Sussex County Miners

The Sussex County Miners are a professional independent league baseball team based in the Augusta section of Frankford Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States.[2] The Miners are members of the Can-Am Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They were originally members of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (Can-Am League) and joined for the 2015 season. They joined the Frontier League for the 2020 season when it absorbed the Can-Am League.

Sussex County Miners
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (2020-present) (Can-Am Division)
LocationAugusta, New Jersey
BallparkSkylands Stadium
Year founded2015
League championships1: (2018)
Division championships2: (2018, 2019)
ColorsBlack, gold, white
     
MascotHerbie the Miner
Playoff berths
3
2017
2018
2019
OwnershipAl Dorso
ManagerBobby Jones
General ManagerJustin Ferrarella[1]
MediaNew Jersey Herald
Websitesussexcountyminers.com

The Miners' home stadium is Skylands Stadium, in Augusta near the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

The team is owned by Sussex Professional Baseball, LLC. The Miners' mascot is Herbie the Miner.

History of professional baseball in Sussex County

Skylands Stadium, originally called Skylands Park, opened in 1994. The stadium was built for the relocating Glens Falls Redbirds, who at the time were the St. Louis Cardinals' New York–Penn League affiliate and were playing in Glens Falls, New York at East Field. The team was relocating for the second time in as many years after playing in Hamilton, Ontario in 1992.

The team became known as the New Jersey Cardinals after moving to Sussex County and played there until 2005. Following the season, the Cardinals announced they were relocating their New York–Penn League affiliate to University Park, Pennsylvania, where it became known as the State College Spikes.[3]

Skylands Stadium

The Can-Am League announced shortly after the Cardinals' move was made official that they would be expanding for the 2006 season and adding a team in Sussex County. Owned by the same ownership group that held the New Jersey Jackals, the new team was named the Sussex Skyhawks after a contest where fans submitted names. The Skyhawks won the league championship in 2008,[4] but folded in 2010.[5]

Skylands Park was also a temporary home for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in their inaugural season; the Bears played their first 20 home games there while Riverfront Stadium in Newark was being built.

In the 2017 season, the Miners qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. However, they got swept 3-0 in the opening round by the eventual champions, the Quebec Capitales. The following season, the Miners won their first division title, placing first in the league. On September 9, 2018, the Miners defeated the Trois-Rivières Aigles 3-2 in the game and won the opening round series 3-2 to advance to their first championship round in franchise history. In addition, they defeated the Quebec Capitales 3-1 in the championship series to earn their first league championship.

Season-by-season records
Sussex County Miners (2015–present)
Season Record (place) Win % Playoffs
2015 (6 Teams)38–59 (6).392Did not qualify
2016 (6 Teams)39–61 (7).390Did not qualify
2017 (6 Teams)45–54 (4).455Lost Opening Round vs. Quebec Capitales 3–0
2018 (6 Teams)63–38 (1).624Won Opening Round vs. Trois-Rivières Aigles 3–2
Won Championship vs. Quebec Capitales 3–1
2019 (6 Teams)61–33 (1).649Won Opening Round vs. Rockland Boulders 3–1
Lost Championship vs. New Jersey Jackals 3–1
2020 (14 Teams)——Season cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 (14 Teams)49–46 (2).516Did not qualify
Totals295–291.504—

Current Roster
Sussex County Miners roster
Active (24-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 25 Mike Castellani
  • -- Conner Dand
  • 24 Alex Demchak
  • 44 Max Herrmann
  • -- Gunnar Kines
  • 20 Robert Klinchock
  •  3 Billy Layne Jr.
  •  6 Tyler Luneke
  • 32 Dwayne Marshall
  • 18 Michael Mediavilla
  • 16 Jalen Miller Sr.
  • -- Jack Ramezzana
  •  4 Ramsey Romano
  •  8 Cesar Rosado
  • 30 Alexander Vargas
  • 19 Justin Watts
  • 10 Danny Zardon


Utility players

  • -- Dakota McFadden
  

Catchers

  •  1 Nick Garland
  • 17 Daniel Herrera

Infielders

  • 28 Audy Ciriaco
  • 23 Cito Culver
  • 21 Todd Frazier ‡
  • 27 Kaleo Johnson
  •  2 Nilo Rijo ‡
  • 13 Joey Rose
  • -- Jake Vieth ‡

Outfielders

  • -- Omar Carrizales ‡
  • 12 Trevin Esquerra
  • 22 Martin Figueroa
  •  9 LT Struble
  • 11 Chuck Taylor
  

Manager

Coaches

  • 14 Ryan Ellis (Assistant)
  • 26 Vladimir Fontalvo Jr. (Hitting)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated December 14, 2021
 Transactions

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Sussex County Miners Front Office". Sussex County Miners. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. "The Sussex County MINERS to Play at – Skylands Stadium". SkylandsStadium.
  3. "Introducing the Sussex County Miners, N.J.'s newest pro baseball team". NJ.com.
  4. "CanAmLeague.com – Official Website of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball". canamleague.com.
  5. "CanAmLeague.com – Official Website of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball". canamleague.com.
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