TEAM HISTORY - Rockford Riverhawks

Ballpark: Marinelli Field 2002-05; Road Ranger Stadium 2006-2009 (known as RiverHawks Stadium in 2006)

Rockford has a long and storied history of professional baseball. The Rockford Forest Citys of 1871 were a charter member of the National Association, the very first professional baseball league. The city hosted teams in several different leagues until shortly after World War II. The most famous of these was the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, featured in the movie "A League Of Their Own". The Peaches' ballpark, Beyer Field, stood on Fifteenth Street just a couple of blocks east of Marinelli Field.

Pro ball returned to Rockford when the Midwest League's Rockford Expos moved into brand-new Marinelli Field in 1988. The Midwest League stayed in Rockford until the Reds moved to Dayton, OH in 2000, but the city wasn't without baseball for long. The Frontier League came to town in 2002 when a group of local businessmen purchased the Springfield Capitals franchise and moved it to Rockford.

The 2002 RiverHawks finished second in the West Division, missing a wild-card playoff spot by only one game. At the gate the RiverHawks drew over 86,000 fans, more than double the previous season's attendance in Springfield.

The 2003 RiverHawks again finished second in the West, led by pitcher Jason Shelley. Shelley was named Baseball America magazine's Independent League Player Of the Year despite being signed by the Milwaukee Brewers organization in late July. All he did for the RiverHawks was go 7-1 with a 0.85 ERA. The 2003 RiverHawks staff also featured Scott Sobkowiak, the only major league veteran ever to play regularly in the Frontier League. He made one appearance for the Atlanta Braves in 2001.

2004 proved to be a huge success in Rockford. Led by MVP Richard Austin, the RiverHawks claimed their first Frontier League Championship. Austin (.359-15-77, 22 steals) won the batting title and finished second in RBI. He was joined in the outfield by speedsters Doug Schutt (39 stolen bases) and Ricardo Santana (27). First baseman Aaron McEachran (.332-11-62) provided a big bat behind Austin in the lineup. The RiverHawks' offense reached its high point on August 5, as they pounded Richmond pitching for ten runs in the second inning en route to a 22-10 win.

On the hill the ace was Josh Tomsu (10-3, 2.64). Tomsu became the first RiverHawk to win in double figures and ended the season with a franchise record 18 career victories. Joining him in the rotation were Sobkowiak (8-7, 4.20) and Frank James (7-3, 2.65). Justin Dowdy (4-1, 2.39) went to affiliated ball for the second consecutive season. The staff didn't miss a beat though, as Justin Olson went 8-0 as a swing man. Josh Latimer (3-3, 2.47, 15 saves) had closer duties.

The RiverHawks were in contention from the very beginning of the season and fended off a strong challenge by defending champion Gateway to win the West Division title. Rockford then beat the Grizzlies in a tight five-game series to advance to the finals, where they swept Evansville in three games. Infielder Olmo Rosario was named playoff MVP for his .429 batting average. Sobkowiak had three wins in the playoffs.

The RiverHawks were much improved at the gate in 2004. Over 100,000 fans visited Marinelli Field, the first time that mark had been reached.

Rockford was once again in contention all season in 2005, finishing second in a hard-fought race. Rosario returned to hit a club-record .373. McEachran had another solid season, hitting .306-14-68. The team pulled a rare blockbuster trade with Windy City just before the all-star break, sending centerfielder Doug Schutt and two others in exchange for Jerome McCoy and Nick Johnson. Johnson hit .333 after the trade and 2B Ashley Farr hit .315 after joining the Riverhawks from Mid-Missouri.

The team did not have a dominant starter after Joe Barbosa (3-0, 1.92) retired due to an arm injury but Derek Roper (9-4, 4.41) and Justin Olson (6-5, 3.99) were solid. Jason Glosser was 7-3, 2.11 out of the bullpen and added 14 saves.

The RiverHawks made the playoffs for the second consecutive season, but fell to Kalamazoo 3-1. The team once again broke their attendance record in the final season at Marinelli Field before moving to a new ballpark in nearby Loves Park.

The team made the much-anticipated move into Riverhawks Stadium when a crowd of 4,078 saw Evansville beat the RiverHawks on May 31. Fueled by such promotions as an appearance by IRL driver Danica Patrick and "Speed Dating Night" and pregame entertainment by 80-year-old grandmother Vie Carlson on the organ, the RiverHwaks set a franchise record with over 115,000 fans in attendance.

Speed and pitching were the heart of the 2006 Riverhawks. Rockford led the league with 158 steals, led by OF Rico Santana with 29. Veteran OF Nick Johnson hit .307, adding 17 steals and a club-leading 47 RBI. Outfield mates Matt Sauls (17) and Bo Flowers (16) contributed to the running game. Infielders Joe Anthonsen (22), Cody Brooks (13) and Brad Dutton (12) also stole in double figures. Catcher Gooby Gerlits provided the power with nine homers.

Tanner Watson led the rotation, going 8-5, 2.87. Derek Roper went 6-7, 2.79 and was the team's pitching coach as well as a dependable starter. Garrett Bauer (6-5, 2.82) and Dane Towery (five wins) rounded out the rotation.

The bullpen was solid as well. Closer Mike Marksbury had 12 saves but missed significant time due to injury. Beau Massey added five saves while Adam Kroft (6-3, 2.00) and Dave Dowling (4-4, 2.30) had setup duties.

A trade garnered the Riverhawks some attention in late July when they sent shortstop Olmo Rosario and the team's "Human Bowling" on-field promotion to San Angelo of the American Association for pitcher John Smith. San Angelo's GM, Mike Babcock, had served in that capacity in Rockford for four seasons.

The club was led from the dugout by new manager J.D. Arndt, assisted by former manager Bob Koopman. The RiverHawks led the West Division most of the way and coasted to a three game cushion over Evansville despite losing nine of their last ten games. It was their second division title in three years and third consecutive playoff appearance.

Rockford won the first two playoff games at home before losing the next two at Evansville. they dropped the deciding fifth game 6-3 in 13 innings. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise exciting season.

Prior to the 2007 the team signed a stadium naming -rights agreement with Rockford-based convenience store chain Road Ranger. The RiverHawks started slow in 2007 but finished in breathtaking fashion, making their fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

Pitching was once again the key to Rockford's success. Tanner Watson went 11-3, 2.17 to become the winningest pitcher in Riverhawks history. Joining him in the rotation were Garrett Bauer (7-5, 4.15), Brady Salter (7-5, 4.86) and James Cramphin (4-4, 3.69). A strong relief corps included Dane Towery (30-, 1.74), Roy Bringelson (3.38) and Ryan Brnardic (3.15). Lefty Dave Dowling was 6-7, 4.22 splitting time between the rotation and the 'pen. Mike Marksbury (14 saves, 1.33 ERA) struck out 32 hitters while allowing only eight hits in 20 1/3 innings before signing with Milwaukee at the all-star break. Jason Baca (4-2, 2.03, eight saves) took over the closer's role and performed admirably.

Jason James (.345-7-61) was a post season all star. Fellow outfielders Matt Sauls (.318-7-44, 14 steals) and Roberto Valiente (.257, 21 steals) were solid. Cornerman Matt Hagen led the team in both home runs (ten) and steals (27) while hitting .335. Brad Dutton played three infield positions while hitting .288-9-29 with 20 steals. Joe Anthonsen led FL second baseman in fielding and stole 16 bases. First baseman Will Henderson added nine homers.

Rockford charged hard in the second half and made the playoffs in dramatic fashion. Battling Kalamazoo for the wild card spot, the two teams ended the season by playing each other seven times in four days. Needing to win the last three games of the series to overtake the Kings, they did just that, winning two of the games in walkoff fashion, the big blow being Matt Sauls' game-winning single with two out in the bottom of the last inning of the last game. After that, the playoffs were a letdown as the RiverHawks were swept by Windy City in the first round.

The RiverHawks brought back Bob Koopman as skipper in 2008. "Koop" planned on a club built around veteran pitching, but experienced players such as Jim Paduch (3-6), Chris Schutt (2-5) were disappointing. Exceeding expectations, however, was veteran southpaw Garrett Bauer (10-6, 2.98). Bauer was second in the league with 151 strikeouts, a season record for a lefthander. Bauer ended the season as the RiverHawks' career leader in nearly a dozen pitching categories. Mike McTamney went 4-3 after joining the rotation in late July.

The bullpen was fairly solid, although stunned by the early season retirement of closer Mike Marksbury. The role was then sort of a bullpen-by-committee with the closer's role most often filled by James Cramphin or Roy Bringelson. Matt Enderle (4-2), and Kyffin Marcum (6-1) were effective middle inning men, as was late-season addition Kyle Dempsey (4-1).

Jason James had intended to make the transition to pitcher, where he was most effective in college, but after struggling early played outfield and DH. James continued to be a proven hitter with a .350-13-74 season. He was thwarted in his run at a batting title by teammate Joe Anthonsen (.352, 29 steals). Both players broke the club record for hits in a season, and both were named to the league's postseason all star team. Brad Dutton hit .311 while leading FL third basemen in fielding and Robbie Knapp hit .335 after joining the club from Washington at the all star break. Shortstop Jono Brooks and outfielder Matt Mazurek each added sixteen steals.

The RiverHawks looked to have the final playoff spot wrapped up with a week to go in the season, but lost their last six games to end at miss the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Nonetheless, Rockford fans continued to support their team, to the tune of over 138,000 for the season, a club record and one of the highest figures in the long history of professional baseball in the city.

Many of the core players returned in 2009. James (.374-14-48, 18 SB) had his usual stellar season. SS Jono Brooks stole 30 bases and provided solid defense and 1B Brandon Cohen hit .310. A number of other players added to a speedy offense: outfielders Matt Mazurek (19 steals), infielder Caleb Fields (.299, 17 SB) and 2B Doug Sanders (.289, 12 steals). The Riverhawks picked up an all star for the stretch run in 2B Javier Brown (from Evansville).

Kyle Wright (10-6, 2.24) and Brett Durand (10-6, 3.61) were the top starters. Jason Monti added five wins and Tanner Watson added four in a late season return to Rockford. Closer duties were held down by John Muller (2.60, 12 saves). Effective bellpen help was provided by Elliott Cribby andMatt Enderle. Though not one of the stars of the team, the RiverHawks briefly employed the services of Viacheslav Vasilyev, the first Russian-born player to appear in the Frontier League.

The RiverHawks hosted the the all star game in what would be their final season in the Frontier League. In August it was announced that the club would join the Northern leaague in 2010.

(bottom) Construction photos of the Riverhawks' new home in nearby Loves Park, taken in August 2005.

(below) Riverhawks Park opened for business in 2006. and was renamed Road Ranger Stadium in 2007.

Year	Won	Lost	GB	Finish	Attendance	Manager	Playoffs First Round	Playoffs Second Round

2002	45	39	7	2W	86,842	Bob Koopman
2003	48	32	3	2W	88,570	Bob Koopman
2004	58	37	--	1W	103,140	Bob Koopman	Beat Gateway 3-1	Beat Evansville 3-0
2005	51	45	2	2W	103,248	Mike Young	Lost to Kalamazoo 3-1
2006	49	47	--	1W	115,776	J.D. Arndt	Lost to Evansville 3-2
2007	52	43	15.5	2C	113,930	J.D. Arndt	Lost to Windy City 3-0
2008	48	48	12	4W	138,234	Bob Koopman
2009	44	50	12	4W	110,565	Bob Koopman

OF Jason James (2006-09) holds most of Rockford's career offensive marks. His lowest batting average for four season was .341, and he finished second in that category in 2007 and 2008 before winng the crown with a .374 mark in 2009. To top it off, James made 20 appearances over three seasons as a pitcher.

RiverHawks in the majors: None, but P Scott Sobkowiak played for the Atlanta Braves before coming to Rockford.


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