian All-Stars vs USA All-Stars====
{{linescore
| Date = 13 December 1997
| Time = 19:00
| Location = [[Carrara Oval]], [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
| Road = '''USA All-Stars''' | RoadAbr = USA
| R1 = | R2 = | R3 = | R4 = | R5 = | R6 = | R7 = | R8 = | R9 = | RR = 15 | RH = | RE = 
| Home = Australian All-Stars | HomeAbr = AUS
| H1 = | H2 = | H3 = | H4 = | H5 = | H6 = | H7 = | H8 = | H9 = | HR = 9 | HH = | HE = 
| WP = | LP = | SV = 
| HomeHR =  | RoadHR = 
| Attendance = 
| BoxURL = 
}}

===Round 7: 14–16 December 1997===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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===
<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL
| section=Regular season
| for_against_style = none | show_GB = y | ranking_style = %
| team1 = MELM| name_MELM = {{ABL team|MELM|season=1997–98}}
| win_MELM = 32 |loss_MELM = 20
| team2 = SYDS| name_SYDS = {{ABL team|SYDS|season=1997–98}}
| win_SYDS = 32 |loss_SYDS = 22
| team3 = MELR| name_MELR = {{ABL team|MELR|season=1997–98}}
| win_MELR = 30 |loss_MELR = 21
| team4 = GOLD| name_GOLD = {{ABL team|GOLD|season=1997–98}}
| win_GOLD = 31 |loss_GOLD = 22
| team5 = PERH| name_PERH = {{ABL_team|PERH|season=1997–98}}
| win_PERH = 30 |loss_PERH = 23
| team6 = ADEG| name_ADEG = {{ABL team|ADEG|season=1997–98}}
| win_ADEG = 26 |loss_ADEG = 27
| team7 = BRIB| name_BRIB = {{ABL team|BRIB|season=1997–98}}
| win_BRIB = 20 |loss_BRIB = 33
| team8 = HUNT| name_HUNT = {{ABL team|HUNT|season=1997–98}}
| win_HUNT = 10 |loss_HUNT = 43

|res_col_header = Q
|col_FS = green1 |text_FS = Advance to [[#Finals Series|Finals Series]]
|result1=FS |result2=FS |result3=FS |result4=FS 
| update = complete|source=
}}</onlyinclude>

===Top 10 Stats===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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
|}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ 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
|}
{{col-end}}

==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.<ref name="FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998."/>

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.<ref name="FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998."/>

===Finals Series===

====Game 1: 10 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Gold Coast Cougars'''|RoadAbr=Cougars
|R1=?|R2=?|R3=?|R4=?|R5=?|R6=?|R7=?|R8=?|R9=?|RR=7|RH=?|RE=?
|Home=Melbourne Monarchs|HomeAbr=Monarchs
|H1=?|H2=?|H3=?|H4=?|H5=?|H6=?|H7=?|H8=?|H9=?|HR=5|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=? (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=?|HomeHR=?
|}}

====Game 2: 10 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Melbourne Reds'''|RoadAbr=Reds
|R1=?|R2=?|R3=?|R4=?|R5=?|R6=?|R7=?|R8=?|R9=?|RR=18|RH=?|RE=?
|Home=Sydney Storm|HomeAbr=Storm
|H1=?|H2=?|H3=?|H4=?|H5=?|H6=?|H7=?|H8=?|H9=?|HR=5|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=? (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=?|HomeHR=?
|}}

====Game 3: 11 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road=Melbourne Monarchs|RoadAbr=Monarchs
|R1=?|R2=?|R3=?|R4=?|R5=?|R6=?|R7=?|R8=?|R9=?|RR=1|RH=?|RE=?
|Home='''Sydney Storm'''|HomeAbr=Storm
|H1=?|H2=?|H3=?|H4=?|H5=?|H6=?|H7=?|H8=?|H9=?|HR=5|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=? (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=?|HomeHR=?
|}}

====Game 4: 11 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road=Gold Coast Cougars|RoadAbr=Cougars
|R1=?|R2=?|R3=?|R4=?|R5=?|R6=?|R7=?|R8=?|R9=?|RR=1|RH=?|RE=?
|Home='''Melbourne Reds'''|HomeAbr=Reds
|H1=?|H2=?|H3=?|H4=?|H5=?|H6=?|H7=?|H8=?|H9=?|HR=2|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=? (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=?|HomeHR=?
|}}

====Game 5: 12 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road=Sydney Storm|RoadAbr=Storm
|R1=?|R2=?|R3=?|R4=?|R5=?|R6=?|R7=?|R8=?|R9=?|RR=6|RH=?|RE=?
|Home='''Gold Coast Cougars'''|HomeAbr=Cougars
|H1=?|H2=?|H3=?|H4=?|H5=?|H6=?|H7=?|H8=?|H9=?|HR=8|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=? (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=?|HomeHR=?
|}}

====Game 6: 12 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Melbourne Monarchs'''|RoadAbr=Monarchs
|R1=?|R2=?|R3=?|R4=?|R5=?|R6=?|R7=?|R8=?|R9=?|RR=12|RH=?|RE=?
|Home=Melbourne Reds|HomeAbr=Reds
|H1=?|H2=?|H3=?|H4=?|H5=?|H6=?|H7=?|H8=?|H9=?|HR=5|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=? (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=?|HomeHR=?
|}}

===Postseason Ladder===
<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WL
| section = Postseason
| for_against_style = runs |ranking_style = % | show_GB = y
| team1 = MELR| name_MELR = {{ABL team|MELR|season=1997–98}}
| team2 = GOLD| name_GOLD = {{ABL team|GOLD|season=1997–98}}
| team3 = MELM| name_MELM = {{ABL team|MELM|season=1997–98}}
| team4 = SYDS| name_SYDS = {{ABL team|SYDS|season=1997–98}}
| win_MELR = 2 | loss_MELR = 1 | pf_MELR = 25 | pa_MELR = 18
| win_GOLD = 2 | loss_GOLD = 1 | pf_GOLD = 16 | pa_GOLD = 13
| win_MELM = 1 | loss_MELM = 2 | pf_MELM = 18 | pa_MELM = 17
| win_SYDS = 1 | loss_SYDS = 2 | pf_SYDS = 16 | pa_SYDS = 27
| res_col_header = Q
| col_C = #bbffbb | text_C = Advance to [[#Championship Series|Championship series]]
| result1 = C | result2 = C
| update = complete|source=
}}</onlyinclude>

===Championship Series===

====Game 1: 14 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road=Gold Coast Cougars|RoadAbr=Cougars
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=3|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=?|RE=?
|Home='''Melbourne Reds'''|HomeAbr=Reds
|H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=1|H8=0|H9=-|HR=4|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=David White (1-0)|LP=? (0-1)|SV=?
|RoadHR=-|HomeHR=Shane Hogan (1)
|}}

====Game 2: 15 February 1998====
{{Linescore|
|Road='''Melbourne Reds'''|RoadAbr=Reds
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=1|R7=0|R8=3|R9=0|RR=4|RH=6|RE=?
|Home=Gold Coast Cougars|HomeAbr=Cougars
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=0|HH=?|HE=?
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=Jason Beverlin (1-0)|LP=Paxton Crawford (0-1)|SV=-
|RoadHR=Shane Hogan (1), Myles Barnden (1)|HomeHR=-
|}}

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! Award
! Person
! Team
|- 
|'''Batting Champion'''
|[[Brendan Kingman]]
|{{ABL team|SYDS}}
|- 
|'''Golden Glove'''
|[[Glenn Williams]]
|{{ABL team|SYDS}}
|- 
|'''Manager of the Year'''
|[[Tom Nieto]]
|{{ABL team|MELR}}
|- 
|'''Most Valuable Player'''
|Brendan Kingman
|{{ABL team|SYDS}}
|- 
|'''Championship M.V.P.'''
|Shane Hogan
|{{ABL team|MELR}}
|- 
|'''Rookie of the Year'''
|[[Rodney Van Buizen]]
|{{ABL team|HUNT}}
|- 
|'''Reliever of the Year'''
|[[Gabe Molina]]
|{{ABL team|PERH}}
|- 
|'''Pitcher of the Year'''
|[[Erick Nelson]]
|{{ABL team|MELM}}
|- 
|'''Umpire of the Year'''
|[[Gerard Tancred]]
|New South Wales
|}

==All-Star Team==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! Position
! Name
! Team
|- 
|'''Catcher'''
|Gary White
|{{ABL team|SYDS}}
|- 
|'''1st Base'''
|Ron Johnson
|{{ABL team|GOLD}}
|- 
|'''2nd Base'''
|Adam Burton
|{{ABL team|MELR}}
|- 
|'''3rd Base'''
|Paul Gorman
|{{ABL team|GOLD}}
|- 
|'''Short Stop'''
|Ben Utting
|{{ABL team|MELR}}
|- 
|'''Out Field'''
|Glen Barker
|{{ABL team|BRIB}}
|- 
|'''Out Field'''
|Trent Durrington
|{{ABL team|GOLD}}
|- 
|'''Out Field'''
|Grant McDonald
|{{ABL team|BRIB}}
|- 
|'''Designated Hitter'''
|Brendan Kingman
|{{ABL team|SYDS}}
|- 
|'''Starting Pitcher'''
|Erick Nelson
|{{ABL team|MELM}}
|- 
|'''Relief Pitcher'''
|Gabe Molina
|{{ABL team|PERH}}
|- 
|'''Manager'''
|Tom Nieto
|{{ABL team|MELR}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book | last=Flintoff | first=Peter | last2=Dunn | first2=Adrian | title=Flintoff & Dunn's Australian Baseball League Almanac 1998 Edition   | publisher=Flintoff & Dunn | location=Melbourne |date=August 1998}}

{{1997–98 Australian Baseball League|state=autocollapse}}
{{Australian Baseball League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 Australian Baseball League Season}}
[[Category:1997–98 Australian Baseball League season| ]]
[[Category:Australian Baseball League (1989–1999) seasons]]
[[Category:1997 in Australian sport]]
[[Category:1997 in baseball]]
[[Category:1998 in Australian sport]]
[[Category:1998 in baseball]]