Expedition League
The Expedition League is a collegiate summer baseball league in the Great Plains region of the United States and Canada. The league was founded in May 2017 in Rapid City, South Dakota, by businessman Steve Wagner, who also serves as president. The league featured eight teams in its inaugural season that began in May 2018.[1] It added the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks and the Fremont Moo for the 2019 season.[2] It currently has 10 teams as of the 2019 season.
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 2017 |
President | Steve Wagner (2017–present) |
Motto | Where Tomorrow's Stars Play...Today |
No. of teams | 10 |
Countries | |
Headquarters | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Badlands Big Sticks |
Official website | Expedition League |
The Rapid City Jackalopes, originally announced for the 2020 season,[3] were described in early 2020 as being "at least one more year away" due to the lack of a suitable stadium.[4] The Hub City Hotshots have suspended operations for the 2020 season and the city of Aberdeen, South Dakota has terminated the contract for use of Fossum Field.[5] In December 2019, the Sioux Falls Sunfish announced that the team would begin play in the 2020 season,[6] playing at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[7]
Teams
Division | Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Head coach | General manager | Website | Inaugural season | Team owner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lewis | |||||||||
Badlands Big Sticks | Dickinson, North Dakota | Astoria Field | 840 | Billy Tomblin | Jason Watson | Badlands Big Sticks | 2018 | Dave Ouellette | |
Pierre Trappers | Pierre, South Dakota | Hyde Stadium | 1,250 | Tanner Neale | Jackson Bruce | Pierre Trappers | 2018 | Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner | |
Souris Valley Sabre Dogs | Minot, North Dakota | Corbett Field | 2,000 | Corey Thompson | Steve Wagner | Souris Valley Sabre Dogs | 2018 | Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner | |
Spearfish Sasquatch | Spearfish, South Dakota | Black Hills Energy Stadium | 754 | DJ Engle | Spearfish Sasquatch | 2018 | Eric Schmidt | ||
Wheat City Whiskey Jacks | Brandon, Manitoba | Andrews Field | 3,326 | Walker Bullington | Ray Walker | Wheat City Whiskeyjacks | 2019 | Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner | |
Clark | |||||||||
Casper Horseheads | Casper, Wyoming | Mike Lansing Field | 2,500 | Scott Stover | Chuck Heeman | Casper Horseheads | 2018 | Chuck Heeman, Mayra Heeman | |
Fremont Moo | Fremont, Nebraska | Moller Field | Shea Bennett | Chris Carlsen | Fremont Moo | 2019 | Chad Miller | ||
Hastings Sodbusters | Hastings, Nebraska | Duncan Field | 1,300 | Bryan Frew | Bryan Frew | Hastings Sodbusters | 2018 | Bryan Frew | |
Sioux Falls Sunfish | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Karras Park Home of Ronken Field | Sioux Falls Sunfish | 2020 | Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner | ||||
Western Nebraska Pioneers | Gering, Nebraska | Oregon Trail Park Stadium | 1,250 | Jimmy Turk | Chuck Heeman | Western Nebraska Pioneers | 2018 | Chuck Heeman, Mayra Heeman |
Membership timeline
Possible future teams
Location[8] | Stadium | Capacity | Possible start date |
---|---|---|---|
Gillette, Wyoming | 2021 | ||
Grand Forks, North Dakota | 2021 | ||
Kearney, Nebraska | 2021 | ||
Rapid City, South Dakota | 2021 | ||
Williston, North Dakota | 2021 |
League officials
Position[8] | Name |
---|---|
President | Steve Wagner |
Director | Connie Wagner |
Vice president of operations | Vacant |
References
- Spedden, Zach (May 30, 2017). "Expedition League to Launch in 2018". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- Bergson, Perry (Oct 3, 2018). "Expedition League bringing team to Brandon". Brandon Sun. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- "Jackalopes coming to Rapid City, Expedition League in 2020". Rapid City Journal. May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- "Jackalopes won't be ready for Expedition League 2020 season". Rapid City Journal. January 15, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- Sand, Elisa (September 5, 2019). "Hotshots suspend 2020 season, city terminates Fossum Field contract". AberdeenNews.com. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- Palleschi, Jerry (December 18, 2019). "Expedition League Set to Announce New Sioux Falls Affiliate". ESPN 99.1. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- "New for 2020: Sioux Falls Sunfish". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- Sayler, Bruce (January 17, 2018). "Collegians might be on deck at 3 Legends". Butte Sports. Butte, Montana: Butte Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved December 28, 2018.