1997 Michigan Battle Cats Roster
Team Record: 70-67
Finished 2nd in the MWL's East Division
Manager: Billy Gardner (70-67)
Affiliation: Boston Red Sox
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Ballpark: C.O. Brown Stadium
Attendance: 126,947, Avg. 2,116 in 60 home dates
Playoffs - Lansing Lugnuts 2 games, Michigan Battle Cats 1
The Michigan Battle Cats of the Midwest League ended the 1997 season with a record of 70 wins and 67 losses, finishing second in the league's East Division.
The Battle Cats scored 725 runs and allowed 672 runs. Jim Chamblee paced Michigan with 22 home runs, while Dernell Stenson and Corey Jenkins walloped 15 or more, too. Dernell Stenson accounted for 80 RBI. John Barnes led hitters with significant playing time with a .304 average. Robb Welch topped the squad with 13 wins, and Matt Kinney recorded a 3.54 ERA, tops among qualifying pitchers.
Members of the 1997 Michigan Battle Cats who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Dernell Stenson, Chris Reitsma, Steve Lomasney, Rontrez Johnson, Justin Duchscherer, Matt Kinney, Jim Chamblee, Rafael Betancourt, Shea Hillenbrand, John Barnes and Wilton Veras.
Billy Gardner served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Ahumada | R | R | January 20, 1979 | 6'1" | 195 | Culiacan, Sinaloa MX |
| John Barnes | R | R | April 24, 1976 | 6'2" | 205 | San Diego, CA US |
| Chuck Beale | R | R | March 19, 1974 | 6'0" | 210 | Macon, GA US |
| Rafael Betancourt | R | R | April 29, 1975 | 6'2" | 215 | Cumana, Sucre VE |
| Jim Chamblee | R | R | May 6, 1975 | 6'4" | 170 | Denton, TX US |
| Jorge DeLeon | R | R | September 26, 1974 | 6'2" | 170 | Ponce, PR |
| Justin Duchscherer | R | R | November 19, 1977 | 6'3" | 165 | Aberdeen, SD US |
| Chris Festa | R | R | September 7, 1972 | 6'2" | 190 | Arlington, MA US |
| Javier Fuentes | R | R | September 27, 1974 | 6'1" | 182 | Austin, TX US |
| Josh Garrett | R | R | January 12, 1978 | 6'4" | 205 | Owensboro, KY US |
| Andy Hazlett | L | L | August 27, 1975 | 6'3" | 187 | Arcadia, CA US |
| Shea Hillenbrand | R | R | July 27, 1975 | 6'1" | 200 | Mesa, AZ US |
| Germaine Hunter | R | R | January 9, 1974 | 5'11" | 175 | Paducah, KY US |
| Corey Jenkins | R | R | August 25, 1976 | 6'2" | 200 | Columbia, SC US |
| Rontrez Johnson | R | R | December 8, 1976 | 5'10" | 160 | Marshall, TX US |
| Matt Kinney | R | R | December 16, 1976 | 6'5" | 220 | Bangor, ME US |
| Tim Kratochvil | R | R | April 2, 1974 | 6'2" | 220 | Litchfield, IL US |
| Gary Locurto | L | R | May 25, 1978 | 6'1" | 200 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Steve Lomasney | R | R | August 9, 1977 | 6'0" | 185 | Melrose, MA US |
| Chris Madonna | L | R | March 13, 1973 | 5'11" | 190 | Smithtown, NY US |
| Scott Musgrave | L | L | April 24, 1974 | 5'10" | 190 | Raleigh, NC US |
| Jose Olmeda | S | R | July 7, 1977 | 6'1" | 165 | Fajardo, PR |
| Asbel Ortiz | S | R | June 20, 1976 | 6'0" | 180 | Aibonito, PR |
| Brian Partenheimer | R | L | April 13, 1975 | 6'5" | 230 | Huntingburg, IN US |
| Lyle Prempas | L | L | December 3, 1974 | 6'7" | 205 | Melrose Park, IL US |
| Peter Prodanov | R | R | September 4, 1973 | 6'1" | 200 | New Brunswick, NJ US |
| Chris Reitsma | R | R | December 31, 1977 | 6'5" | 215 | Minneapolis, MN US |
| Curt Romboli | L | L | February 7, 1973 | 6'0" | 190 | Boston, MA US |
| Brian Rose | R | R | October 7, 1972 | 6'1" | 190 | Malone, NY US |
| Orlando Sanchez | R | R | July 19, 1978 | 6'0" | 160 | Novolato, MX |
| Jason Sekany | R | R | July 20, 1975 | 6'4" | 214 | Walnut Creek, CA US |
| Steve Smetana | L | L | April 14, 1973 | 6'0" | 205 | Chardon, OH US |
| Dernell Stenson | L | L | June 17, 1978 | 6'1" | 230 | La Grange, GA US |
| Chris Thompson | R | R | September 29, 1972 | 6'2" | 202 | Elyria, OH US |
| Wilton Veras | R | R | January 19, 1978 | 6'2" | 186 | Monte Cristi, Monte Cristi DO |
| Robb Welch | R | R | December 30, 1975 | 6'4" | 201 | Burley, ID US |
| Larry Wimberly | L | L | August 22, 1975 | 6'0" | 190 | Winter Garden, FL US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
