Nightcliff Baseball Club Inc. is an amateur baseball club located in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Also known as "the Tigers", the club was formed in 1969 and competes in the Darwin Baseball League (DBL), latterly known as Baseball NT. It is also an affiliated member of the Nightcliff Sports Club.
Operation Historically, baseball in Australia has been an amateur sport.Encyclopædia Britannica (2007, p. 15). History: Amateur Baseball. Retrieved online 16 September 2007.Gmelch, George (2006). Baseball without borders: the international pastime. Lincoln: University of Nebraska. . . As such, the club operates or functions under a constitution by a committee of volunteers, elected each calendar year.Dept. of Local Government, Housing & Sport (2007). Club Development. Retrieved online 27 June 2007. The club derives its income from player registration fees, sponsorship, grants, donations and fundraising activities. Because the club is an incorporated body, it operates as a legal business entity.Department of Justice (2008). Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading: Why Incorporate. Retrieved on 26 July 2008.
The club is based and trains at Nightcliff Middle School, Aralia Street, Nightcliff.
History Established in 1969, Nightcliff's origins stemmed from the Darwin Chinese Recreation Club (DCRC) Red Sox.Darwin Chinese Recreation Club. Retrieved online 28 June 2007. The Red Sox disbanded earlier the same year, but several former players adopted the new club. Bob Melville was elected as the inaugural President, but resigned shortly afterwards following a disagreement with another committee member. He was replaced by Alan Smith, who remained President for the remainder of the season.
Nightcliff dominated the competition throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.Asia Rooms (2007). Baseball in Darwin. Retrieved online 19 March 2008. This period was known as Nightcliff's 'Golden Era' in which the club played in 12 consecutive Grand Finals, winning 9 of them.Chin, J. and Tobin, M. (1996). A brief history of Baseball in Darwin. Baseball '96, page 12.
Many critics argued that if Nightcliff had not entered and played two teams during the 1972/73 season, they would have easily won that premiership. The two teams finished second and third. The 1974/75 season was cancelled following Cyclone Tracy and most of the clubs records were either lost or destroyed in the cyclone. However, in late March 1975, an unofficial Grand Final was played between Nightcliff and representatives of the other five clubs. Although Nightcliff won this game, it was not officially recognised by DBL.
Nightcliff Baseball Club was a foundation member of the Nightcliff Sports Club, but the committee held its regular meetings at the Seabreeze Hotel to discuss the affairs of the club. These meetings became well known as "High Masses" and continued until the Seabreeze Hotel was destroyed during Cyclone Tracy in December 1974.Barter, Leith. (1994, p. 41). From wartime camp to garden suburb: a short history of Nightcliff and Rapid Creek. Historical Society of the Northern Territory. . OCLC: 38361179 Thereafter, the club held its meetings at the Nightcliff Sports Club.
In the mid- to late 1980s, the club suffered both competitively and financially, arguably from the competition swapping, in 1984, from wet-season to dry-season. Nightcliff did not compete in the inaugural 1984 dry-season competition due to lack of players, but rejoined in 1985. In 1988, the club faced financial crisis and considered bankruptcy as the DBL threatened expulsion from the league. However, a lifelong Nightcliff supporter, Kay Thrupp, provided a financial lifeline and two major fund-raising efforts secured the club's financial position.Peter Dawe (1988). Tigress to the Rescue. NT News.
Between 1985 and 1989 the club entered a 'Rebuilding Era' with an emphasis on junior player development. Ultimately, the strategy proved too successful with several home-grown players subsequently pursuing baseball careers in southern states, where their opportunities were greater.Clark, Joe. (2003, p. 80). A History of Australian Baseball: Time & Game . University of Nebraska Press. . OCLC: 52127597 Since 1990, the club has remained competitive. The period between 1990 and 2000 was known as the 'Kendray Era' in reference to Nightcliff's star player who dominated the competition, coached and led the club. During the 1990s, Nightcliff played in seven Grand Finals, winning a further three premierships.
In 1989, the club built a permanent baseball field at Nightcliff High School. In 1997, the club became an incorporated body, to reflect the changing way amateur sport was being administered in Australia.Deakin Law Review (2003). The Law of Tort & Amateur Sport: An Incentive to Stay at Home? Retrieved online 9 August 2007.
Between 2000 and 2006, Nightcliff played in six of the possible seven Grand Finals, but failed to win any.Australian Baseball Federation. (2006). Groundhog Day. Retrieved online 9 August 2007. This period was known as Nightcliff's 'Bridesmaid Era'.NT News Limited. Closest match-up in years. Saturday, 28 August 2010, page 54. This era officially ended in 2007, when Nightcliff won the Grand Final against their long-time rivals, Tracy Village, 11–4.Aloia, Andrew. (2007). Nightcliff ends dynasty. NT News. Monday, 24 September 2007. Page 34.
In 2010, Nightcliff created a first in Northern Territory baseball history when the club appointed a woman, Narelle Gosstray, as their senior club coach.Webster, Jess (2010). Top End coach breaks new ground. NT News Limited. 8 June 2010, page 38.Webster, Jess. Pints, Tigers make a pitch for grand final. NT News Limited. 20 August 2010, page 63. Gosstray, a former Australian women's baseball representative and Aussie Hearts coach, was also the first woman appointed to coach an Australian junior baseball side.Team - Aussie Hearts, Australia (2010). Phoenix Cup 2010: Hong Kong. Retrieved on 26 June 2010. She was among the recipients of the 2010-11 Australian Sports Commission's Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women to further her development as a high performance baseball coach.NT quartet awarded sports scholarships. NT News Limited. 27 July 2010. Retrieved on 2010-08-26. In her first year as coach, the Tigers made the 2010 grand final after finishing with the wooden spoon the previous year.Webster, Jess. Monster hit scores three runs and grand final berth. NT News Limited. 24 August 2010, page 34. In the final, however, Nightcliff lost to their long-time rivals, Tracy Village 6–2.Rebels are the champs. NT News Limited. Tuesday, 31 August 2010, page 35. Retrieved on 2010-08-31.
In 2015 Nightcliff signed another woman player, 27-year-old left-hand pitcher Amy Collins, who won a bronze medal with the Australian women's team at the 2014 World Cup in Japan, where the opposition included baseball giants the US, Canada, Venezuela, Japan and Chinese Taipei. In her first game with the Tigers, Collins pitched a 26–5 winning game over the Palmerston Reds.Morris, Grey (22 April 2015). Australian star takes on the boys for Darwin club Nightcliff. NT News. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
Premiers 13 - 1970/71, 1971/72, 1973/74, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2007.
Runners up 17 - 1969/70, 1972/73, 1980/81, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2018.
Life Members
The constitution allows for Life Membership and is awarded on the basis of outstanding volunteer service to the club. At least 10 years of predominantly non-playing service is generally considered necessary to achieve Life Membership. Current Life Members with their year of induction follow:
Deceased
Honour Board SeasonMVPBatting avg.RBIsGold GloveStolen bases 1969/70 Fred Bush Fred Schmidt Peter Goodchild Fred Schmidt Fred Bush 1970/71 John Lewis Fred Bush Peter Goodchild Robin Cullen Robin Cullen 1971/72 Gary Giumelli Gary Giumelli Gary Giumelli Mike Buisak Robin Cullen 1972/73 Gary Giumelli Gary Giumelli Fred Bush Fred Schmidt Gary Giumelli 1973/74 Grant Baker Fred Schmidt Gary Giumelli Fred Schmidt Gary Giumelli 1974/75 No award No award No award No award No award 1975/76 Wayne Longstaff Gary Giumelli Gary Giumelli Fred Schmidt Gary Giumelli 1976/77 Wayne Longstaff Wayne Longstaff Neil McCormack Fred Schmidt Gary Giumelli 1977/78 Leigh Halprin Leigh Halprin Gary Giumelli Mal Kinter Gary Giumelli 1978/79 Wayne Longstaff Wayne Longstaff Kieran Cassidy Mal Kinter Gary Giumelli 1979/80 Nick Bear Nick Bear Fred Bush Nick Bear Paul Rider 1980/81 Lance Schmidt Bill Fryar Gary Giumelli Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1981/82 Lance Schmidt Kieran Cassidy Fred Bush Leigh Halprin Kieran Cassidy 1982/83 Bill Fryar Bill Fryar Garry Haigh Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1983 Kieran Cassidy Garry Haigh Kieran Cassidy Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1984 No award No award No award No award No award 1985 Lance Schmidt Lance Schmidt Leigh Halprin No award No award 1986 Lance Schmidt Leigh Halprin Shane Higgins No award No award 1987 Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1988 Greg Cran Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1989 Andrew Kendray Neil Curnow Andrew Kendray Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1990 Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Scott Lawson Bill Fryar Darren Kimmorley 1991 Peter Cole Peter Jackson Andrew Kendray Peter Jackson Bill Fryar 1992 Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Peter Cole Bill Fryar Bill Fryar 1993 Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Bill Fryar Scott Farrer 1994 Ashley Kendray Andrew Kendray Mark Van Pelt Andrew Kendray Tom Keily 1995 Andrew Kendray Darren Kimmorley Andrew Kendray Adam Keily Bill Fryar 1996 Greg Cran Darren Kimmorley Andrew Kendray Erv Moyd Sean Ferme 1997 Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Greg Cran Sam Tibbits Brett Beaton 1998 Adam Keily Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Jason Duncan Adam Keily 1999 Darrin Wilson Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Warwick Southwood Jason Duncan 2000 Brett Niddrie Andrew Kendray Andrew Kendray Jason Duncan Jason Duncan 2001 Brett Niddrie Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Kieran Bush Brett Beaton 2002 Chris Davies Tim Wells Warwick Southwood Warwick Southwood Chris Davies 2003 Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Jamie Wakelam Joel Harvey 2004 Lachlan Burrows Lachlan Burrows Ashley Kendray Brett Beaton Lachlan Burrows 2005 Brett Niddrie Brett Edwards Anthony Zamalo Ashley Kendray Drew Hodgson 2006 Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Drew Hodgson Drew Hodgson 2007 Brett Niddrie Ashley Kendray Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Anthony Zamolo 2008 Joel Harvey Joel Harvey Brett Beaton Brett Beaton Brett Niddrie 2009 Narelle Gosstray Joel Harvey Brett Beaton Adrian Handford Bernard Kelly 2010 Daniel Conway-Jones Daniel Conway-Jones Daniel Conway-Jones Adrian Handford Daniel Conway-Jones 2011 Jason Ellery Joel Harvey Sean Mumme Adrian Handford Levi Blanchette 2012 Daniel Conway-Jones Kieran Bush Kieran Bush Rich Williamson Jason Ellery 2013 Jason Ellery Jason Ellery Jason Ellery Matt Vickers Joel Harvey 2014 Mitchell Green Jason Ellery Jason Ellery Matt Vickers Joel Harvey 2015 Joel Harvey Jason Ellery Jason Ellery Amy Collins Mitch Green 2016 Joel Harvey Adrian Handford Jason Ellery Michael Lee Anthony Zamolo 2017 Mitchell Green Jason Ellery Jason Ellery Blake Hettiger Jason Ellery 2018 Mitchell Green Jack Green Blake Hettiger Drew Hodgson Kieran Bush
Memorable moments
1960s 23 November 1969 - Nightcliff defeat Blue Jays 53–1, a Darwin Baseball League record that still remains to this day. Fred Schmidt, Fred Bush and Peter Goodchild all star for the Tigers.NT News Limited. Baseball lacking in lustre. Thursday, 27 November 1969, page 31.
1970s