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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Expedition League
| title =
| logo = Expedition League Logo.jpg
| logo = Expedition League Logo.jpg
| caption =
| sport = Baseball
| pixels = 200px
| founded = {{start date and years ago|2015}}
| sport = [[Baseball]]
| folded = {{start date and years ago|2022}}
| founded = 2015
| president = Steve Wagner (2015–2022)
| motto = Where Tomorrow's Stars Play...Today
| motto = Where Tomorrow's Stars Play...Today
| commissioner =
| teams = 4
| president = Steve Wagner (2015–present)
| country = {{USA}}
| teams = 4
| headquarters = [[Rapid City, South Dakota]], United States
| champion = Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (2021)
| champion = Souris Valley Sabre Dogs
| most_champs =
| champ_season = 2022
| countries = {{USA}} {{CAN}}
| most_champs = Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (2)
⚫
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20220601232728/https://www.expeditionleague.com/ Expedition League]
| continent =
| headquarters = [[Rapid City, South Dakota]], United States
| TV =
| folded =
⚫
| website = [http://expeditionleague.pointstreaksites.com/view/expeditionleague/ Expedition League]
| fame =
}}
}}


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. The league featured eight teams in its inaugural season that began in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2017/05/30/expedition-league-to-launch-in-2018 |title=Expedition League to Launch in 2018 |first=Zach |last=Spedden |website=Ballpark Digest |date=May 30, 2017 |access-date=September 22, 2017}}</ref> It added the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks and the Fremont Moo for the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/local/expedition-league-bringing-team-to-brandon-495235731.html |title=Expedition League bringing team to Brandon |first=Perry |last=Bergson|website=Brandon Sun |date=Oct 3, 2018 |access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref> There are currently 12 teams in the Expedition League.
The '''Expedition League''' was 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 served as president. The league's inaugural season was 2018 with eight teams. It played its final season in 2022.


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 broken 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.
Teams played a 64-game season from late May through the beginning of August. Playoffs took place in the second week of August with teams seeded for the playoffs, with each team making the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs and the League Championship Series were best-of-three series.


==History==
⚫
The [[Rapid City Jackalopes]], originally announced for the 2020 season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/jackalopes-coming-to-rapid-city-expedition-league-in/article_51c0dae8-d0d6-58e2-9ee9-c9436e087611.html |title=Jackalopes coming to Rapid City, Expedition League in 2020 |newspaper=[[Rapid City Journal]] |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date= October 2, 2019}}</ref> were described in early 2020 as being "at least one more year away" due to the lack of a suitable stadium.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackalopes won't be ready for Expedition League 2020 season |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/jackalopes-won-t-be-ready-for-expedition-league-season/article_10ecc685-79e9-5432-8784-fd77fd50d8c7.html |access-date=March 10, 2020 |newspaper=[[Rapid City Journal]] |date=January 15, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aberdeennews.com/news/local/hotshots-suspend-season-city-terminates-fossum-field-contract/article_696d78f3-781d-53a2-8f8f-7a1be1c77b88.html |title=Hotshots suspend 2020 season, city terminates Fossum Field contract |first=Elisa |last=Sand |website=AberdeenNews.com |date=September 5, 2019 |access-date= October 2, 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, the [[Sioux Falls Sunfish]] announced that the team would begin play in the 2020 season,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://espn991.com/expedition-league-set-to-announce-new-sioux-falls-affiliate/ |title=Expedition League Set to Announce New Sioux Falls Affiliate |first=Jerry |last=Palleschi |website=ESPN 99.1 |date=December 18, 2019 |access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> playing at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field in [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New for 2020: Sioux Falls Sunfish |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/02/20/new-for-2020-sioux-falls-sunfish/ |access-date=March 23, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> The Mining City Tommyknockers began play at [[3 Legends Stadium]] in [[Butte, Montana]] for the 2021 season.<ref name="butte">{{cite news|date=October 9, 2020|title=Expedition League expands to Butte|language=en|newspaper=Ballpark Digest|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/10/09/expedition-league-expands-to-butte/|access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="tommyknockers">{{cite news|date=October 29, 2020|title=New for 2021: Mining City Tommyknockers|work=Ballpark Digest|agency=August Publications|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/10/29/new-for-2021-mining-city-tommyknockers/|access-date=October 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sayler |first1=Bruce |title=Spuds top Tommyknockers in opening slugfest |url=https://buttesports.com/spuds-top-tommyknockers-in-opening-slugfest/ |access-date=November 8, 2021 |work=Butte Sports |date=June 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fussell |first1=Blake |title=Mining City Tommyknockers welcome fans to 3 Legends Stadium |url=https://406mtsports.com/baseball/expedition-league/mining-city-tommyknockers-welcome-fans-to-3-legends-stadium/article_4b29d9c6-261f-540f-a803-851763fb46d1.html |access-date=November 8, 2021 |work=The Montana Standard |date=Jun 1, 2021 |via=406 MT Sports}}</ref>
The league was founded in 2015 and featured eight teams in its inaugural season that began in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2017/05/30/expedition-league-to-launch-in-2018 |title=Expedition League to Launch in 2018 |first=Zach |last=Spedden |website=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=May 30, 2017 |access-date=September 22, 2017}}</ref> It added the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks and the Fremont Moo for the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/local/expedition-league-bringing-team-to-brandon-495235731.html |title=Expedition League bringing team to Brandon |first=Perry |last=Bergson|website=Brandon Sun |date=October 3, 2018 |access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>


⚫
The Rapid City Jackalopes, originally announced for the 2020 season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/jackalopes-coming-to-rapid-city-expedition-league-in/article_51c0dae8-d0d6-58e2-9ee9-c9436e087611.html |title=Jackalopes coming to Rapid City, Expedition League in 2020 |newspaper=[[Rapid City Journal]] |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> were described in early 2020 as being "at least one more year away" due to the lack of a suitable stadium.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackalopes won't be ready for Expedition League 2020 season |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/jackalopes-won-t-be-ready-for-expedition-league-season/article_10ecc685-79e9-5432-8784-fd77fd50d8c7.html |access-date=March 10, 2020 |newspaper=[[Rapid City Journal]] |date=January 15, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aberdeennews.com/news/local/hotshots-suspend-season-city-terminates-fossum-field-contract/article_696d78f3-781d-53a2-8f8f-7a1be1c77b88.html |title=Hotshots suspend 2020 season, city terminates Fossum Field contract |first=Elisa |last=Sand |website=AberdeenNews.com |date=September 5, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, the Sioux Falls Sunfish announced that the team would begin play in the 2020 season,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://espn991.com/expedition-league-set-to-announce-new-sioux-falls-affiliate/ |title=Expedition League Set to Announce New Sioux Falls Affiliate |first=Jerry |last=Palleschi |website=ESPN 99.1 |date=December 18, 2019 |access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> playing at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field in [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]];<ref>{{cite news |title=New for 2020: Sioux Falls Sunfish |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/02/20/new-for-2020-sioux-falls-sunfish/ |access-date=March 23, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID]], they started playing in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bower |first1=Sean |title=As start of inaugural season approaches, Sioux Falls Sunfish searching for host families |url=https://www.keloland.com/sports/as-start-of-inaugural-season-approaches-sioux-falls-sunfish-searching-for-host-families/ |access-date=January 15, 2022 |work=[[KELO-TV]] |date=May 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bower |first1=Sean |title=Sioux Falls Sunfish set to make Expedition League debut |url=https://www.keloland.com/sports/sioux-falls-sunfish-set-to-make-expedition-league-debut/ |access-date=January 15, 2022 |work=[[KELO-TV]] |date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> The Canyon County Spuds and the Mining City Tommyknockers joined the league for the 2021 season in [[Caldwell, Idaho]] and [[Butte, Montana]], respectively.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 13, 2021 |title=Treasure Valley adds a new baseball team: the Canyon County Spuds |language=en |work=KIVI-TV |url=https://www.kivitv.com/sports/treasure-valley-adds-a-new-baseball-team-canyon-county-spuds |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 9, 2020 |title=Expedition League expands to Butte |language=en |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/10/09/expedition-league-expands-to-butte/ |access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> In February 2021, the league announced plans for a new team in [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]], later named the Red River Pilots,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 31, 2022 |title=Expedition League announces Grand Forks baseball team will be named Red River Pilots |language=en |work=Grand Forks Herald |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/expedition-league-announces-grand-forks-baseball-team-will-be-named-red-river-pilots |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> to debut in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Grand Forks tabbed for 2022 Expedition League slot |language=en |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/02/11/grand-forks-tabbed-for-2022-expedition-league-slot/ |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing the US-Canada border, the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks played their 2021 home games at [[Harold Kraft Memorial Field|Kraft Field]] in [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]. The Pierre Trappers chose not to seek renewal of their ballpark lease after the 2022 season.
⚫
==Teams==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Division
! Team
! Location
! Stadium
! Capacity
! Head Coach
! General Manager
! Website
! Inaugural Season
! Team Owner
|-
! rowspan="4" style="background-color:#DA262F" | <span style="color: white">Lewis</span>
|-
| '''[[Souris Valley Sabre Dogs]]''' || [[Minot, North Dakota]] || [[Corbett Field (Minot)|Corbett Field]] || 2,000 || || Steve Wagner || [http://sourisvalleysabredogs.pointstreaksites.com/view/sabredogs/home-page-657 Souris Valley Sabre Dogs] || 2018 || Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner
|-
| '''[[Wheat City Whiskey Jacks]]''' || [[Brandon, Manitoba]] || [[Andrews Field (baseball)|Andrews Field]] || 2,000|| Robby Laughlin || Ray Walker || [http://wheatcitywhiskeyjacks.pointstreaksites.com/view/wheatcitywhiskeyjacks Wheat City Whiskey Jacks] || 2019 || Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner
|-
|-
! rowspan="4" style="background-color:#1C4489" | <span style="color: white">Clark</span>
|-
|-
| '''[[Pierre Trappers]]''' || [[Pierre, South Dakota]] || Hyde Stadium || 1,250 || Monterio May || || [http://pierre.pointstreaksites.com/view/pierretrappers Pierre Trappers] || 2018 || Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner
|-
| '''[[Sioux Falls Sunfish]]''' || [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]] || Karras Park Home of Ronken Field || || || || [http://www.pointstreaksites.com/view/siouxfallssunfish Sioux Falls Sunfish] || 2020 || Steve Wagner, Connie Wagner
|}


During the 2022 season, the Expedition League was forced to end its season early after the Red River Pilots and North Iowa Ragin Roosters both folded by July 4, causing a best of three series between the Pierre Trappers and Souris Valley Sabre Dogs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Pat |title=Expedition League is down to 2 teams |url=https://knoxradio.com/2022/07/07/expedition-league-is-down-to-2-teams/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |work=[[KNOX (AM)]] |date=July 7, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The Sabre Dogs collected their second straight championship after defeating the Trappers by three games to one.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vierzba |first1=Neil |title=Back-to-Back! Sabre Dogs capture 2nd straight Expedition League title |url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/11/back-to-back-sabre-dogs-capture-2nd-straight-expedition-league-title/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |work=[[KFYR-TV]] |date=July 11, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711013226/https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/07/11/back-to-back-sabre-dogs-capture-2nd-straight-expedition-league-title/ |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |location=[[Bismarck, North Dakota]] |language=en}}</ref> The Trappers<ref>{{cite news |last1=Albers |first1=Gwen |title=Trappers leaving, local group forming new team |url=https://www.capjournal.com/news/trappers-leaving-local-group-forming-new-team/article_2ee83d8e-1069-11ed-8aa9-b7e0456c66c1.html |access-date=October 24, 2023 |work=[[Capital Journal]] |date=July 30, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731012201/https://www.capjournal.com/news/trappers-leaving-local-group-forming-new-team/article_2ee83d8e-1069-11ed-8aa9-b7e0456c66c1.html |archive-date=July 31, 2022 |location=[[Pierre, South Dakota]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Albers |first1=Gwen |title=New collegiate baseball team signs deal with city |url=https://www.capjournal.com/news/new-collegiate-baseball-team-signs-deal-with-city/article_fe9d6be6-3439-11ed-828b-8f3ac5133a6f.html |access-date=October 24, 2023 |work=Capital Journal |date=September 14, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915045000/https://www.capjournal.com/news/new-collegiate-baseball-team-signs-deal-with-city/article_fe9d6be6-3439-11ed-828b-8f3ac5133a6f.html |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |location=Pierre, South Dakota |language=en}}</ref> and Sabre Dogs<ref name="done">{{cite news |last1=Fundingsland |first1=Kim |title=Sabre Dogs Done |url=https://mydakotan.com/2022/07/sabre-dogs-done/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |work=The Dakotan |date=July 18, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129143729/https://mydakotan.com/2022/07/sabre-dogs-done/ |archive-date=November 29, 2022}}</ref> folded soon after, alongside the league, in 2022.<ref name="done" />

⚫
==Teams==
=== Membership timeline ===
=== Membership timeline ===
<timeline>
<timeline>
DateFormat = yyyy
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:1070 height:auto barincrement:20
ImageSize = width:1070 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:2018 till:2022
Period = from:2018 till:2023
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#
PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#


Colors =
Colors =
Line 72: Line 45:
width:15 textcolor:darkblue shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
width:15 textcolor:darkblue shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s


bar:1 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:[[Badlands Big Sticks]] (2018–2021)
bar:1 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:Badlands Big Sticks (2018–2021)


bar:2 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:[[Casper Horseheads]] (2018–2021)
bar:2 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:Casper Horseheads (2018–2021)


bar:3 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:[[Hastings Sodbusters]] (2018–2021)
bar:3 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:Hastings Sodbusters (2018–2021)


bar:4 color:Past from:2018 till:2020 text:[[Hub City Hotshots]] (2018–2019)
bar:4 color:Past from:2018 till:2020 text:[[Hub City Hotshots]] (2018–2019)
bar:5 color:Full from:2018 till:end text:[[Pierre Trappers]] (2018–present)
bar:5 color:Past from:2018 till:2023 text:Pierre Trappers (2018–2022)
bar:6 color:Full from:2018 till:end text:[[Souris Valley Sabre Dogs]] (2018–present)
bar:6 color:Past from:2018 till:2023 text:Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (2018–2022)
bar:7 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:[[Spearfish Sasquatch]] (2018–2021)
bar:7 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:[[Spearfish Sasquatch]] (2018–2021)


bar:8 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:[[Western Nebraska Pioneers]] (2018–2021)
bar:8 color:Past from:2018 till:2022 text:Western Nebraska Pioneers (2018–2021)


bar:9 color:Past from:2019 till:2022 text:[[Fremont Moo]] (2019–2021)
bar:9 color:Past from:2019 till:2022 text:Fremont Moo (2019–2021)


bar:10 color:Full from:2019 till:end text:[[Wheat City Whiskey Jacks]] (2019–present)
bar:10 color:Past from:2019 till:2022 text:Wheat City Whiskey Jacks (2019–2021)


bar:11 color:Full from:2020 till:end text:[[Sioux Falls SunFish]] (2020–present)
bar:11 color:Past from:2021 till:2022 text:Sioux Falls Sunfish (2021)
bar:12 color:Past from:2021 till:2022 text:[[Canyon City Spuds]] (2021-2021)
bar:12 color:Past from:2021 till:2022 text:Canyon County Spuds (2021)
bar:13 color:Past from:2021 till:2022 text:[[Mining City Tommyknockers]] (2021-Present)
bar:13 color:Past from:2021 till:2022 text:Mining City Tommyknockers (2021)


bar:14 color:Past from:2022 till:2023 text:Red River Pilots (2022)

bar:15 color:Past from:2022 till:2023 text:North Iowa Ragin' Roosters (2022)


ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2018
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2018
TextData =
TextData =
Line 112: Line 87:
</timeline>
</timeline>


==Champions==
==Possible future teams==

{| class="wikitable"
*2022 [[Souris Valley Sabre Dogs]]
|-
*2021 [[Souris Valley Sabre Dogs]]
! Location<ref name="on deck">{{cite news |last1=Sayler |first1=Bruce |title=Collegians might be on deck at 3 Legends |url=https://buttesports.com/collegians-might-deck-3-legends/ |access-date=December 28, 2018 |work=Butte Sports |publisher=Butte Broadcasting, Inc. |date=January 17, 2018 |location=[[Butte, Montana]]}}</ref>
*2020 [[Fremont Moo]]
! Stadium
*2019 [[Badland Big Sticks]]
! Capacity
*2018 [[Western Nebraska Pioneers]]
! 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==
==Notable Expedition League alumni==
*Jacen Roberson, [[Western Nebraska Pioneers]] (2019). 16th Round, [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], 2021
{| class="wikitable"
*Jack Sinclair, [[Western Nebraska Pioneers]] (2018). 16th Round, [[Washington Nationals]], 2021
|-
*Austin Callahan, [[Fremont Moo]] (2021). 18th Round, [[Cincinnati Reds]], 2021
! Position<ref name="on deck" />
*Robert Cruz, [[Casper Horseheads]] (2018–19). Free Agent, [[Washington Nationals]], 2021
! Name
*Alex Achtermann, [[Western Nebraska Pioneers]] (2018). 30th Round, [[Colorado Rockies]], 2019
|-
*Jackson Pokorney, [[Wheat City Whiskey Jacks]] (2019) / [[Souris Valley Sabre Dogs]] (2020). 29th Round, [[Atlanta Braves]], 2016
| President || Steve Wagner
*Cal Smith, [[Pierre Trappers]] (2018). 33rd Round, [[Boston Red Sox]], 2015
|-
| Director || Connie Wagner
|-
| Vice President of Operations || Mitch Messer
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 148: Line 108:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://expeditionleague.pointstreaksites.com/view/expeditionleague/ Official Website]
* {{cite web |title=Expedition League |url=http://expeditionleague.pointstreaksites.com/view/expeditionleague |website=Pointstreak Sites |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331040033/http://expeditionleague.pointstreaksites.com/view/expeditionleague |archive-date=March 31, 2022}}
* {{cite web |title=Expedition League |url=https://www.expeditionleague.com/ |website=ExpeditionLeague.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601232728/https://www.expeditionleague.com/ |archive-date=June 1, 2022}}


{{College Summer Baseball}}
{{College Summer Baseball}}


[[Category:Expedition League| ]]
[[Category:Summer baseball leagues]]
[[Category:Summer baseball leagues]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in North Dakota]]
Line 161: Line 123:
[[Category:2017 establishments in South Dakota]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2017]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2017]]
[[Category:2022 disestablishments in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2022]]

Latest revision as of 02:40, 1 November 2024

Expedition League
SportBaseball
Founded2015; 10 years ago (2015)
Ceased2022; 3 years ago (2022)
PresidentSteve Wagner (2015–2022)
MottoWhere Tomorrow's Stars Play...Today
No. of teams4
Country United States
HeadquartersRapid City, South Dakota, United States
Last
champion(s)		Souris Valley Sabre Dogs
(2022)
Most titlesSouris Valley Sabre Dogs (2)
Official websiteExpedition League

The Expedition League was 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 served as president. The league's inaugural season was 2018 with eight teams. It played its final season in 2022.

Teams played a 64-game season from late May through the beginning of August. Playoffs took place in the second week of August with teams seeded for the playoffs, with each team making the playoffs. The first round of the playoffs and the League Championship Series were best-of-three series.

History

[edit]

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. The Pierre Trappers chose not to seek renewal of their ballpark lease after the 2022 season.

During the 2022 season, the Expedition League was forced to end its season early after the Red River Pilots and North Iowa Ragin Roosters both folded by July 4, causing a best of three series between the Pierre Trappers and Souris Valley Sabre Dogs.[14] The Sabre Dogs collected their second straight championship after defeating the Trappers by three games to one.[15] The Trappers[16][17] and Sabre Dogs[18] folded soon after, alongside the league, in 2022.[18]

Teams

[edit]

Membership timeline

[edit]
Spearfish SasquatchHub City Hotshots

Champions

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Notable Expedition League alumni

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References

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  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. ^ Sweeney, Pat (July 7, 2022). "Expedition League is down to 2 teams". KNOX (AM). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Vierzba, Neil (July 11, 2022). "Back-to-Back! Sabre Dogs capture 2nd straight Expedition League title". KFYR-TV. Bismarck, North Dakota. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  16. ^ Albers, Gwen (July 30, 2022). "Trappers leaving, local group forming new team". Capital Journal. Pierre, South Dakota. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  17. ^ Albers, Gwen (September 14, 2022). "New collegiate baseball team signs deal with city". Capital Journal. Pierre, South Dakota. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Fundingsland, Kim (July 18, 2022). "Sabre Dogs Done". The Dakotan. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
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