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Lake Erie Crushers

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Lake Erie Crushers
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (Central Division)
LocationAvon, Ohio
BallparkCrushers Stadium
Founded2009
Nickname(s)Grapes
League championships1 (2009)
Division championships2 (2013, 2019)
ColorsPurple, white
   
Playoff berths
6
2009
2011
2013
2014
2019
2024
OwnershipBlue Dog Baseball, LLC
ManagerJared Lemieux
MediaElyria Chronicle-Telegram, The Morning Journal
Websitelakeeriecrushers.com

The Lake Erie Crushers (often referred as the Grapes) are a professional baseball team based in Avon, Ohio. They compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the Central Division in the Midwest Conference, and began play as an expansion team in 2009.

The Crushers won the 2009 Frontier Cup in their inaugural season. They defeated the River City Rascals, three games to two, after losing the first two games of the series.

History

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Avon Professional Baseball unveiled the name and logo on Thursday, December 4, 2008, of the Frontier League team that will begin play in Avon. The name was chosen from entries submitted in a "Name the Team" contest sponsored by The Morning Journal. The owner of the team, Steven Edelson, said more than 800 team name ideas were submitted.

After years of talk, Frontier League officials decided to put a team in Lorain County. After initially hinting it would be in Lorain, they decided to go with Avon because, rumor was they were not happy with the stadium Lorain was offering them, which is now known as The Pipe Yard.

The "Name the Team" contest was launched in October, and the hundreds of entries were whittled down. Fans then voted on finalist selections, choosing from Ohio, Lorain County, Avon, Cleveland or Lake Erie for the team location name and the Groove, Ironmen, Red Tails, Artichokes, Crushers, Walleyes, and Woollies for the team name.

In their inaugural season in 2009, the Lake Erie Crushers won the Frontier League championship after a 57-38 regular season. They rallied to eliminate the Kalamazoo Kings, three games to two, before rallying from a 2-0 series deficit to defeat the River City Rascals in the Frontier League Championship Series, 3-2, with a 13-10 Game 5 victory on the road on Sept. 23, 2009.[1]

The Crushers also reached the Frontier League postseason in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2019. They reached the Frontier League Championship Series once during that span, being swept by the Schaumburg Boomers, three games to none.

In February 2016, Edelson sold the team to Tom & Jacqueline Kramig of Blue Dog Baseball LLC. The Kramigs are on-site owner/operators who initiated several significant upgrades to the team and the ballpark in conjunction with the City of Avon. The Kramig's sold the team to group headed by former Cleveland Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski in March 2024.[2]

On March 15, 2017, the Lake Erie Crushers unveiled new logos and uniforms that allude to the viticulture of the Great Lakes region. Purple and white replaced the original colors of black and red.[3]

Seasons

[edit]
Lake Erie Crushers (Frontier League)
Year W–L Win % Place Postseason Manager
2009 57–38 .600 2nd in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Kalamazoo Kings 3–2.
Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated the River City Rascals 3–2.		 John Massarelli
2010 50–46 .521 4th in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify John Massarelli
2011 51–45 .537 2nd in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost to Joliet Slammers 3–0. John Massarelli
2012 53–42 .558 4th in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify John Massarelli
2013 56–40 .583 1st in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Traverse City Beach Bums 3–1.
Frontier League Championship Series: Lost to the Schaumburg Boomers 3–0.		 Jeff Isom
2014 52–43 .547 4th in FL East Frontier League Wild Card: Lost to the Schaumburg Boomers 1–0. Chris Mongiardo
2015 38–57 .400 6th in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify Chris Mongiardo
2016 48–48 .500 2nd in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify Chris Mongiardo/Cam Roth
2017 45–51 .469 4th in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify Cam Roth
2018 50–46 .521 3rd in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify Cam Roth
2019 54–42 .563 1st in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost to Florence Freedom 3–0. Cam Roth
2020 —— —— —— Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic ——
2021 41–55 .427 3rd in FL East No Postseason, did not qualify Dan Rohn
2022 49–47 .510 5th in FL West No Postseason, did not qualify Cam Roth
2023 37-59 .385 8th in FL West No Postseason, did not qualify Jared Lemieux
2024 51-44 .537 3rd in FL West Frontier League Wild Card: Defeated Gateway Grizzlies 10-8
Frontier League Divisional Series: Lost to Washington Wild Things 2-0		 Jared Lemieux
Totals 681–648 .510 — 6 appearances, 2 division titles, 1 runner-up finish, 1 championship; 9–15, .375 —

Current roster

[edit]
Lake Erie Crushers roster
Active (24-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 25 Cal Carver
  • 33 Garrett Coe
  • 10 Sam Curtis ‡
  • 39 Pedro Echemendia
  •  4 Jack Eisenbarger
  • 35 Anthony Escobar
  • 11 Trevor Kuncl
  • 37 Matt Mulhearn
  • 13 Kenny Pierson
  • 27 Darrien Ragins
  • 45 Leonardo Rodriguez
  • 83 Enrique Saldaña ‡
  • 14 Christian Scafidi
  • 87 Zarion Sharpe ‡
  • 20 Sammy Tavarez


Utility players

  •  6 Michel Triana
  

Catchers

Infielders

  • 16 Vincent Byrd Jr.
  • 22 Walner Espinal
  • 34 Scout Knotts
  • 32 Noah Marcoux
  •  1 Ethan Skender
  • 26 Logan Thomason
  •  5 Jarrod Watkins

Outfielders

  • 12 Burle Dixon
  •  7 Sam Franco
  •  9 Jack Harris
  •  8 Ron Washington Jr.
  

Manager

  • -- Jared Lemieux

Coaches

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated July 16, 2024
 Transactions

Notable alumni

[edit]

Stadium

[edit]
Main article: Crushers Stadium

The Crushers play at Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio, which has been their home since their inception in 2009. The stadium, built and owned by the City of Avon, has a capacity of 5,000, including 3,000 box seats, 11 private suites, four-person terrace tables, berm seating and picnic and patio areas for group outings. The playing surface is artificial turf, and includes concession stands, a gift shop and a state-of-the-art sound system.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Elyria Chronicle Telegram Archives, Sep 24, 2009, p. 21". 24 September 2009.
  2. ^ Crushers sold to local investors
  3. ^ Embrace the Grape
[edit]
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