Amateur baseball: Manitowoc Bandits-Two Rivers partnership leads to first league title since 2011

Tom Dombeck, Manitowoc Herald Times ReporterPublished 5:38 p.m. CT Aug. 23, 2019

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MANITOWOC - For the fifth time in eight seasons, Chris Cisler has helped guide a team to a Shoreland League championship, but this year's title is a little different.

Cisler managed the Manitowoc Bandits amateur baseball team this season as his former team, the Two Rivers Polar Bears, moved and assumed the Bandits name and facilities.

“It was a little bit like a homecoming for players like Mike Ruzek and Chris Casper,” Cisler said. “We built something special (in Two Rivers) and had to make the move to keep the core group together.”

Manitowoc defeated the Algoma Penguins in two games, taking Game 2 7-2 Aug. 16 after winning 4-2 two days earlier.

Manager Chris Cisler brought the Two Rivers Polar Bears over to become the Manitowoc Bandits and kept the winning ways, claiming the Bandits' first title since 2011. (Photo: Photo courtesy Chris Cisler)

The last championship for the Bandits came in 2011 when they won the North Eastern Wisconsin Baseball League, which included nearby rivals the Sheboygan A’s.

“Every championship is special,” Cisler said. “Each one is a group of guys who bonded together to complete their goals.”

Making the move a bit up the Lake Michigan shoreline easier was the fact Cisler brought the main group of players who have now reached the championship in seven of the past eight years.

Ruzek is a former Shoreland most valuable player while Casper won this season’s batting title, hitting exactly .500 after going 22-for-44 on the year.

“This drummed up interest in some of the younger players in Manitowoc, which is part of the reason we moved,” Cisler said. “We want to be competing for the championship each season.”

Attendance to games is free, and Cisler says as a result fan support was above average in his estimation.

“Winning the championship will help us out,” Cisler said.

Amateur baseball: Manitowoc Bandits-Two Rivers partnership leads to first league title since 2011

Tom Dombeck, Manitowoc Herald Times ReporterPublished 5:38 p.m. CT Aug. 23, 2019

CLOSE

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

MANITOWOC - For the fifth time in eight seasons, Chris Cisler has helped guide a team to a Shoreland League championship, but this year's title is a little different.

Cisler managed the Manitowoc Bandits amateur baseball team this season as his former team, the Two Rivers Polar Bears, moved and assumed the Bandits name and facilities.

“It was a little bit like a homecoming for players like Mike Ruzek and Chris Casper,” Cisler said. “We built something special (in Two Rivers) and had to make the move to keep the core group together.”

Manitowoc defeated the Algoma Penguins in two games, taking Game 2 7-2 Aug. 16 after winning 4-2 two days earlier.

Manager Chris Cisler brought the Two Rivers Polar Bears over to become the Manitowoc Bandits and kept the winning ways, claiming the Bandits' first title since 2011. (Photo: Photo courtesy Chris Cisler)

The last championship for the Bandits came in 2011 when they won the North Eastern Wisconsin Baseball League, which included nearby rivals the Sheboygan A’s.

“Every championship is special,” Cisler said. “Each one is a group of guys who bonded together to complete their goals.”

Making the move a bit up the Lake Michigan shoreline easier was the fact Cisler brought the main group of players who have now reached the championship in seven of the past eight years.

Ruzek is a former Shoreland most valuable player while Casper won this season’s batting title, hitting exactly .500 after going 22-for-44 on the year.

“This drummed up interest in some of the younger players in Manitowoc, which is part of the reason we moved,” Cisler said. “We want to be competing for the championship each season.”

Attendance to games is free, and Cisler says as a result fan support was above average in his estimation.

“Winning the championship will help us out,” Cisler said.