The summer-collegiate Expedition League is expanding into Sioux Falls, SD, as a yet-to-branded team will play at Karras Park at Ronken Field beginning in 2020.
Plans for the upcoming Sioux Falls team were announced on Thursday. The club will play its home games at Karras Park at Ronken Field, a ballpark on the Augustana University campus that is home to the university’s baseball program and has previously played host to other summer-collegiate league teams.
Sioux Falls will begin play when the 2020 Expedition League season gets underway in late May. Expedition League officials are confident that the club can build a sustainable operation, with an experienced executive at the helm in general manager Bill Larsen. More from KSFY:
The yet-to-be-named team will play at Augustana’s Karras Park, as did the Sioux Falls Pilots and Gold, summer college league teams that folded after one season.
The difference here, says president and temporary owner Steve Wagner, is that five-year-old league is more established, better funded, with teams run like a professional baseball organization.
“We bring in a front office staff. Every market we’re in there is competition for the dollar. So we just work really, really hard to make it great for the fans so that they can’t stay away,” Wagner says.
Starting with General Manager Bill Larsen, who comes with 25 years of experience in the minor leagues.
“I’m excited to be in Sioux Falls and involved with a summer collegiate baseball team in the Expedition League,” Larsen said in a league-issued press statement. “Sioux Falls is a great baseball city and once fans come to an Expedition League game at Karras Park this summer, you’ll want to come back again and again for more fun than you ever expected!”
Sioux Falls will be compete in the league’s Clark Division, joining a slate of clubs that includes the Casper Horseheads, Fremont Moo, Hastings Sodbusters, and Western Nebraska Pioneers.