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Mining City Tommyknockers prepare for inaugural season

Lights brighten 3 Legends Stadium, the home of the Tommyknockers, Butte's new summer collegiate wood-bat baseball team as the sun sets on the Mining City on May 18.

MEAGAN THOMPSON, THE MONTANA STANDARD

2|Tuesday, June 1, 2021

The Montana Standard

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GREEN BAY BOOYAH

Tom Carty, in blue, managed the Green Bay Booyah of the Northwoods League -- a summer collegiate wood-bat league -- for two years. In October 2020, he was hired as Butte's first manager in the Expedition League.

An experience for everyone

BLAKE FUSSELL

inaugural season would be at home," said one of the best coaches in college baseball, the entire team, he is a pitching specialist

THE MONTANA STANDARD

Tommyknockers general manager Dane and he's well-respected around the US." who coached three LIU-Brooklyn pitchers

Blake.Fussell@

Wagner. "But with the way the schedule Carty will coach the Tommyknockers this to all-conference honors in 2019.

From the moment the team was an- panned out, I worked to get us a preseason summer and will return to Long Island Uni- Brandon Cowan, former star pitcher at

nounced in October 2020, the Mining City showcase series for the fans."

versity-Brooklyn (LIU-Brooklyn) where he Lincoln Memorial University (Texas) and

Tommyknockers organization has made it The roster for the inaugural season in- coaches during the collegiate season. While

clear that the team's presence will offer an cludes athletes from around the country Carty is the field manager watching over

Please see EXPERIENCE, Page 6

experience for players, baseball fans and and the world. Daiki Asaumi, of Kanagawa,

everyone in between.

Japan, was the first international player to

Part of the Expedition League, the Tom- sign a full-season contract with the Tom-

myknockers will compete against other myknockers. Ren Yokoyama, also from

Proud to SuPPort

teams in the northwest, including one Japan, will play temporarily for the Tomlocated in Manitoba, Canada. Teams are myknockers.

Butte'S BaSeBall

formed by collegiate players during their While recruiting efforts were extensive,

school's off-season.

multiple Montana athletes made the cut

The Tommyknockers begin the sea- for the inaugural season. Butte native Liam

son with a road series against the Canyon Sommer and Missoula Sentinel graduate

County Spuds and their home-opener Drew Leonard will pitch for the Tommyk-

will be June 1. In hopes to engage the en- nockers, while infielder Matt Krieger, of

tire southwest Montana community and to Helena, will play on a temporary basis. give players a few extra reps, they competed "The coach does the heavy lifting, they

406-565-5626

WelCoMe toMMYKNoCKerS! in a preseason showcase series in Helena on use the contacts they've established over

May 21 and Anaconda on May 22.

the years and know how to recruit really

"My hope was that the first game in the good players," Wagner said. "Tom Carty is

6|Tuesday, June 1, 2021

2021 SEASON PREVIEW

Mining City Tommyknockers 2021 roster

POSITION PLAYERS

Name

College

Bats/PITCHING STAFF

Position Throws Height Name

College

Throws

David Melfi

Wagner

C

R/R 5'11" Liam Sommer University of Mary

R

Luke Trainer

Millersville

C

L/R

6'0" Evan ReynoldsNortheastern

L

Jake Mastillo

Lock Haven

C/UT R/R 6'1"

Pat Doran North Carolina Central 1B

L/L

6'4" Dylan Wilheim USC Aiken

R

Elijah Buries

Grand Canyon

IF

R/R 6'1" Jon Cordaway

Tarleton

R

Miles Hartsfield Georgia SW

IF

Seth LuceroDawson

IF

Judah WilburSouthern

IF

Mathew IvancichDixieSS

L/R 5'9" Riley Powers

Georgia Southwestern R

L/R

6'2" Kyle Wellman

Hendrix

L

R/R 6'0"

R/R 6'0" Zach CampSwarthmore

R

Justin Greene

Milligan

OF/UT L/R 6'1" Ryan Jacobs

Tarleton

R

Jack WalkerDixie

OF

R/R 5'11" Drew LeonardSioux Falls

L

Hayden Brown Grand Canyon

OF

L/R 6'3"

Jason KramlichNortheastern

R

Steven Strachan Hillsdale

OF/1B R/R 6'5"

Carter Dobrinski TarletonUTL

R/R

6'1" Connor Phelan

Montevallo

R

Alec Burns

West Virginia

OF/1B R/R 6'4" Marty Carnahan

McMurray

R

Height 6'3" 6'2" 6'2" 6'5" 5'11" 5'11" 6'2" 6'4" 6'1" 6'0" 5'10" 6'2"

Matt Krieger of the Helena Senators jumps for a ball against the Spokane Cannons last summer at Kindrick Legion Field in Helena.

GARY MARSHALL,

The Montana Standard

Experience

From Page 5

current assistant coach at South Forks High School (Florida) will train Mining City pitchers, while South Carolina assistant coach Jacob Schubert will be the Tommyknockers' hitting coach.

"Hiring Tom Carty as coach was crucial for the recruiting of our team," Wagner said. "Starting to see our team get assembled, we focused a lot on pitching and then filled in with some really nice position players."

"When I look at our roster compared to the rest of the Expedition League, we have the best by far," Wagner continued. "It's an impressive squad and it's going to be fun to watch for sure."

With eight Division I athletes on the roster, the Tommyknockers are prepared for a competitive first season. Yet, the play on the field is just one aspect of the team's presence in Butte.

The fan experience has been a priority for the team since the day their arrival was announced. One example of this was the team name vote, which was left to the Butte community.

Over the course of a month, the Butte community was asked to submit team

Good Luck

Tommyknockers!

401 S. Main, Butte, MT

782-2224 ?

1200 E. Commercial, Anaconda, MT 563-5225 ?

1805 Meadowlark Lane, Butte, MT 723-3239 ?

401 S. Main, Butte, MT 782-2224 ?

Amber Sullivan Coldwell Banker-Markovich Real Estate

2827 Lexington, Butte, MT

593-2702 ?

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name ideas and votes narrowed down the

process.

"We had a domain name reserved for our

website, we were going to be the Butte Big

Horns," Wagner said. "But then we looked

at the vote and turned it to the community,

and Big Horns was not even in the top five."

A tommyknocker is described as a myth-

ical beast that would warn mining workers

of falling rock and other dangers. The name

captures the history and vibe of Butte and

is not likely to be replicated.

The in-person fan experience has been a

focus as well. The Tommyknockers worked

to bring a water element and party deck to

3 Legends Stadium, but the idea was struck

down by Butte-Silver Bow commissioners.

Despite the failed idea, Wagner said the team

will continue to find way to engage fans.

"From year one to year 100, there will be

additions to the stadium and the fan ex-

perience," Wagner said. "It all depends on

COURTESY PHOTO

construction and contractors and things like that."

MCMURRY SPORTS INFORMATION

Liam Sommer follows through after throwing a pitch earlier this season for the University

Just as the team will bring new opportu- Marty Carnahan waits for a pitch while batting for McMurry University.

of Mary.

nities and experiences to Butte, the Butte

community has the opportunity to provide support for players. Host families will be Applications are available for those who Single-game and season tickets are

an experience as well. As players begin recognized on-field at a game during the want to become a host family at mctom- available on the team's website. The Tom-

moving to the area from various places, regular season, and will also be offered . Those who are interested myknockers are still finalizing radio and

host families are needed for the summer. perks including tickets and merchandise can also contact Dane Wagner with ques- television contracts and will announce

Host families provide housing, meals and discounts.

tions at dane@. their broadcast plan once it is official.

Welcome to Butte, TOMMYKNOCKER Baseball!

TROLLEY TOURS ARE AVAILABLE

MAY - SEPTEMBER Monday - Saturday 10:00 | 12:30| 3:00 Sunday 10:00 | 12:30

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2021 SEASON PREVIEW

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