The Riverview League is a Class A men's amateur "Town Ball" baseball league in the Southwest Twin Cities metro area.
Riverview League is an example of Town Team Baseball that remains popular in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The Riverview League is one of four metro area leagues that make up Minnesota Baseball Association Class A.
History
editEstablished in 1987, Riverview League teams have a strong history of success. Minnetonka Millers have won the Class A State Tournament 15 times, including a championship game win over league rival St. Louis Park Pirates in 2017.[1][2] St. Louis Park has claimed three titles (2002, 2008, 2018).[3]
Bloomington Bulldogs claimed the first-ever league title in 1987 and would go on to win the MBA Class A championship defeating Columbia Heights 8–4 in the final. The Bulldogs (1987, 1988) and Richfield Ramblers (2005) are the only teams other than Minnetonka and St. Louis Park to win a league championship.
Teams
edit| Team | Joined
RVL |
RVL
titles |
State
titles |
State
appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington Bandits | 2006 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Edina Buckshots | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hopkins Berries | 2000 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| MacStrength Grizzlies | 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnetonka Millers | 1987 | 26 | 15 | 33 |
| Northwest Orioles | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Plymouth Hitdawgs | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| St. Louis Park | 1987 | 6 | 3 | 30 |
Former league member teams
edit- Bloomington Bulldogs
- Bloomington Redbirds
- Brooklyn Center Comets
- Brooklyn Park Hodags
- Eden Prairie Eagles
- Edina Buckshot
- Edina E-SOX
- Hamel Hawks (2017–20)
- Hort Hurricanes
- Maple Grove Crimson
- New Hope Athletics
- Northwest Suburban Red Hawks
- Park Center
- Richfield Ramblers
- Richfield Renegades
- South River Gnats
- Spring Lake Park
- St. Louis Park Atomic
- Westside Bombers
League champions
edit| Season | Champion | State Tournament qualifiers |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Bloomington Bulldogs | |
| 1988 | Bloomington Bulldogs | |
| 1989 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1990 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1991 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1992 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1993 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1994 | St. Louis Park | |
| 1995 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1996 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1997 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1998 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 1999 | Minnetonka Millers | |
| 2000 | Minnetonka Millers | Hopkins Berries, Bloomington Bulldogs |
| 2001 | Minnetonka Millers | Hopkins Berries, St. Louis Park |
| 2002 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bulldogs |
| 2003 | St. Louis Park | Minnetonka Millers, Bloomington Bulldogs |
| 2004 | Minnetonka Millers | Bloomington Bulldogs |
| 2005 | Richfield Ramblers | Minnetonka Millers, St. Louis Park |
| 2006 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bulldogs |
| 2007 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Hopkins Berries |
| 2008 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Hopkins Berries |
| 2009 | St. Louis Park | Minnetonka Millers, Bloomington Bandits |
| 2010 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits |
| 2011 | Minnetonka Millers | Bloomington Bandits, St. Louis Park |
| 2012 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits |
| 2013 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits |
| 2014 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits |
| 2015 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Northwest Orioles |
| 2016 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits |
| 2017 | St. Louis Park | Minnetonka Millers,[4] Hopkins Berries |
| 2018 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park,[5] Bloomington Bandits |
| 2019 | Minnetonka Millers | St. Louis Park, Hamel Hawks |
| 2020 | St. Louis Park | Minnetonka Millers,[6] Bloomington Bandits, Northwest Orioles |
| 2021 | St. Louis Park | Minnetonka Millers, Hopkins Berries, Bloomington Bandits |
NOTE: state champion in bold
References
edit- ^ "Class A state tournament: Millers rally from big deficit to top Pirates 11-9, win 3rd straight championship". Minnesota Baseball Association. August 22, 2017.
- ^ "Minnetonka's 'town ball' keeps winning titles with guys who'll remind you of Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr". Star Tribune. July 10, 2020.
- ^ "Class A state tournament: St. Louis Park wins 3rd overall title, tops Lyon's Pub 2-1". Minnesota Baseball Association. August 20, 2018.
- ^ "Minnetonka Millers take the long way to another state amateur baseball title". Star Tribune. August 26, 2017.
- ^ "Park ends decade state title drought to lift first Ingram Cup". Sun Sailor. August 21, 2018.
- ^ "Town team title comes back to Minnetonka". Sun Sailor. August 24, 2020.
External links
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