Arguably the first team in the St. Croix Valley Baseball League to run and maintain a team website, theirs is the one to check out for information about the Blues and about the league in general. Maintained by good friend and former River Rat Shaun "Miles Deep" Miley, you are going to have a few chuckles when surfing around the home of the Blues... There are a few "Easter Eggs" as well for you nerdy types to check out if you have the time, as well...
Amusement Factor: 5
Team / League Information Factor: 5
Adult Content / Features Factor: NC-17 to X, depending on Easter Egg finds...
Gay / Straight Ratio: 75% Straight
Sporting a new venue, new uniforms, and questionable team colors (at least for baseball-- I don't mind them for the New York Islanders), the freshly christened River Falls Fighting Fish look to jump start their franchise in 2008. With a combination of veteran players, young homegrown talent, and an astute manager who grew up in Minnesota, the Fish will improve upon their records of the past three years...
Amusement Factor: 4
Team / League Information Factor: 4
Adult Content / Features Factor: PG
Gay / Straight Ratio: 85% Straight
The Elmwood Expos are a young squad of gritty competitors located in the nether-regions of Pierce County (on the eastern border of the county, anyway), Wisconsin. The 'Spos have played in the SCVBL since 2000, like the River Rats. Unlike the Rats, however, they have had to compete with several different teams for talent in the area, leaving them somewhat shorthanded in depth. What they lack in depth in talent, however, they make up in spirit, ambition, and good-hearted fun...
Amusement Factor: 4
Team / League Information Factor: 3
Adult Content / Features Factor: NC-17 (depends on whether you can find the Texas Belt Buckle picture of Toby)
Gay / Straight Ratio: 65% Straight (also depends on what pics you can find...)
As perhaps the most talented team in the past ten years of competition in the St. Croix Valley Baseball League, the Prescott Pirates finished the 2007 season as the WBA Championship runners-up. Beyond their solid, fundamentally sound play on the field, and their friendly demeanor off the field, they have a tough combination to beat on any given day. Look for basic team information, plenty of photos, and nothing terribly controversial on their website, and bring your "A" game when you play them...
Amusement Factor: 3
Team / League Information Factor: 4
Adult Content / Features Factor: PG (Grandparents check out the site, after all...)
Gay / Straight Ratio: 99% Straight (These guys are as straight as they come...)
Millers
Our compadres to the northeast, the Millers carry on the tradition of amateur baseball in the small town of New Richmond, where hockey is generally considered to be the sport of choice for kids. While the New Richmond Nine have struggled in the past few years, they are in the midst of a rebuilding phase that promises to bring more wins and a playoff appearance to Miller fans. Managed by one of the nicest guys and better hitting catchers to have played in the league, you can always count on a tough game when you play against New Richmond.
Amusement Factor: 3
Team / League Information Factor: 4
Adult Content / Features Factor: PG
Gay / Straight Ratio: 95% Straight (Hard to find rainbow flags around the field...)
Beagles
(erm, Eagles)
Manager / Jedi Knight Qui Gon Luke Welch leads the young Beagles into another season of battles for 2008 as the black and orange kids fight to regain their divisional title. Aiding Qui Gon's quest for supremacy and balance in the force will be characters like: Janni, The Madman, Little Lucas, and Seevie, Gaystings, among others. It is even rumored that one JW Dachel will return after years of ruining his swing playing fast-pitch softball. Look out below if J-Dub plays full time...
Amusement Factor: 3 (Will improve as the season progresses)
Team / League Information Factor: 3 (See above)
Adult Content / Features Factor: R
Gay / Straight Ratio: 75% Straight (After all, there are some strange guys on the team...)
The St. Croix River Bandits are a brand new team (actually two years old now) joining the SCVBL for 2008. Based out of St. Croix Falls, they will play part of their schedule at the local high school field, and part of the schedule at Osceola's Oakey Park. We will see how they fit into the league this year, but we certainly wish them the best of luck, except of course when they play the River Rats!
Amusement Factor: 2 (Pretty straightforward for now...)
Team / League Information Factor: 3
Adult Content / Features Factor: G
Gay / Straight Ratio: 99% Straight (It's pretty family-friendly, for better or worse...)
Amusement Factor: 3 (They're working on a new site as of now...)
Team / League Information Factor: 3
Adult Content / Features Factor: PG
WIAB
The Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Organization website is THE most comprehensive website related to men's amateur baseball in the state of Wisconsin. Jack Sprecher, the web master and creator of the site, does a fantastic job of compiling info about baseball leagues stretching from Superior to Menomonee, from La Crosse to Milwaukee, and everywhere in between. Truly the standard by which all others are judged in terms of content. We thank Jack for including the Rat's Nest and all of the St. Croix Valley League's information on www.wiab.org
Amusement Factor: 1 (No offense, but it's all business.)
Team League Information Factor: 5
Adult Content / Features Factor: G
Gay / Straight Ratio: Not Rated
For the Hudson area baseball fan, you can find more information about a new group created specially for the growth and promotion of youth and amateur baseball in the town / suburb. It is modeled after the group in Prescott, which is where Hudson H.S. Varsity coach Ryan Huppert hails from-- any and all help and interest in the group is welcome!
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