Rockford RiverHawks

Rockford RiverHawks
Founded in 2002 Loves Park, Illinois
Team logo	Cap insignia
League affiliations
Frontier League (1993-2009, 2011-present) Northern League (2010)
Name
Rockford RiverHawks (2002-present) Springfield Capitals (1996-2001) Portsmouth Explorers (1993-1995)
Team Colors
Navy Blue, Columbia Blue, Grey, White
Ballpark
RiverHawks Stadium Marinelli Field (2002-2005) Lanphier Park (1996-2001) Branch Rickey Stadium (1993-1995)
Championships
League titles: 3 (1996, 1998, 2004) Division titles: 4 (1996, 1998, 2004, 2006)
Owner(s)/Operated By: Rock River Valley Baseball LLC
General Manager: Brad Sholes
Manager: Rich Austin
Media: Rockford Register Star
Website: rockfordriverhawks.com

The Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member of the Frontier League, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks' home field was Marinelli Field in Rockford, Illinois. In 2006, the RiverHawks moved into their new home, RiverHawks Stadium, located in Loves Park, Illinois.

History

The RiverHawks franchise was relocated from Springfield, Illinois, where they were known as the Springfield Capitals, to Rockford in time for the 2002 season. However, the RiverHawks originated in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Portsmouth Explorers.

The Rockford RiverHawks (including years as Portsmouth and Springfield) are currently tied with the Florence Freedom (including years as Erie and Johnstown) for the most league championships with three each.

Seasons

Portsmouth Explorers (Frontier League)
Year	W-L	PCT	Place	Postseason
1993	20-31	.392	3rd in FL East
1994	24-38	.387	4th in FL East
1995	28-41	.406	7th in FL
Total	72-110	.396
Springfield Capitals (Frontier League)
1996	39-35	.527	1st in FL West	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Richmond Roosters 2-1. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Chillicothe Paints 2-0.
1997	42-37	.532	3rd in FL West
1998	48-29	.623	1st in FL West	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Evansville Otters 2-1. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Chillicothe Paints 2-1.
1999	39-45	.464	4th in FL West
2000	37-46	.446	4th in FL West
2001	45-39	.538	3rd in FL West
Total	250-231	.520
Playoffs	8-3	.727		2 Division Titles. 2 Championships.
Rockford Riverhawks (Frontier League)
2002	45-39	.538	2nd in FL West
2003	48-42	.533	2nd in FL West
2004	59-37	.615	1st in FL West	Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Gateway Grizzlies 3-2. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Evansville Otters 3-0.
2005	51-45	.531	2nd in FL West	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Kalamazoo Kings 3-1.
2006	49-47	.510	1st in FL West	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Evansville Otters 3-2.
2007	52-43	.547	2nd in FL Central	Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Windy City Thunderbolts 3-0.
2008	48-48	.500	4th in FL West
2009	44-50	.468	4th in FL West
Rockford Riverhawks (Northern League)
2010	47-52	.475	5th in Northern League
Total	443-403	.524
Playoffs	9-11	.450		2 Division Titles. 4 Playoff Appearances. 1 Championship

Current roster

Rockford RiverHawks roster
Active (22-man) roster				Coaches/Other
Pitchers -- Manuel Basilio -- Jamie Degidio 19 Brett Durand -- Justin Knoff -- Roger Lincoln 29 Tyler Pearson -- Scott Roehl -- Adam Rowe -- Kyle Ruwe -- Alex Thieroff -- Brandon Todd -- Michael Wood 30 Kyle Wright		Catchers -- TBA Infielders 16 Richard Austin  8 Jono Brooks -- David Cooper -- Jake Eigsti -- Evan McArthur -- Patrick O'Sullivan -- Randall Simon Outfielders -- Jason James -- Robert Matlock -- Brad McDavid -- Ron Perodin -- Greg Van Horn 19 Rico Santana 33 Derrick Walker		Manager Bob Koopmann Coaches J.D. Arndt (Hitting) Sam Knaack (Bench) Spiro Lempesis (First Base) Disabled list ‡ Inactive list § Suspended list Roster updated 2010-04-28 Transactions

Notable Players

Jason Shelley is arguably the top pitcher in Frontier League history. Shelley pitched a six-inning no-hitter against Evansville in June 2002 at Marinelli Field. In August 2002, be struck out River City's Joe Urban for his 130th strikeout of the season. Shelley broke Brett Grey's league record of 129 and finished the season with 156 strikeouts, still the league standard. In 2003, Shelley recorded a league-record 0.83 earned-run average. The Milwaukee Brewers signed him at midseason and assigned him to Class AA Huntsville in the Southern League. Baseball America magazine named Shelley its Independent Leagues Player of the Year in 2003.

Rich Austin broke into pro ball in 2001 with the Springfield Capitals, who moved to Rockford following the season. In three years as a RiverHawk, Austin set two career and six single-season records. In 2004, Austin hit a league-leading .359 with 15 home runs and 77 RBI. The latter two are still single-season team records. He was an a Frontier League All-Star, league Player of the Year and a first-team member of Baseball America magazine’s All-Independent Leagues team. The Kansas City Royals signed him immediately after the RiverHawks won the ’04 title, but released him in spring training the following March. Austin hit 32 home runs in a Rockford uniform, with his home games at pitcher-friendly Marinelli Field, but the left-hander hitter’s career record stood until Jason James hit his 33rd and 34th career home runs in August. Austin was named manager of the RiverHawks for the 2011 season.

Jason James ended 2009 atop the team record books in most offensive categories. In 2009, James hit a team-record .374 to win the league batting crown and hit a career-best 14 home runs with 48 RBI. Along the way, he had a league-record 40-game hitting streak. He signed with the Chicago Cubs in September and it is likely he is assigned to their Class AA Tennessee affiliate. In 3½ professional seasons, all with the RiverHawks, James set nine team single-season or career records, including home runs and hits. James has never hit under .341 and finished second in the league batting race in 2007 and ’08. His .355 career average is the best in team history. James also holds the RiverHawks’ all-time records for hits (415), home runs (34), RBI (199), doubles (86), games (306) and at-bats (1,170). In 2008, he doubled 30 times to set a single-season team record. The RiverHawks signed the former Kishwaukee College player in July 2006 and he had two hits in his first professional game. James was voted to the Frontier League All-Star Game and to its end-of-season All-Star team in each of his three full seasons.

Official websites

• Rockford RiverHawks
• Frontier League
• RiverHawks page at OurSports Central