The Winnipesaukee Muskrats were a collegiate summer baseball team in Laconia, New Hampshire, playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), a wood bat league operating in the northeastern United States. The team's home field was Robbie Mills Field in Laconia.
| Winnipesaukee Muskrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | NECBL (Northern Division) |
| Location | Laconia, New Hampshire (2010–2022) Manchester, Connecticut (2000–2009) |
| Ballpark | Robbie Mills Field (2010–2022) |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Disbanded | 2022 |
| Former name(s) | Laconia Muskrats (2010–2016) Manchester Silkworms (2000–2009) |
| Former league(s) |
|
| Former ballparks | Northwest Park (2000–2009) |
| Colors | Light Blue, Brown, Gold |
| Mascot | Marko the Muskrat |
| Ownership | Scott Everett, Michael Smith, Peter Erklauer |
| Manager | Richard Cesca Jr. (head coach) |
| General Manager | Carey Hough |
| Website | muskratsbaseball |
The Muskrats were an expansion franchise that was formed in 1999 and began play as the Manchester Silkworms of Manchester, Connecticut, in the 2000 season. The team moved to Laconia for the 2010 season. The NECBL announced in November 2015 that the team would be called the Winnipesaukee Muskrats (named after the region's Lake Winnipesaukee) in 2016. The Muskrats folded following the 2022 season.
History
editManchester Silkworms
editThe Manchester Silkworms began play in 2000 as the third Connecticut-based NECBL team. The Silkworms' high water mark occurred from 2004 to 2008 when they recorded five consecutive playoff appearances. The team hosted the 2004 NECBL All-Star Game and achieved a franchise best 24–17 record in the same season.
Laconia Muskrats
edit
After the 2009 season, Silkworms owner Ed Slegeski sold the franchise to a team of partners led by Jonathan and Noah Crane.[1] The Muskrats name was selected from a Name-the-Team contest.[2] In February 2012, the Laconia Parks and Recreation Commission approved a plan of the Muskrats to sell alcohol in a pavilion beyond left field at Robbie Mills Field that would be separate from general seating.[3] On April 30, the club announced the construction of a manual scoreboard patterned after the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston at the left-field fence.[4] The wall, 17 feet (5.2 m) tall and 88 feet (27 m) in length, was built during the 2012 season.
Winnipesaukee Muskrats
editAfter the 2015 season, new general manager Kristian Svindland changed the name of the team from Laconia to Winnipesaukee, the name of Laconia's "Big Lake", to appeal to the entire region.[5]
The Muskrats folded following the 2022 season after the league's governing board rejected the team's strategy to house players.[6]
Postseason appearances
edit
| Year | Division Semi-Finals | Division Finals | NECBL Championship Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Silkworms | ||||||
| 2004 | Riverpoint Royals | L (1–2) | ||||
| 2005 | North Adams SteepleCats | L (1–2) | ||||
| 2006 | Newport Gulls | L (1–2) | ||||
| 2007 | Torrington Twisters | L (0–2) | ||||
| 2008 | Newport Gulls | L (0–2) | ||||
| Laconia Muskrats | ||||||
| 2010 | Newport Gulls | L (0–2) | ||||
| 2011 | Newport Gulls | W (2–0) | Sanford Mainers | W (2–0) | Keene Swamp Bats | L (0–2) |
| 2012 | New Bedford Bay Sox | L (0–2) | ||||
| 2014 | Vermont Mountaineers | L (0–2) | ||||
| 2015 | Vermont Mountaineers | L (0–2) | ||||
| Winnipesaukee Muskrats | ||||||
References
edit- ^ "Manchester Silkworms are sold, moving to New Hampshire". manchestersilkworms.org. Manchester Silkworms. October 18, 2009. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ Ober, Gail (November 14, 2009). "The winner is...The Muskrats". The Citizen. Laconia, New Hampshire. Archived from the original on November 16, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- ^ Kitch, Michael (February 22, 2012). "Parks & Rec Commission decides to allow beer at Muskrats games". The Laconia Daily Sun.
- ^ "Monster News from the Muskrats". laconiamuskrats.com. Laconia Muskrats. April 30, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ "Muskrats Announce Name Change". Winnipesaukee Muskrats. November 17, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ Drapcho, Adam (December 22, 2022). "Housing at issue, Muskrats baseball team won't return for 2023". The Laconia Daily Sun. Retrieved December 23, 2022.