The Explorers Booster Club will continue on in 2014, but with a major change.  For the 1^st time since 1986, there will not be a Midland Explorers team competing at the ISC/ASA Major level.  Just typing that sentence brings a tremendous amount of emotion and sadness.  But the reality is that the ability to raise funds and secure a main sponsor for the type of team that we want to put on the field has made this decision necessary.  

 

 

I feel very proud of the fact that our team has been a constant since Lefty and Lee began the program over 28 years ago.  It has been, in my opinion, a model organization that has done more than just put a team on the field. It has added to the landscape of the sport, hosted top events, brought teams from all over the world to Midland, been active in the community, and improved the already outstanding complex of Currie Stadium.

 

We’ve been competitive, beaten top teams, finished high in National and World tournaments.  We’ve had some of the top players the sport has ever seen wear our uniform.  All of us can stand tall and tell others that we were part of this team. Whether you were a player, a coach, a fan, a supporter or a member of the Midland community, the Explorers have been a shining beacon in our sport.  We all love the game.  We’ve all put time and effort and sweat into making it a success every year.

 

And while the team wasn’t able bring an ISC or ASA championship home, I will always defend how our team conducted ourselves on and off the field.  We kept our organization intact, never merging with another sponsor or team.  We showcased local players.  We stayed loyal to those who stayed loyal to us. We played at Currie Stadium as often as we could.  We supported other tournaments that were also doing their best to enhance the sport.

 

So while there will not be an Explorers team in 2014, I’m going to call it a hiatus.  The opportunity in the future to again put a team on the field will still exist.  The Booster Club will continue doing the things that they’ve always done and stood for:  promote the sport of fastpitch softball in various ways.

 

With that being said, here are the plans for 2014:

 

Midland Explorers Legends – This team will be managed and run by Eric Isenhart and be a combination of a tribute to Lee Isenhart and legacy of the Explorers men’s teams.  The roster will feature former Explorers players and familiar names from the Midland area.  The team play 4 weekends, including the annual tournament in Midland, along with a Petoskey tournament, ASA Major and ISC Legends.  

 

Junior/Future Explorers - Managed and run by Dave Lach/Kyle Beane.  This team will compete in the annual tournament in Midland and the 2014 Under-21 tournament at the ISC, where they will defend the championship they won in 2013.  The Under-21 tournament will be age-appropriate and the June tournament will expand the age group to include some local, younger, players.  This very well could be the core of players that brings an ISC-level team back on the field in the future.

 

The Lady Explorers program will continue as it has in the past.  Charles Keeley will lead that group and continue to give great opportunities to girls in Mid-Michigan to be part of a top-notch program and have great experiences on the ballfield.

 

Our annual tournament, re-named last year as the Lefty Bartos/Lee Isenhart Memorial Tournament will continue in 2014 during the June 13-15 weekend.  This will be a chance for the two Explorers teams to be on the field at Emerson Park. 

 

It would be impossible for me to call out all the people who made the men’s team possible over the past 27 years.  No one more so than Lefty Bartos and Lee Isenhart. We were so fortunate to have them as leaders and visionaries.

 

When I started as a player in 1996, I hoped to be able to play 10 years in an Explorers uniform - last year concluded my 18^th year. Steve Horning finished his 21^st year.  Steve Roberts finished his 15^th year.  Doug Gillis was part of the program when it began, and was with us again last year - he had 13 total seasons with the team.  Amazingly enough, Doug was part of the original Explorers teams in the late ‘80s, and threw the final two innings (with 0 runs and 3 strikeouts) in the Explorers final game of the 2013 ISC World Tournament.

 

From the early days of Pete Finn and Doug Fillmore and Darren Zack and Eric Isenhart and Jeff Servinski.  Through the changeover days of Greg Melchert and Doug Sleep and Jimmy Moore.  During the last part of the program with Grant Patterson, Eddy Ketelhut, Craig Crawford and Clint Beane. The team was a success from the beginning, all the way through last year.

 

The brilliant stretch that Dan Cronkright had as arguably the top American player in the sport.  The prolonged, unparalleled career of Todd Schultz.  The longevity and success of Doug Gillis.  The unbelievable consistency and leadership of Steve Horning.  These players defined the Midland Explorers from 1986 through 2013.  But as every coach tells their team….there needs to be more than just the individual to lead to success, and we always had all those pieces.

 

There are various places where the team’s wins and losses are documented.  But I wanted to share a few things that I’ve seen over the years that do nothing but make me smile and appreciate the experiences that were given to us, as players, since Lefty and Lee started us on this journey.  I started watching this team as a fan, as a 16 year old kid.  Then I was an opponent.  Then I was fortunate to wear the uniform for a lot of years..  I think these things below are big reasons that we play.  It’s the human part of sport and competition.  

 

These are not all encompassing…just a few of the items that stand out to me.. 

 

Eric Isenhart and his happy feet in the batters box.  Right before hitting a line drive into the gap

 

Jeff Servinski’s textbook leadoff, and the inevitable yell from the opposing bench of “Going!” – even though he wasn’t.

 

The acrobatics of Steve Lashuay when he played second base.

 

The immense power and ability of Gary Franson â€“ quite possibly the most fearsome hitter I’ve ever seen.

 

Being a young kid and seeing those red, white and blue uniforms and thinking….”Someday, I’ll wear that.”

 

Hearing the roster for the first time in the off-season – which pitcher did they get? Algar, Zack, Underwood, Cowdrey, Yantzi…who else did they get???

 

Being in the batter’s box against Pete Finnthe first time, and hearing that ‘hmmmmmm’ coming from him as he peered in to get the sign.  And realizing I was hitting against one of the pitchers from the most famous game ever played.

 

Wondering how someone could be as intense as Steve Bohn was on the ballfield.  And then understanding once you saw him as a teammate.

 

Darren Zack, back when players had to play 20 games with a team to qualify for the ASA – getting to Currie Stadium at the end of one of the qualifying games, jumping in the batter’s box with 2 outs in the last inning to get his appearance in – and launching a homerun off the scoreboard.

 

Seeing the true model of superstar, leader and teammate by watching Greg Melchert.

 

Doug Sleep moving from local pitcher, moving up the ranks, to beating the best teams across the sport, regardless of where they were from.

 

Gary Doyle being the grittiest catcher I’ve ever seen.  And always – always – getting the best out of his pitchers.

 

Hijinx and laughs with Mike Gasaway on the road – especially in Victoria.  And almost taking Jimmy Doyle’s head off throwing a runner out at 2^nd in Erie.

 

Watching Todd Schultz run, field, hit, throw…and wondering how he wasn’t a star for a Major League Baseball team.  He was that good, all the time.

 

Standing in awe watching Terry Boetsmatake batting practice.  It was simply unfathomable how far and how hard he could hit a softball.

 

Watching St. Joe (MO) and Decatur (IL) win an ASA National Championship on their home fields, in back to back years….as we sat in the opposing dugout as the runners-up.

 

Realizing that for 2 years, our team had arguably the best American-born infield, pitcher and catchers in the entire sport, and that somehow I was part of it – Greg Melchert, Steve Horning, Todd Schultz, Gary Doyle, Terry Boetsma and Doug Gillis.

 

Watching Grant Patterson transform from potential to World-Class pitcher right before our eyes, and wishing that everyone had his drive and will to succeed.

 

Knowing that the best defensive Center Fielder in the sport – Dave Frick -  didn’t play for one of the big money teams, but was making every conceivable play for us.

 

The pine tar on Steve Roberts helmet –and the way he battled every at-bat.  And his batting gloves.  And the errant throw in Owen Sound that no one will ever forget.

 

Drew Groombridge and that giant trainer’s bag that came to the park every weekend.  

 

Craig Crawford throwing behind a runner at first…and picking almost all of them off.

 

Seeing Troy Horning hit a homerun off a young pitcher from New Zealand and knowing that moments like that cannot be scripted or planned for.  They just happen.

 

Steve Horning’s pre-game routine, which didn’t change for 20 years.  Neither did the place he put his glove and hat in our dugout at the Stadium.  Neither did his production, or his ability to make every player feel welcome.

 

Doug Gillis walking to the field in Monkton, warming up before the game….a month after he had a stroke.

 

Going to Orillia…or Decatur…or Kimberly…or Fargo…or Victoria…or Erie…Kitchener...or any of the other places that we went every weekend.  And see people from all over the world.  Becoming friends and teammates..  Sharing experiences.  Winning.  Losing. Succeeding.  Failing.  And knowing one simple thing – if it was easy, everyone would do it.  That it’s hard and difficult is what makes it worthwhile.