Ice haulers in a nutshell
8.16.2020 |
All the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League teams were unfortunately unable to play this summer. But it hurt a little more for one of the teams in particular. The Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers were about to begin their inaugural season in the GLSCL. However, the GLSCL and Sandusky have a relationship that goes back to the early days of the league.
The Sandusky Bay Stars were a part of the league from 1990 up until 2000. In 1995, they beat the Grand Lake Mariners to win the GLSCL title. They were runners-up in 1991 and 1992. Six players from the Stars went on to play in the majors. Ray Neill was the coach of the Stars for their first five years, and the General Manager for their next five years. Now, he is back as the General Manager of the Ice Haulers. Neill posted a 434-144 record during 21 seasons coaching at Perkins High School in Sandusky. After retiring, he recently returned to the sport to coach at Margaretta High School – his alma mater.
Since becoming GM for the Ice Haulers, the role has allowed him to “reestablish some relationships with college coaches”, which he has enjoyed. “Had this season been able to be played, I was looking forward to bringing a high-level of baseball into the Sandusky area,” Neill says, “particularly for the younger-aged baseball players.” He mentioned that the great product on the field would also be loved by the baseball fanatics there.
Neill emphasized that the Ice Haulers have a unique location in a tourist area. Cedar Point is within four miles of Sports Force Parks – where the Ice Haulers will play. The facility is a multi-sport venue which just opened three years ago. The dimension of the field the Ice Haulers will play on are the same dimensions as Comerica Park in Detroit. Neill stated that the team will try to buy into that crowd of tourists that will already be in the area. “We’ll find the people that are looking for something to do on a midweek day in Sandusky.” And although they haven’t played yet, Neill hopes to eventually replicate the atmosphere and local support found at some other GLSCL parks. “We want an environment that is similar to what Lima has done for a long time, and Muskegon as well.” The Lima Locos won their first league title when Neill was in his fourth season coaching the Stars.
Neill admitted that it was frustrating a few months ago. They had their first GLSCL team in Sandusky in 20 years, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly before they would have been able to play. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the 2021 season to see the Ice Haulers in action. Yet Neill is confident that when that time arrives, they will put a very good product on the field and have fun off the field, too.
Click here to view this article as it appears on GreatLakesLeague.org.
All the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League teams were unfortunately unable to play this summer. But it hurt a little more for one of the teams in particular. The Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers were about to begin their inaugural season in the GLSCL. However, the GLSCL and Sandusky have a relationship that goes back to the early days of the league.
The Sandusky Bay Stars were a part of the league from 1990 up until 2000. In 1995, they beat the Grand Lake Mariners to win the GLSCL title. They were runners-up in 1991 and 1992. Six players from the Stars went on to play in the majors. Ray Neill was the coach of the Stars for their first five years, and the General Manager for their next five years. Now, he is back as the General Manager of the Ice Haulers. Neill posted a 434-144 record during 21 seasons coaching at Perkins High School in Sandusky. After retiring, he recently returned to the sport to coach at Margaretta High School – his alma mater.
Since becoming GM for the Ice Haulers, the role has allowed him to “reestablish some relationships with college coaches”, which he has enjoyed. “Had this season been able to be played, I was looking forward to bringing a high-level of baseball into the Sandusky area,” Neill says, “particularly for the younger-aged baseball players.” He mentioned that the great product on the field would also be loved by the baseball fanatics there.
Neill emphasized that the Ice Haulers have a unique location in a tourist area. Cedar Point is within four miles of Sports Force Parks – where the Ice Haulers will play. The facility is a multi-sport venue which just opened three years ago. The dimension of the field the Ice Haulers will play on are the same dimensions as Comerica Park in Detroit. Neill stated that the team will try to buy into that crowd of tourists that will already be in the area. “We’ll find the people that are looking for something to do on a midweek day in Sandusky.” And although they haven’t played yet, Neill hopes to eventually replicate the atmosphere and local support found at some other GLSCL parks. “We want an environment that is similar to what Lima has done for a long time, and Muskegon as well.” The Lima Locos won their first league title when Neill was in his fourth season coaching the Stars.
Neill admitted that it was frustrating a few months ago. They had their first GLSCL team in Sandusky in 20 years, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly before they would have been able to play. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the 2021 season to see the Ice Haulers in action. Yet Neill is confident that when that time arrives, they will put a very good product on the field and have fun off the field, too.
Click here to view this article as it appears on GreatLakesLeague.org.