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 2015 in Rapid City, South Dakota, by Steve Wagner, who also serves as president. There are currently 5 teams in the Expedition League.

Expedition League
SportBaseball
Founded2015
PresidentSteve Wagner (2015–present)
MottoWhere Tomorrow's Stars Play...Today
No. of teams12
Countries United States
HeadquartersRapid City, South Dakota, United States
Most recent
champion(s)		Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (2021)
Official websiteExpedition League

Teams play a 64-game season from late-May through the beginning of August. Playoffs take place in the second week of August. The Expedition League has two divisions, the Lewis Division and the Clark Division. The season is split into two halves, with the first half winner and the second half winner in each division meeting in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Lewis Division champions meet the Clark Division champions in a best-of-three League Championship Series.

History

The league was founded in 2015 and 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]

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 suspended operations for the 2020 season and the city of Aberdeen, South Dakota terminated their 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] due to COVID, they started playing in 2021.[8][9] The Canyon County Spuds and the Mining City Tommyknockers joined the league for the 2021 season in Caldwell, Idaho and Butte, Montana, respectively.[10][11] In February 2021, the league announced plans for a new team in Grand Forks, North Dakota, later named the Red River Pilots,[12] to debut in 2022.[13] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing the US-Canada border, the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks played their 2021 home games at Kraft Field in Grand Forks, North Dakota.[14]


Teams

Current teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Head Coach General Manager Website Inaugural Season Team Owner
Souris Valley Sabre DogsMinot, North DakotaCorbett Field1,400Michael KeeranBrett SchweitzerSouris Valley Sabre Dogs2018Expedition League
Pierre TrappersPierre, South DakotaHyde Stadium1,100Jamy HabegerJohn HuntPierre Trappers2018Expedition League
Sioux Falls SunfishSioux Falls, South DakotaKarras Park Home of Ronken Field900Dakota GreerSteve WagnerSioux Falls Sunfish2021Expedition League
Red River PilotsGrand Forks, North DakotaKraft Field1,000Matt HolemDallas AakerRed River Pilots2022Expedition League

Membership timeline
Spearfish SasquatchHub City Hotshots

League officials
Position[15] Name
PresidentSteve Wagner
DirectorConnie Wagner
Vice President of OperationsMitch Messer

References
  1. Spedden, Zach (May 30, 2017). "Expedition League to Launch in 2018". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  2. Bergson, Perry (October 3, 2018). "Expedition League bringing team to Brandon". Brandon Sun. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  3. "Jackalopes coming to Rapid City, Expedition League in 2020". Rapid City Journal. May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  4. "Jackalopes won't be ready for Expedition League 2020 season". Rapid City Journal. January 15, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  5. Sand, Elisa (September 5, 2019). "Hotshots suspend 2020 season, city terminates Fossum Field contract". AberdeenNews.com. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  6. Palleschi, Jerry (December 18, 2019). "Expedition League Set to Announce New Sioux Falls Affiliate". ESPN 99.1. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  7. "New for 2020: Sioux Falls Sunfish". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  8. Bower, Sean (May 29, 2020). "As start of inaugural season approaches, Sioux Falls Sunfish searching for host families". KELO-TV. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  9. Bower, Sean (May 5, 2021). "Sioux Falls Sunfish set to make Expedition League debut". KELO-TV. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  10. "Treasure Valley adds a new baseball team: the Canyon County Spuds". KIVI-TV. July 13, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  11. "Expedition League expands to Butte". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  12. "Expedition League announces Grand Forks baseball team will be named Red River Pilots". Grand Forks Herald. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  13. "Grand Forks tabbed for 2022 Expedition League slot". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  14. "Expedition League to relocate baseball team to Grand Forks this summer". Grand Forks Herald. March 16, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  15. Sayler, Bruce (January 17, 2018). "Collegians might be on deck at 3 Legends". Butte Sports. Butte, Montana: Butte Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
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