Anyone who listens to my radio show knows I'm a big fan and supporter of the Sussex County Miners. Yesterday at a press conference we learned our local baseball team will play next season in the newly formed Frontier League. Five Can Am League teams will join the nine Frontier League Teams. The merger of the two leagues means 14 teams will play in two 7 team divisions. The Sussex County Miners will be in the Can Am Division of the Frontier League with the Trois Rivieres Aigles, Quebec Capitales , Rockland Boulders, New Jersey Jackals, Washington Wild Things and Lake Erie Crushers. The Mid Western Division will include the Evansville Otters, Florence Freedom, Gateway Grizzlies, Joliet Slammers, Schaumburg Boomers, Southern Illinois Miners and Windy City Thunder Bolts. I love the names of some of these Frontier League Teams already. The new league will play a 96 game schedule. Can Am League Chairman Al Dorso said "I can't wait for what will be our first Frontier League meeting as we implement our vision of fostering exciting baseball and expansion into new markets." Frontier League President Bill Lee said " Not only does it (the merger) strengthen the Frontier League, but it strengthens independent professional baseball as a whole." Over the past 20 years 50 Can Am and Frontier League Players have moved on to play Major League Baseball. I think this is really wonderful news for Miners fans. I always thought having only 4 other teams to play over the course of the season made it tougher to sell tickets to games at Skylands Stadium. Hopefully, the opportunity to watch new teams and players will bring bring more fans to the ballpark. Go Miners!
Source: Sussex County Miners