The Frontier League goes back to 1993 as an early independent league; after some early struggles and uncertainty in some markets, it’s now an established league with little franchise turnover and a unique emphasis on young player development. Independent / 1993-present Current TeamsEvansville OttersFlorence FreedomGateway GrizzliesLake Erie CrushersJoliet SlammersNormal CornBeltersRiver City RascalsRockford RiverHawksSouthern Illinois MinersTraverse […]
Tag Archives | rockford riverhawks
Fielders continue blame game for financial woes, adding league to mix
After losing most of the roster because of nonpayment, the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) is admitting cash-flow issues but doubling down on criticism for how its ballpark issue was handled by Zion and throwing criticism of the league into the mix. Another attack — or positioning for future lawsuits, depending on your […]
Bandits take second Battle of the Sexes from RiverHawks
There seems to be a pattern emerging: A four-run sixth inning propelled the Chicago Bandits, a women’s pro softball team, to a 4-2 comeback victory over the Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) in the second annual Battle of the Sexes fast-pitch exhibition Tuesday night. The RiverHawks were no-hit until the final inning of last season’s […]
RiverHawks snare millionth fan
Nice landmark for the Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League): the one-millionth fan in team history went through the turnstiles of Road Ranger Stadium Friday night. Katherine Moe won two plane tickets from Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD). “The fact that we’ve enjoyed the sustained level of success to reach 1 million fans is testament to […]
Rematch of diamond battle of the sexes in Rockford
It’s a rematch of a diamond battle of the sexes, as the Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) will once again host the Chicago Bandits in an exhibition fastpitch softball game — a sport that perplexed the pro baseball players last year, as the Bandits trounced the ‘Hawks 5-0. This year’s rematch is scheduled for Tuesday, […]
The Week That Was: April 10
The preservation of a historic playing field, franchise shifts and sales in the independent-baseball ranks, a San Francisco ballpark visit, and some bad news from Clark and Addison were the biggest stories this week. A look at the top stories on Ballpark Digest this week, as measured by page views. Giants fan severely beaten in […]
North American League schedule released: McAllen in, Henderson out
As we reported two days ago, it’s in for McAllen, out for Henderson, as the independent North American League announces the release of a 2011 schedule that has far less travel between Texas and the West Coast than originally planned by league officials. The new schedule has four United League Baseball Texas teams — McAllen […]
Riverhawks leave NAL; new Riverhawks enter Frontier League
The Rockford Riverhawks have officially left the North American League and will go dark; meanwhile, a new group has acquired the lease to Road Ranger Stadium and other assets and will play in the independent Frontier League under the Rockford Riverhawks name. A little complicated, but let us explain. The transaction was similar to what […]
Riverhawks to Frontier League for 2011?
Though nothing’s finalized, there’s a plan for a Chillicothe group to invest in the Rockford Riverhawks and shift the team to the Frontier League for 2011 — coming at the heels of the circulation of a 10-team North American League schedule that drops both Henderson and Rockford for the coming season. The move of the […]
From the Frontier League to Cubs PA announcer
Former Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) public-address announcer Andrew Belleson is the new PA announcer for the Chicago Cubs and is slated to make his Wrigley Field debut on April 1. The 24-year-old Belleson spent part of five seasons in multiple broadcasting roles with the RiverHawks. At 15, Belleson joined RiverHawks home radio broadcasts in […]
NAL preps for post-Schaumburg season
With virtually no chance of the Schaumburg Flyers operating in some form in 2011, the independent North American League is preparing schedules and plans for a league that may operate with 10 or 12 teams — and maybe a travel team in Texas. Team officials and league insiders say work is being done on a […]
Flyers sale postponed; team loses business license
The sale of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; North American League) has been pushed back a month, but the asset is diminishing daily: the team’s business license from the state of Illinois has been revoked because of nonpayment of taxes. The decision to postpone a scheduled Jan. 20 hearing to evict the team from Alexian Field […]
First NAL schedule released
The Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) have posted a schedule for the 2011 season — and as you might expect, it’s heavy with games against Schaumburg and Rockford. Really heavy. In fact, the schedule has the Fielders taking on the Schaumburg Flyers six times in June, 15 times in July (more than half […]