PIERRE – It’s expected that collegiate baseball will be played next summer in Pierre. While nothing firm is yet decided, the team playing it definitely will not be the Pierre Trappers.
Owner Steve Wagner has folded the Trappers after a tumultuous fifth season in the Expedition League, also owned by Wagner. Only four teams began play, with two choosing to end their seasons a month early amid frustrations with and accusations of mismanagement by Wagner, who had lost most of the other teams in the league to Independent League Baseball last fall after similar complaints. The Trappers’ final games were their three-games-to-one loss last month in the Expedition League Championship Series to the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs.
Recently, the Pierre City Commission requested proposals from groups interested in putting forth a team for a new lease at Hyde Stadium, with a deadline of August 12. One group includes former Trappers General Manager Jackson Bruce.
Bruce, who was the first Trappers’ general manager, said that he knows how to build a team from scratch.
Bruce said that what he did to help build the Trappers can be useful now.
Bruce said that having a team with collegiate players is great for Pierre.
Bruce and his group face an imminent deadline from the City of Pierre.
Bruce understands that as much time as possible is needed for preparation.
Bruce said that if his group is awarded the Hyde Stadium lease, the determination of in which league the team would play would come at a later date.
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