Eau Claire Express
| Eau Claire Express | |
|---|---|
| 100px Team Logo |
|
| League | Northwoods League (South Division (2005–2013) North Division (2014–present)) |
| Location | Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
| Ballpark | Carson Park |
| Year founded | 2005 |
| League championships | 1 – 2010 Pennants: 2 – 2007, 2010 |
| Division championships | 4 First Half: 2010 Second Half: 2010 First Half: 2009 Second Half: 2007 |
| Former name(s) | Eau Claire Express (2005–present) |
| Colors | black, orange |
| Ownership | Bill Rowlett, Andy Neborak, Dale Varsho |
| Management | Spencer Larson (GM) |
| Manager | Dale Varsho |
| Media | Eau Claire Leader Telegram |
| Website | eauclaireexpress.com |
The Eau Claire Express is a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the Northwoods League. Their home games are played at Carson Park, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (USA).
After two straight losing seasons in 2005 and 2006, the Eau Claire Express achieved many firsts during the 2007 season. The team won nine of its final ten regular season games to finish 42-26 overall and claim the 2007 2nd Half South Division title, their first regular season division title in franchise history and qualified for the Northwoods League playoffs, another franchise first.
In the 2007 South Division Championship Series, they faced the 1st Half South Division Champion Green Bay Bullfrogs. They won the series 2-1, claiming the 2007 South Division Pennant, another first in franchise history. In the 2007 Northwoods League Championship Series, they faced the North Division Champion St. Cloud River Bats and were swept 2-0 by the eventual Northwoods League Champions.
The 2008 season ended with the Express missing the Northwoods League playoffs by 1.5 games. The Express finished the season one game below .500.
The Express had one of their best seasons in 2009. They had a great first half, winning the NWL South Division to qualify for the playoffs. However, injuries and summer school depleted the squad in the second half. Eau Claire was eliminated in two games by the La Crosse Loggers in the Northwoods League Divisional round.
In 2010, the Express won the first half of the season again with a 22-12 record. Via www.perfectgame.org, the Express have been ranked as high as #3 in the nation for summer collegiate baseball. The team closed out the 2010 season winning both halves. They followed this up by winning the NWL Championship and www.perfectgame.org ranked the Eau Claire Express the #1 summer collegiate team in the nation.
The Express moved to the North Division for 2014, to accommodate the new NWL teams in Kenosha, Wisconsin and Kalamazoo, Michigan. [1]
Express players drafted in the 2007 MLB Draft:
- Jordan Zimmermann- RHP Washington Nationals
- Thomas Eager- RHP St. Louis Cardinals
- Evan Frey- OF Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ryan Tatusko- RHP Texas Rangers
- Kraig Binick- OF Baltimore Orioles
- Mark Hallberg- SS Arizona Diamondbacks
- Russ Dixon- OF Houston Astros
Express players drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft:
- Shane Dyer- RHP Tampa Bay Rays
- Jake Jefferies- C Tampa Bay Rays
- Tim Huber- LHP Kansas City Royals
- Bryan Frew- OF Philadelphia Phillies
- David Cales- RHP Chicago Cubs
- Chris Odegaard- RHP Minnesota Twins
- Ryan O'Sullivan- SS/RHP San Francisco Giants
- Eddie Gamboa- RHP Baltimore Orioles
Express players drafted in the 2010 MLB Draft:
- Kole Calhoun – OF/LA Angels
- Devin Lohman – SS/Cincinnati Reds
- Rafael Neda – C/Milwaukee Brewers
- Cole Nelson – LHP/Detroit Tigers
- Brooks Pinckard – RHP/OF/Chicago Cubs
- Pete Gehle – LHP/Chicago White Sox
- DeMarcus Tidwell – OF/Cleveland Indians
- Tyler Bremer – RHP/Chicago Cubs
- Ryan Kiel – LHP/Seattle Mariners
- George Jensen – RHP/Tampa Bay Rays
Express players drafted in the 2012 MLB Draft:[2]
| Name | Pos | College | Round | Team | 2013 Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Blank | RHP | Baylor | 30 | Col NL | Asheville | Sally |
| Tyler Bremer | RHP | Baylor | 27 | Chi NL | Boise | Northwest |
| Logan Ehlers | LHP | Howard College | 20 | Det AL | Connecticut | NY–Penn |
| Dietrich Enns | LHP | Central Michigan | 19 | NY AL | Tampa | FSL |
| Zac Fisher | C | New Mexico State | 27 | Chi AL | Great Falls | Pioneer |
| Louis Head | RHP | Texas State | 18 | Cle AL | Carolina | Carolina |
| Lucas Herbst | 1B-OF | Santa Clara | 26 | Balt AL | Delmarva | Carolina |
| Jordan Kipper | RHP | Central Arizona | 30 | Phi NL | TCU | Big 12 |
| Ryan Longstreth | RHP | Central Michigan | 40 | Det AL | Connecticut | NY–Penn |
| Jacob Morris | OF | Arkansas | 37 | Cle AL | Great Falls | Pioneer |
| Logan Vick | 2B | Baylor | 11 | Cle AL | Carolina | Carolina |
Express players drafted in the 2013 MLB Draft:[3]
| Name | Pos | College | Round | Team | 2013 Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Allbritton | 3B | New Mexico | 21 | LA AL | Orem | Pioneer |
| Jimmy Allen | 3B-OF | Cal Poly | 23 | Bos AL | Cal Poly | Big West |
| Trevor Bayless | LHP | San Diego | 22 | Oak AL | Beloit | Midwest |
| Garrett Custons | C | Air Force | 10 | Tor AL | Bluefield | Appalachian |
| Jared Dettman | LHP | Century CC (MN) | 17 | Atl NL | Danville | Appalachian |
| Drew Ghelfi | RHP | Minnesota | 25 | Mil NL | AZL Brewers | Arizona |
| Brad Goldberg | RHP | Ohio State | 10 | Chi AL | Winston-Salem | Carolina |
| Michael Holback | RHP | Cal Poly | 25 | SL NL | Johnson City | Appalachian |
| Devin Moore | RHP | Indiana State | 27 | Chi AL | Bristol | Appalachian |
| Jacob Morris | OF | Arkansas | 37 | Cle AL | Great Falls | Pioneer |
| Brandon Peterson | RHP | Wichita State | 13 | Min AL | Elizabethton | Appalachian |
| Matt Southard | RHP | Yavapai College | 28 | Phi NL | GCL Phillies | Gulf Coast |
| Cal Towey | 3B | Baylor | 17 | LA AL | Orem | Pioneer |
| Justin Viele | 2B | Santa Clara | 37 | Balt AL | Aberdeen | NY–Penn |
| Philip Walby | RHP | San Diego State | 12 | NY AL | Staten Island | NY–Penn |
| Charlie White | OF | Maryland | 29 | NY AL | Maryland | ACC |
References
- ↑ 2013-09-30 Express to move to North Division in 2014, Eau Claire Express website.
- ↑ 2012-06-07 Eleven current and former Express players selected in draft, Eau Claire Express website.
- ↑ 2013-06-09 – Express well represented in MLB draft, Eau Claire Express website.
