The Two Rivers Polar Bears left town for a second time in 2018, leaving diehard baseball fans in the Cool City with a void in their summertime routine.
The six-year drought ends tonight (May 28th) as the Polar Bears return to battle the Manitowoc Bandits in an exhibition game at Walsh Field.
Manager AJ Lorrigan tells SeehaferNews.com that returning Shoreland League baseball back to Two Rivers has been in the works for quite some time.
“I felt disappointed when the team left (in 2018), and I’ve been looking for the opportunity the last year or so to bring a team back (to Two Rivers),” he explained. “As I’ve been getting more involved in the community, I just felt that things were lining up to do this and this was a real good time to move forward and make this a reality.”
Lorrigan, the long-time manager of The Branch Blaze, lives in Two Rivers and has relocated the team to the Lakeshore.
He says it’s bittersweet, adding the Blaze have been a long-time fixture in the Shoreland League, but with a family and “life’s responsibilities” piling up, he personally needed to simplify things a bit, and moving the Blaze to Two Rivers was a part of the plan.
“I’ve talked to a lot of lifelong citizens (of Two Rivers) and they all told me that they missed and enjoyed the Polar Bears,” Lorrigan said. “When word spread, many people told me personally that they were excited that the Polar Bears were coming back.”
The Polar Bears roster will comprise of about 20 players, including four player-coaches, that has a good infusion of experience and youth that should make for an exciting and competitive team on the field.
Lorrigan adds he’s excited about opening against the Bandits, a sentiment echoed by Bandits skipper Chris Cisler.
“When I got the news, I was excited,” the Bandits’ skipper told SeehaferNews.com. “AJ (Lorrigan) has always done a great job with the Branch Blaze. What I seen and heard on social media is that the community is excited and behind them. I can’t wait, as this is going to be a fantastic environment for us to go and play at.”
The Polar Bears will be wearing familiar uniforms of yesteryear, but Lorrigan says exciting changes are forthcoming.
“I’m going to try and find as many images as possible of the uniforms they’ve worn in their history, but put our own touch to the look to make this version of the Polar Bears our own,” he explained.
Admission and parking are free, and concessions are available on the grounds. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
