CAL RIPKEN WORLD SERIES HISTORY

Jennifer Stockman, Monday, 18 July 2005

2000 WORLD SERIES

The inaugural cal Riken World Series was held in Mattoon Illinois in 2000. The team consisted of eleven players from Queensland and one each from the ACT, Victoria, N.T. and W.A. The team, known as the Dingos, had a playing record of one win and three losses and the team finished fifth in the International Pool.

The team members were :-

Jon Opperman, Murray Hopley, Jason Morriss, Aaron Stimson, Brent Vanderneut, Shane Nagle, Jacob Rooke, Matt West, Matt Sorenson, Jay Nilsson, Ryan Tutt, Brent Young, Kirby McConnon, Adam Courcha. Bob Nilsson was the head coach, Greg Morriss and Alan Connors were the assistant coaches and Keith Land was the Business Manager.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

Murray Hopley (who threw a no hitter in the team’s final game against Italy) gained selection in the World All Star team. Adam Courcha was chosen in the World All Star Defensive team. Murray Hopley represented Australia in the home run derby.

2001 WORLD SERIES

The World series was held in Vincennes Indiana in 2001. for the first time the side was selected from all over Australia. Selections were NSW (4), Vic. (3), WA (2), SA (2), QLD (2) NT (1) and ACT (1). The team had a playing record of 2 wins and 2 losses which saw it progress to the second round where a loss to Canada meant it finished in third position in the International Pool.

The team members were :-

Clinton Naylor, Alan Sconenberger, James Beresford, Shaun Garner, Adam Bowmaker, Jayson Brown, Ben warner, Feeny Armistead, Stefan Welch, Matthew Kennelly, Jayden Pendelton, Tom Fiebig, Mitchel Moore, Jeremy Blab and Mitchell Parry. Bob Nilsson was the head coach, Greg Kent and Jeff Goodworth were the assistant coaches and Keith Land was the Business Manager.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

The selection of Alan Schonenberger and James Beresford in the All Star Team in addition to Clinton Naylor and Tom Fiebig being selected in the All Star Defensive team were highlights for the Dingos. Shaun Garner became the first Dingo to hit a home run in the World Series. Alan Schonenberger represented Australia in the home run derby where he progressed to the second round.

2002 WORLD SERIES

For the second time in three years the Cal Ripken World Series was held in Mattoon, Illinois. Players again came together from all over Australia to be a part of the team. Selections were NSW (5), Vic. (2), WA (2), SA (2) QLD (3) and ACT (1). The team had a playing record of 2 wins and 2 losses in the preliminary round, which saw it progress to the second round where a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to eventual International Champions Korea meant the team again finished in third position.

Team members were :-Bobby Westmoreland, Chris Lamb, Phil Vanderneut, Michael Lennox, Jamie Gianchou, Andrew Mann, Jason Smit, Tim Atherton, Blake Finney, Brad Samson. Jacob Reust, Warwick Saupold, Jonahton Wirth, Karl Mackay, Mitchell Fienneman. Bob Nilsson was the head coach, Greg Kent and Stuart Hanrahan were the assistant coaches and Keith Land was the Business Manager.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

The selection of Brad Samson, Tim Atherton and Jason Smit in the World All Star Team in addition to Chris lamb, Tim Atherton and Karl Mackay being selected in the World All Star Defensive team were highlights for the Dingos. Michael Lennox represented Australia in the Home run derby while in tournament play, Jason Smit hit two home runs while Jamie Gianchou and Tim Atherton hit one each..

2003 WORLD SERIES

To bring the program in line with ABF teams, last year the team became known as the ARoo’s. The series was held in Aberdeen which is to become the permanent home of the Cal Ripken World series. Selections were NSW (5), Vic. (3), WA (1), SA (1) QLD (4) and ACT (1).the team had a playing record of 2 wins and 2 losses in the preliminary round, which saw it progress to the second round where it defeated the Dominican Republic and advance to the final of the International Pool. It was defeated by Mexico, the eventual World series Champions, to finish as runners up, our best result to date.

Team members were :-David Arnold, Michael Arnold, John Blaskett, Oliver Box, Dale Brown, Andrew Callaghan, Joshua Collis, Christopher Doyle, Jamie Gianchou, David Kandilas, Chris Lamb, Brenton Nahirny, Mitchell Nilsson, Adam Spencer and James Vergos. Bob Nilsson was the head coach, Greg Kent and Jason Hewitt were the assistant coaches and Keith Land was the Business Manager.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

The selection of Jamie Gianchou in the World All Star Team and Joshua Collis and David Arnold in the World All Star Defensive team were highlights. Jamie Gianchou contested the home run derby and he also hit a home run in tournament play. Jamie and Chris Lamb made history by becoming the first players to tour twice and David and Michael Arnold became the first twins to play in the same team. Meanwhile the team made Babe Ruth history when it played Canada in its first pool game. The game was the longest time game (3 hrs and 25 minutes) and the longest number of innings played (12) in Babe Ruth history for this division (and yes we won the game!!)

2004 WORLD SERIES

For the second year in a row, the team returned to Aberdeen, the now permanent home of the World Series. Selections were NSW (4), Vic. (4), WA (2), SA (1) and QLD (4). The team had a playing record of 0 wins and 4 losses in the preliminary round, although two close losses of 1-0 and 2-1 were games which could have gone either way. As a result the side did not progress to the second round.

Team members were :-Corey Adamson, Lucas Bakker, Andrew Campbell, Aaron Costa, Brock Dodd, Jordan Dyer, Joshua Hendricks, Andrew Jones, Ben Lodge, Daniel Luchterhand, Troy Malthouse, Taylor McEvoy, Jake McKenzie, Aaron Tritton and Logan Wade . Bob Nilsson was the head coach, Greg Kent and Jason Hewitt were the assistant coaches and Keith Land was the Business Manager.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

The selection of Taylor McEvoy in the World All Star Team and Andrew Jones being selected in the World All Star Defensive team were highlights for the ARoos. Jamie Gianchou represented Australia in the Home run derby whilst in tournament play, he also became the only ARoo to hit a home run.

HISTORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN

Jay Nilsson, Jason Morriss, Adam Courcha and Murray Hopley became the first Cal Ripken graduates to move to the next level when they won selection in the Australian AA team that competed in the World Championships in Taiwan in 2003. All these players were in the inaugural Cal Ripken World series team.

At this years MLBAAP, 16 players from past teams (almost 25% of all attendees) who are attending include Jason Morriss, Jay Nilsson, James Beresford, Adam Courcha, Tom Fiebig, Brent Young, Clinton Naylor, Alan Schoenberger, Jason Smit and Stefan Welch, Tim Athereton, Chris Lamb, Matthew Kennelly, Brad Samson and Jamie Gianchou.

Graduates of the program to sign professional contracts include Murray Hopley (San Diego Padres), Jay Nilsson (Cleveland Indians), Stefan Welch (NY Mets) and Clinton Naylor (San Diego Padres).

Your chance to write history about the 2005 series and beyond is about to begin.!!

GO THE AUSSIE AROO’S IN 2005!!