Alton River Dragons
Information
LeagueProspect League (Western Conference – South Division)
LocationAlton, Illinois
BallparkLloyd Hopkins Field
Founded2020
League championships0
Division championships1 (2022)
MascotDinger
OwnershipSteve Marso
ManagerNoah Suarez
General ManagerDallas Martz
Websitewww.altonbaseball.com

The Alton River Dragons are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Alton, Illinois. They were founded in 2020 and began play in 2021 as members of the Prospect League.

The River Dragons play in the Prospect League's Western Conference – South Division along with the Cape Catfish, Jackson Rockabillys, O'Fallon Hoots, and Thrillville Thrillbillies.[1]

History

On January 29, 2020, the Prospect League of collegiate summer baseball announced that Alton, Illinois had been granted a franchise for the upcoming season.[2][3][4] Alton previously hosted a minor league team when the 1917 Alton Blues played as members of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League.[5]

The franchise owner was announced as Steve Marso, who had owned previous franchises in summer collegiate baseball. Dallas Martz was hired as the Alton General Manager.[6][7]

The "River Dragons" moniker was announced for the Alton franchise on August 14, 2020. The name was chosen after a public vote.[3][6]

On November 12, 2020, the Alton River Dragons announced the hiring of Darrell Handelsman to manage the 2021 Alton team. The Alton franchise had previously hired Brock Moss to manage the first team, but Moss had since accepted a position at Texas A&M International University, making him unavailable to coach Alton in the summer.[8][9][10][11]

During the River Dragons second season in 2022, the team set a Prospect League record with 210 stolen bases.

The River Dragon's Eddie King Jr. from the University of Louisville was named the Mike Schmidt Prospect League Player of the Year. King Jr. led the league with 15 home runs and stole 31 bases in 2022.

Blake Burris set a new Prospect League record with 47 stolen bases and was the league batting champion, batting .361 for the season.

On September 21, 2022, it was announced that Darrell Handelsman was stepping down as Head Coach. On October 5, 2022, the River Dragons announced the hiring of Richard "Scotty" Scott as the team's next Head Coach.

After going 15-29 Head Coach Scotty Scott was replaced by River Dragons General Manager Dallas Martz to finish out the 2023 season. Under Martz's watch the River Dragons finished the season 5–7.

Steve Maddock of Frisco, TX was named the River Dragons 2024 Head Coach. However on December 13, 2023, Maddock stepped down as Head Coach.[12]

Stadium

The Alton River Dragons play at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Gordon Moore Park. Renovations were discussed for the ballpark in anticipation of the 2021 season. The ballpark had previously hosted the Bluff City Bombers of the Central Illinois Collegiate League. The ballpark is located at 98 Arnold Palmer Road, Cottage Hills, Illinois, 62018.[4][6][13]

Seasons

SeasonManagerRecordWin %LeagueDivisionGBPost-season recordPost-season win %Post-season resultNotes
2021Darrell Handelsman27–32.45811th4th10.50–0.000Did not qualifyInaugural season
2022Darrell Handelsman32–28.5334th1st–3–2.600Won Prairie Land Division Championship (Springfield)
Won Western Conference Championship (Quincy)
Lost Prospect League Championship (Chillicothe)
2023Richard Scott/Dallas Martz20–35.36416th4th18.00–0.000Did not qualify
2024Noah Suarez0–0.0000–0.000
Totals79–95.4543–2.600

Roster

Alton River Dragons roster
Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Aidan Adams
  • -- Jordan Aguallo
  • -- Ryan Greifelt
  • -- Connor Jackson
  • -- Lucas Johns
  • -- Bryce Louis
  • -- Dylan Mannino



  

Catchers

  • -- Cole Schrank

Infielders

  • -- Bryer Arview
  • -- Joe Connolly
  • -- Jack Gazdacka
  • -- Luke Parmentier
  • -- Dane Stevenson

Outfielders

  • -- Eli Hill
  • -- James Theodore
  

Manager

  • -- Noah Suarez

Coaches

  • -- Butch Chapman (bench)
  • -- Mike Goss (hitting)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated January 10, 2024

References

  1. ↑ "2024 Prospect League Standings - Prospect League Baseball". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  2. ↑ "Prospect League Announces Expansion To Alton, Illinois for 2021". ProspectLeague.com (Press release). Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC. January 29, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Feeney, Colin (August 8, 2020). "Alton Awarded Prospect League Baseball Franchise, Team Name Set To Be Revealed At Lloyd Hopkins Field Friday". RiverBender.com. Alton, Illinois.
  4. 1 2 "Alton to field new Prospect League baseball franchise". The Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. January 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ "1917 Alton Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. 1 2 3 Rhodes, Chris; Brannan, Dan (August 14, 2020). "New Prospect League Team Announces Name: It's The Alton River Dragons". RiverBender.com. Alton, Illinois.
  7. ↑ "Alton River Dragons to Start Play in 2021". Alton Daily News. December 1, 2020. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ "River Dragons Hire Darrell Handelsman As Field Manager". ProspectLeague.com (Press release). Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC. November 12, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Alton River Dragons Name Brock Moss Inaugural Field Manager". ProspectLeague.com (Press release). Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC. September 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Moss Steps Down As River Dragons Manager". ProspectLeague.com (Press release). Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC. November 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ Hayes, Pete (November 13, 2020). "BASEBALL: Alton River Dragons manager brings experience, enthusiasm". The Telegraph. Alton, Illinois.
  12. ↑ Hayes, Pete (December 13, 2023). "New River Dragons coach steps down". The Telegraph. Alton, Illinois.
  13. ↑ "Alton River Dragons". ProspectLeague.com. Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC.
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