Normal CornBelters

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Normal CornBelters
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueProspect League (2019–present) (Eastern Conference – Central Division)
LocationNormal, Illinois
BallparkThe Corn Crib
Founded2009
League championships0
Division championships0
Former league(s)Frontier League (2010–2018)
ColorsGreen, yellow, black, white
       
MascotCorny
OwnershipMatt Stembridge
ManagerBilly DuBois
General ManagerMatt Stembridge
MediaThe Pantagraph
Websitewww.cornbeltersbaseball.com

The Normal CornBelters are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Normal, Illinois, which is part of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. The franchise was formerly a professional team, and was a member of the independent Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.[1]

The CornBelters play in the Prospect League's Eastern Conference – Central Division along with the Danville Dans, Dubois County Bombers, Full Count Rhythm, and Terre Haute Rex.[2]

Stadium

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On March 30, 2009, ground was broken for a $12 million multi-purpose stadium adjacent to Heartland Community College on Raab Road. The CornBelters will share the facility with Heartland's baseball, softball, and soccer programs. The facility was completed in time for the CornBelters' inaugural 2010 season.[3]

On October 20, 2009, it was announced that the stadium would be known as The Corn Crib.[4] The name was the result of a naming rights partnership with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB).[4] The naming rights agreement lasts for two years with an "automatic renewal".[4] Both team and ICMB officials declined to disclose the financial terms of the partnership.[4]

History

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Name-the-team contest

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The CornBelters were named after a fan vote to determine the name. A publicity stunt occurred after the four finalists were unveiled:

  • Normal Nutz; an homage to the Beer Nuts brand based in nearby Bloomington (NOTE: The entries were originally "Nuts", but the ownership modified it to avoid conflict with the California League's Modesto Nuts)
  • Normal NightHawks; a popular alliterative nickname.
  • Normal CornBelters; a reference to Illinois' location in the Corn Belt. "Belt" is also a slang term meaning to hit the ball hard.
  • Normal Coal Bears; submitted by fans of political satirist and The Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert (pronounced [kʰɔlˈbɛɹ], just like "coal bear"). In addition to the reference, Illinois (especially the west side of Bloomington-Normal) also has a strong heritage in coal mining.

In addition, two other choices were later added:

  • Normal Fellers; an homage to Jesse W. Fell, the founder of Illinois State University (ergo, the founder of the city of Normal), as well as the term "Feller" referring to "regular guy".
  • Normal CamelBacks; an homage to Camelback Bridge, built to allow steam locomotives to pass underneath and currently arching over Constitution Trail. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

2010 season

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Hal Lanier was announced as the team's first manager on October 7, 2009.[5] Lanier managed the Houston Astros to a division title in 1986 and is a former Major League player and coach as well. Over 21 seasons as a major, minor and independent league manager, Lanier has compiled a record of 1,338–1,033.[5]

The Normal CornBelters' inaugural season schedule was released on October 16, 2009.[6] The CornBelters' season opened at the Evansville Otters on May 21, 2010.[7] The home opener, the first in team history, was played at 7 p.m. on June 1, 2010, against the Windy City ThunderBolts. The team had 51 home games in 2010 and their season ended on September 5, 2010.[7] The team finished with a 44–52 record. Two CornBelters were named 2010 All-Stars and played in the All-Star Game: RHP Tyler Lavigne and 3B Daniel Cox.

Seasons

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Normal CornBelters of the Frontier League
Season Manager Record Win % League Division GB Post-season record Post-season win % Post-season result Notes
2010 Hal Lanier 44–52 .302 8th 4th 20.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2011 Hal Lanier 46–50 .479 7th 3rd 22.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2012 Chad Parker 29–67 .302 13th 7th 28.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2013 Chad Parker 46–50 .479 10th 5th 13.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2014 Brooks Carey 48–47 .505 7th 4th 12.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2015 Brooks Carey 61–35 .635 2nd 1st – 0–2 .000 Lost West Division Championship (Traverse City)
2016 Brooks Carey 45–50 .474 7th 5th 17.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2017 Brooks Carey 48–48 .500 7th 4th 13.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2018 Billy Horn 48–47 .505 7th 4th 3.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
Normal CornBelters of the Prospect League
Season Manager Record Win % League Division GB Post-season record Post-season win % Post-season result Notes
2019 Rick White 21–39 .394 9th 5th 22.0 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2020 Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Calvin Peacock 31–29 .517 6th 1st – 0–1 .000 Lost Great River Division Championship (Clinton)
2022 Andy Turner 31–28 .525 6th 1st – 0–1 .000 Lost Great River Division Championship (Quincy)
2023 Andy Turner 27–30 .474 10th 2nd 6.5 0–0 .000 Did not qualify
2024 Billy DuBois 0–0 .000 0–0 .000
Totals 525–572 .479 0–4 .000

Roster

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Normal CornBelters roster
Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Tyler Altenbaumer
  • -- Jimmy Amptmann
  • -- Brady Banker
  • -- Logan Barnett
  • -- Austin Berggren
  • -- Trey Bryant
  • -- Graham Kasey
  • -- Shane Kilfoyle
  • -- Cole Martz
  • -- Alex McHale
  • -- Zach O'Donnell
  • -- Malachi Paplanus
  • -- Nick Rainey
  • -- PJ Rogan
  • -- Mason Telford
  • -- Ryne Willard



  

Catchers

  • -- Chase Mason
  • -- Nolan McCrossin
  • -- Tyler Woltman

Infielders

  • -- James Harris
  • -- Max Hennemann
  • -- Landen Johnson
  • -- Eddie Letamendi
  • -- Alex Mezzetti
  • -- Zach Zychowski

Outfielders

  • -- Griffin Brown
  • -- Will Jesske
  • -- Tyler Thompson
  • -- Austin Wiegand
  

Manager

  • -- Billy DuBois

Coaches

  • -- Josh Foreman (hitting/third base)
  • -- Randy Wittenberg (bench)
  • -- Nick Roseman (bullpen)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated March 15, 2024

References

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  1. ^ randy.reinhardt@lee.net, Randy Reinhardt. "CornBelters to join Prospect League under new ownership". pantagraph.com. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  2. ^ "2024 Prospect League Standings - Prospect League Baseball". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  3. ^ Nielsen, Adam. "Celebrating a major milestone at Heartland", Just About Normal (blog by local reporter), March 31, 2009, accessed October 31, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d Reinhardt, Randy. "Baseball stadium gets a name: The Corn Crib", The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), October 20, 2009, accessed October 31, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Reinhardt, Randy. "CornBelters tab former Cardinals coach as first manager", The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), October 7, 2009, accessed October 31, 2009.
  6. ^ Pawlowski, Stephanie. "Normal CornBelters release schedule", WJBC, October 16, 2009, accessed October 31, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Reinhardt, Randy. "CornBelters' first home game June 1", The Pantagraph, October 16, 2009, accessed October 31, 2009.
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