Eau Claire Express
Encyclopedia
The Eau Claire Express is a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the Northwoods League
. Their home games are played at Carson Park, in Eau Claire
, Wisconsin
(USA).
After two straight losing seasons in 2005 and 2006, the Eau Claire Express achieved many firsts during the 2007 season. The team won nine of its final ten regular season games to finish 42-26 overall and claim the 2007 2nd Half South Division title, their first regular season division title in franchise history and qualified for the Northwoods League
playoffs, another franchise first.
In the 2007 South Division Championship Series, they faced the 1st Half South Division Champion Green Bay Bullfrogs
. They won the series 2-1, claiming the 2007 South Division Pennant, another first in franchise history. In the 2007 Northwoods League
Championship Series, they faced the North Division Champion St. Cloud River Bats
and were swept 2-0 by the eventual Northwoods League
Champions.
The 2008 season ended with the Express missing the Northwoods League
playoffs by 1.5 games. The Express finished the season one game below .500.
The Express had one of their best seasons in 2009. They had a great first half, winning the NWL South Division to qualify for the playoffs. However, injuries and summer school depleted the squad in the second half. Eau Claire was eliminated in two games by the La Crosse Loggers in the Northwoods League Divisional round.
In 2010, the Express won the first half of the season again with a 22-12 record. Via www.perfectgame.org, the Express have been ranked as high as #3 in the nation for summer collegiate baseball. The team closed out the 2010 season winning both halves. They followed this up by winning the NWL Championship and www.perfectgame.org ranked the Eau Claire Express the #1 summer collegiate team in the nation.
Express players drafted in the 2007 MLB Draft:
Express players drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft:
Express players drafted in the 2010 MLB Draft:
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
. Their home games are played at Carson Park, in Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
(USA).
After two straight losing seasons in 2005 and 2006, the Eau Claire Express achieved many firsts during the 2007 season. The team won nine of its final ten regular season games to finish 42-26 overall and claim the 2007 2nd Half South Division title, their first regular season division title in franchise history and qualified for the Northwoods League
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
playoffs, another franchise first.
In the 2007 South Division Championship Series, they faced the 1st Half South Division Champion Green Bay Bullfrogs
Green Bay Bullfrogs
The Green Bay Bullfrogs is a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Their home games are played at Joannes Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin...
. They won the series 2-1, claiming the 2007 South Division Pennant, another first in franchise history. In the 2007 Northwoods League
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
Championship Series, they faced the North Division Champion St. Cloud River Bats
St. Cloud River Bats
The St. Cloud River Bats are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Their home games are played at the Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota...
and were swept 2-0 by the eventual Northwoods League
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
Champions.
The 2008 season ended with the Express missing the Northwoods League
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
playoffs by 1.5 games. The Express finished the season one game below .500.
The Express had one of their best seasons in 2009. They had a great first half, winning the NWL South Division to qualify for the playoffs. However, injuries and summer school depleted the squad in the second half. Eau Claire was eliminated in two games by the La Crosse Loggers in the Northwoods League Divisional round.
In 2010, the Express won the first half of the season again with a 22-12 record. Via www.perfectgame.org, the Express have been ranked as high as #3 in the nation for summer collegiate baseball. The team closed out the 2010 season winning both halves. They followed this up by winning the NWL Championship and www.perfectgame.org ranked the Eau Claire Express the #1 summer collegiate team in the nation.
Express players drafted in the 2007 MLB Draft:
- Jordan ZimmermannJordan ZimmermannJordan Zimmermann is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He was the Nationals' best prospect going into the 2009 MLB season, according to Baseball America.-Professional career:...
- RHP Washington Nationals - Thomas Eager- RHP St. Louis Cardinals
- Evan Frey- OF Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ryan Tatusko- RHP Texas Rangers
- Kraig Binick- OF Baltimore Orioles
- Mark Hallberg- SS Arizona Diamondbacks
- Russ Dixon- OF Houston Astros
Express players drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft:
- Shane Dyer- RHP Tampa Bay Rays
- Jake Jefferies- C Tampa Bay Rays
- Tim Huber- LHP Kansas City Royals
- Bryan Frew- OF Philadelphia Phillies
- David Cales- RHP Chicago Cubs
- Chris Odegaard- RHP Minnesota Twins
- Ryan O'Sullivan- SS/RHP San Francisco Giants
- Eddie Gamboa- RHP Baltimore Orioles
Express players drafted in the 2010 MLB Draft:
- Kole Calhoun - OF/LA Angels
- Devin Lohman - SS/Cincinnati Reds
- Rafael Neda - C/Milwaukee Brewers
- Cole Nelson - LHP/Detroit Tigers
- Brooks Pinckard - RHP/OF/Chicago Cubs
- Pete Gehle - LHP/Chicago White Sox
- DeMarcus Tidwell - OF/Cleveland Indians
- Tyler Bremer - RHP/Chicago Cubs
- Ryan Kiel - LHP/Seattle Mariners
- George Jensen - RHP/Tampa Bay Rays