Crown Point welcomes the Lake County Corn Dogs baseball franchise Pictured, from left, are Jim Masters, Minority Owner; David Padilla, Minority Owner; Ralph Flores, Majority Owner; Crown Point Mayor David Uran; Manager Justin Huisman; Northern League President Don Popravak; Minority Owner Samantha Salzeider; and Minority Owner Alessandro Teodosi. The newest addition to the Northern League is the Lake County Corn Dogs! The Class D pre-professional baseball team will call Crown Point, Indian home, playing at Legacy Fields at Center Ross Park. “Building community through baseball” is the team’s motto. A combination of young, college-aged local and out-of-town talent will make up the roster. Northern League President Don Popravak expressed his enthusiasm and support of the new baseball franchise at the official team announcement on January 20 in Crown Point. “Crown Point is an ideal location for our league’s latest expansion franchise in South Lake County. This community is incredibly sports-friendly, welcoming, and an ideal location for affordable family entertainment like Northern League baseball,” Popravak said. “With the official announcement of the Corn Dogs name, we want the community to know they now have professional prospect level talent playing right in their backyard. We’re very excited to invite everyone to the Legacy Fields at Center Ross Park field this summer for a fun night of baseball and family.” Crown Point Mayor David Uran cheered the Corn Dogs’ arrival in his city, saying, “The addition of a pre-professional team like the Corn Dogs is an excellent complement to the wide variety of youth and adult sports throughout our community. The new team will further enhance the stellar quality of life in Crown Point, and we’re excited to welcome the Corn Dogs.” Speaking on the announcement of the team’s official name, Majority Owner Ralph Flores said he was thrilled that members of the community chose such an appropriate and fun title for a new Northwest Indiana-based franchise. “When people think about the Corn Dogs, they’re going to remember fun nights out with loved ones and friends,” Flores said. “They’re going to remember awesome games with fantastic area players. And they’re going to remember the joy they had on those summer nights in Crown Point. We couldn’t ask for more, and we thank the community for all their outstanding suggestions for our new team’s name.” Adding to the Corn Dog’s front office line up are Minority Owners Jim Masters, of Griffith, Ind.; David Padilla, of Schererville, Ind.; Samantha Salzeider, of Highland, Ind.; and Alessandro Teodosi, of Schererville, Ind. Tom Byelick will handle public address duties at the ballpark. Andrew Mild is Corn Dogs’ play-by-play announcer. Former major leaguer Justin Huisman will lead the Corn Dogs as manager for its inaugural season. He is the former manager for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen and the Trinity Christian College baseball team. The new Lake County Corn Dogs will play a 55-game schedule this summer. |