From Al’s Fastball:
The following will be the roster for the 2006 Midland Explorers.
Doug Gillis – Novi, MI – P
Grant Patterson – Toronto, ON – P
Mike Crawford – Bracebridge, ON – P
Craig Crawford – Kitchener, ON – C
Steve Roberts – Reese, MI – C
Sean Zaborowski – Ann Arbor, MI – C/INF/OF
Steve Horning – Canton, MI – INF
Eddy Ketelhut – Belleville, MI – INF
Todd Moore – Clio, MI – INF
Kyle Beane – Auburn, MI – INF
Dave Frick – Ann Arbor, MI – OF
Jeff Servinski – Midland, MI – OF
Rino Dambrosio – Toronto, ON – OF
Reid Benson – St. Joseph, MI – OFClint Beane – Auburn, MI – Manager
Del Benson – Munger, MI – Coach
Lee Isenhart – Midland, MI – President
Click link above for rest of story, including their schedule for 2006.
Editor’s notes: Click here to read separate story about Midland’s signing of Rino Dambrosio, former member of the Kitchener Hallman Twins. The Twins were unable to re-sign Dambrosio due to their PRAWN count, (new rule limiting number of All World players on any one team).
The Midland Explorers are a perennial top 10 team in the ISC, finishing 10th in the final 2005 rankings released prior to the 2005 ISC World Tournament. That honor placed them in one of two “super pools” where they played other Top 10 teams, finishing a disappointing 1-3. They qualified for championship round by virtue of their Top 10 ranking, but suffered a first round loss in the playoffs for an uncharacteristic early exit from the tournament. (They won their pool in the 2004 tournament, finishing 8th among 40 teams) Midland is looking to rebound in 2006 and appears to be headed in the right direction to do so. Kyle Beane is among the game’s best players, and provides all star caliber talent in the middle of the order. Gillis, Patterson and Crawford give the Explorers a trio of strong arms to compliment the Michigan offense.