Perth Heat

ABL_infobox
Name = Perth Heat
Logo =
League =ABL (1989-99), Claxton Shield (2005-present).
Location =Perth
Stadium =Baseball Park
Founded =1989-90
Defunct =1998-99
Re-formed =2005
Nickname =Heat
LeagueChamps =1990-91, 1996-97, 2008
RunnerUp =1991-92, 1992-93, 1994-95
FormerNames =
FormerBallparks =Parry Field, WACA
Colours =
LogoDesign =
Mascot =
Series =Claxton Shield/Australian Baseball League
Season =2008
Record =8-4 (1^st south)
Playoffs =Won championship series in 2 game against Patriots.
Manager =Gordon Gerlach
h_c

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h_rightarm=000000
h_pattern_ra=
h_pattern_pants=_beltonwhite
h_pants=000000
h_socks=000000
a_c

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a_pattern_b=_baseball
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Championships =Heat's Championships
1989-90 =3^rd
1990-91 =1^st
1991-92 =2^nd
1992-93 =2^nd
1993-94 =3^rd
1994-95 =2^nd
1995-96 =3^rd
1996-97 =1^st
1997-98 =5^th
1998-99 =6^th
2005 =5^th
2006 =4^th
2007 =6^th
2008 =1^st (1^st Southern)

The Perth Heat were one of the foundation members of the now defunct Australian Baseball League. Their first ABL championship was won in season 1990-91, when Graeme Lloyd pitched the Heat to a Game 5 championship win on the Gold Coast against the Dolphins to take the series 3-2. In late 2005 the Western Australian Baseball team that competes in the Claxton Shield adopted the "Perth Heat" name in an attempt to lift the team's profile and promote Baseball Western Australia.

Australian Baseball League years

Post-ABL era

Starting in late 2005, Baseball WA re-adopted the Perth Heat name for its state senior representative team in the interstate Claxton Shield competition. The re-branding of the team, in conjunction with the new Tom Bateman Reserve in the suburb of Thornlie, has been attributed as part of the reason for the strong growth in interest for Western Australian baseball, with many exhibition matches attracting attendances in excess of 2,000 [cite news |url=http://www.austadiums.com/news/news.php?id=271 |title=Perth Heat going from strength to strength |date=2006-10-17 |author=Chris Egan |work=www.austadiums.com] .

Western Australia hosted the 2007 Claxton Shield carnival at Tom Bateman Reserve, with games also being played in the nearby regional centres of Rockingham and Mandurah. Attendances were strong, with games involving the home side attracting estimated crowds of between 1,000 and 1,500, and the grand final, eventually won by Victoria against New South Wales, also attracting a 1,500 crowd. However, the Heat was unable to win a game at home. [Various information within the Australian Baseball Federation's [http://www.baseball.com.au/?Page=33366 2007 Claxton Shield page] . Accessed 2007-12-28.]

In late 2007, the Heat moniker has been extended to the state's junior representatives, with the program and under-14, under-16 and under-18 teams being renamed the "WA State HEAT" [Baseball WA (2007-12-05). [http://www.wa.baseball.com.au/?page=40500&format= Baseball WA Launch 'New Look' State Program] . Accessed on 2007-12-28.] .

2008 Claxton Shield Squad

Perth Heat's 22 man roster for the 2008 Claxton Shield, Announced by Baseball WA. [http://www.baseball.com.au/?Page=40803&MenuID=Events%2F95%2F0%2CClaxton%5FShield%2F14075%2F20767%2C2007%5FClaxton%5FShield%5FInformation%2F101%2F20767%2CROSTERS%2F20354%2F0%2F0]

Player Roster

See also

*Sport in Australia
*Australian Baseball
*Australian Baseball League

References

External links

* [http://www.australianbaseballhistory.webcentral.com.au/Baseball%20Web%20Pages/ABL.htm The Australian Baseball League: 1989-1999]
* [http://www.perthheat.com.au Perth Heat official website]