Saranac Lake Surge
{{Short description|American independent professional baseball team}}
{{Use mdy dates |date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox baseball team
| name = Saranac Lake Surge
| logo = File:Saranac Lake Surge Main Logo.png
| cap_logo = File:Saranac Lake Surge Cap Logo.png
| logo_caption =
| league = Empire Professional Baseball League
| division =
| location = Saranac Lake, New York
| stadium = Saranac Lake Central Field
| founded = 2015
| folded =
| nickname =
| league_champs =2021
| series =
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| former_names = Old Orchard Beach Surge
| former_ballparks = The Old Orchard Beach Ball Park
| colors =
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| playoffs =
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| former_leagues ={{Plainlist|
- East Coast Baseball League (2015)
- North Country Baseball League (2015)
}}
| berths =
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| website = {{Official website|http://surgeprobaseball.com/}}
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}}
The Saranac Lake Surge are an independent American professional baseball team based in Saranac Lake, New York. The Surge play in the Empire Professional Baseball League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.
History
In 2015, the Surge was set to be a member of the East Coast Baseball League.{{Cite news |first=Anton |last=Joe |title=East Coast Baseball League News: Munoz, OOB, Road City |url=https://www.baseballessential.com/news/2015/02/12/east-coast-baseball-league-news/ |website=Baseball Essential |accessdate=2015-12-14 |language=en-US |date=February 12, 2015}} The team was to be managed by Scott "Skip" Nathanson. Prior to the planned start of the ECBL's first season the American teams, including the Surge, pulled out of the league to form the North Country Baseball League.{{Cite web |title=ECBL Folds, North Country Baseball League Formed |url=https://ballparkbiz.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/ecbl-folds-north-country-baseball-league-formed/ |accessdate=2015-12-14 |date=May 25, 2015 |website=Ballpark Business}} For its first four years of existence, the team was based in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
= 2015 season =
The Surge posted a record of 18–21 in the startup league.{{Cite web |title=NCBL Standings |url=http://www.northcountrybaseballleague.com/standings.html |website=North Country Baseball League |accessdate=2015-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829081709/http://www.northcountrybaseballleague.com/standings.html |archive-date=2015-08-29}} The Surge promoted ten players to the Atlantic League, the American Association, and the Frontier League.{{Cite web |title=NCBL League |url=http://www.northcountrybaseballleague.com/league.html |website=North Country Baseball League |accessdate=2015-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222172408/http://www.northcountrybaseballleague.com/league.html |archive-date=2015-12-22}}
= 2016 season =
The Surge were announced to play in the newly formed Empire Baseball League.{{Cite web |title=Empire League is a GO! {{!}} Empire League News |url=http://empireproleague.com/leaguenews/2015/12/12/we-are-a-go/ |website=Empire Pro League |accessdate=2015-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112848/http://empireproleague.com/leaguenews/2015/12/12/we-are-a-go/ |archive-date=2015-12-22}} On December 22, Skip Nathanson and Alex Markakis agreed to terms to return for the 2016 season.{{Cite web |title=Nathanson / Markakis agree to 2016 Terms {{!}} Empire League News |url=http://empireproleague.com/leaguenews/2015/12/22/nathanson-markakis-agree-to-2016-terms/ |website=Empire Pro League |accessdate=2015-12-22 |date=December 20, 2015}}
= 2019 season =
The Surge relocated to Saranac Lake, New York, for the 2019 season.{{cite news |last1=Reuter |first1=Lou |title=Pro baseball team Surges in |url=https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2019/05/pro-baseball-team-surges-in/ |accessdate=June 7, 2019 |work=Adirondack Daily Enterprise |publisher=Ogden Newspapers |date=May 4, 2019 |location=Saranac Lake, New York}}{{cite news |title=A home run for Saranac Lake |url=https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/opinion/editorials/2019/05/a-home-run-for-saranac-lake/ |accessdate=June 7, 2019 |work=Adirondack Daily Enterprise |publisher=Ogden Newspapers |date=May 8, 2019 |location=Saranac Lake, New York}}{{cite news |last1=Foley |first1=Martha |last2=Crowley |first2=Peter |title=Tri-Lakes Takes: Pro baseball "surges" into Saranac Lake |url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/38623/20190509/tri-lakes-takes-pro-baseball-surges-into-saranac-lake |accessdate=June 7, 2019 |work=North Country Public Radio (NCPR) |publisher=St. Lawrence University |date=May 9, 2019 |location=Canton, New York}}{{cite news |title=Chance to meet Surge baseball league official |url=https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2019/05/chance-to-meet-surge-baseball-league-official/ |accessdate=June 7, 2019 |work=Adirondack Daily Enterprise |publisher=Ogden Newspapers |date=May 14, 2019 |location=Saranac Lake, New York}} On July 4, 2019, they played their first game in Saranac Lake versus the Road City Explorers.{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Kelly |title=Saranac Lake Surge bring pro baseball to the Adirondacks |url=https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Saranac-Lake-Surge-bring-pro-baseball-to-the-Adirondacks-512230992.html |accessdate=July 27, 2019 |work=WCAX-TV |date=July 4, 2019 |language=english}}{{cite news |last1=Shea |first1=Kevin |title=Saranac Lakers embrace new red, white and blue baseball team |url=https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2019/07/saranac-lakers-embrace-new-red-white-and-blue-baseball-team/ |accessdate=July 27, 2019 |work=Adirondack Daily Enterprise |date=July 5, 2019}}
= 2020 season =
The Empire League did not hold a traditional season due to COVID-19.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
= 2021 season =
The Surge finished the regular season with a 27-20 record to capture the top seed in the playoffs and then defeated the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds, 3 games to 2, to win the Zacari Cup. Former Plattsburgh State Head Coach Kris Doorey managed the Surge. Pitcher Shawn McFeggan was named the "EBL Starter of the Year" and AJ Wright earned the "Matt Joyce Slugger of the Year". Jessel Soto earned the Zacari Cup Finals Most Valuable Player.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
= Players =
| class="wikitable" |
| Player
!Pos !Team !League |
|---|
| Yeicok Calderon
|OF |York Revolution |Atlantic League |
| Scott Heath
|LHP |Joplin Blasters |American Association |
| Tommy Lawrence
|RHP |River City Rascals |Frontier League |
| Eddie Medina
|RHP |Wichita Wingnuts |American Association |
| Ron Schreurs
|LHP |York Revolution |Atlantic League |
| Luis Pardo
|RHP |Wichita Wingnuts |American Association |
| Tucker White
|OF |Joplin Blasters |American Association |
| Joe Coyne
|C |Joplin Blasters |American Association |
| Kenny Kirshner
|OF |Schaumberg Bombers |Frontier League |
| Sam DiMatteo
|OF |Long Island Ducks |Atlantic League |
| Shawn McFeggan
|LHP |York Revolution |Atlantic League |
| Joey Lara
|RHP |York Revolution |Atlantic League |
| Ryan Dickt
|C |Southern Maryland Blue Crabs |Atlantic League |
| Kyle Robinson
|OF |New Jersey Jackals |Frontier League |
| Jordan Rhodes
|RHP |Empire State Greys |Frontier League |
| AJ Wright
|IF |Empire State Greys |Frontier League |