Sullivan Explorers
| Sullivan Explorers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | Empire Professional Baseball League |
| Location | Loch Sheldrake, New York |
| Ballpark | Generals Park |
| Year founded | 2015 |
| League championships | 1 (2016) |
| Division championships | 1 (2015) |
| Former name(s) | Road City Explorers, Rome City Explorers |
| Former league(s) | North Country Baseball League (2015) |
| Manager | Eddie Gonzalez |
| Website | http://www.explorersbaseball.com/ |
The Sullivan Explorers are an independent American professional baseball team based in Loch Sheldrake, New York, playing in the Empire Professional Baseball League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Explorers played in the North Country Baseball League in 2015 as a traveling team. In 2016, the Explorers played at Generals Park on the campus of Sullivan County Community College.
History
In 2015 the Road City Explorers were set to be a member of the East Coast Baseball League.[1] The team was to be managed by Spencer Trygg.[2] Prior the planned start of the ECBL's first season the American teams, including the Explorers, pulled of the league to form the North Country Baseball League.[3] The restructuring resulted in the Explorers being taken over by Eddie Gonzalez as manager and Robert Babiak as general manager.
2015 Season
The Explorers led the up start league with a 22-17 record.[4] The Explorers promoted eight players to the Atlantic League and American Association.[5] Brian Hoover, a 38 year old rookie, made headlines as he signed with the Explores mid season.[6][7]
Players Promoted to Higher Independent Leagues[8]
| Player | Pos | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Ferdinand | INF | York Revolution | Atlantic League |
| Javier Machuca | LHP | York Revolution | Atlantic League |
| Dan Bartlett | RHP | York Revolution | Atlantic League |
| Carlos Marquez | C | York Revolution | Atlantic League |
| Alfredo Patino | INF | York Revolution | Atlantic League |
| Jerry Gonzalez | INF | Wichita Wingnuts | American Association |
| Ricky Claudio | UTIL | Somerset Patriots | Atlantic League |
| Derrick Pyles | OF | Lancaster Barnstormers | Atlantic League |
2016 Season
The Explorers were originally announced to move to Rome, New York and play in the newly-formed Empire Baseball League,[9] until the franchise settled in Sullivan County.
Mired in third place in the four-team EPBL, the Explorers won their last eight games to finish 28-25 and slip into second place, good enough to qualify for the best-of-three championship series against the Watertown Bucks, who won both halves of the regular-season title with a 35-21 record. Despite the fact that the series was held in Watertown, the Explorers swept the Bucks, 8-6 and 8-7, to take the 2016 Empire League championship. It marked the second time a team from Sullivan County won a pro baseball title, and the first since the Catskill Cougars in 1996.
References
- ↑ "East Coast Baseball League News: Munoz, OOB, Road City". www.baseballessential.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "Road City Explorers Name Former Angels Prospect Spencer Trygg as Manager". www.baseballessential.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "ECBL Folds, North Country Baseball League Formed". Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "NCBL Standings". www.northcountrybaseballleague.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "NCBL League". www.northcountrybaseballleague.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "Pro baseball: Hoover, 38, fulfills dream by signing deal with Road City (VIDEO)". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "38 Year Old 'Exploring' New Career". www.wwnytv.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "NCBL League". northcountrybaseballleague.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "WE ARE A GO! | Empire League News". empireproleague.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.