Dubois County Bombers
Encyclopedia
The Dubois County Bombers are a collegiate summer league baseball
team located in Huntingburg, Indiana
. The team plays in the Prospect League
, which their former league, the NCAA sanctioned Central Illinois Collegiate League
, was absorbed into.
The Bombers were formed in 1998 by a group of investors led by Albany, NY-based financial software consultant John Bigness as the Bluff City Bombers, based in Alton, Illinois
and playing at Lloyd Hopkins Field, the Bombers were immediate contenders; in their inaugural season of 1998, the Bombers finished second place in the Western Division and wrapped up the #3 seed in the CICL Tournament, losing to the fifth-seeded Decatur Blues in the first round. The next year, the Bombers again finished second in the West and again wrapped up a playoff berth (this time as the #2 seed. After defeating the Springfield Rifles 7-6 in the first round, the Bombers lost to the Twin City Stars
and later the Quincy Gems
in the following round, thus being eliminated.
In their following four seasons, they won the Western Division title and were CICL Runners-Up, losing to the Danville Dans
in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and the Decatur Blues in 2002, respectively. In 2004, the Bombers finally won the CICL Championship, defeating the Twin City Stars
two games to none in the Championship Series.
The next year, the Bombers' owners moved the team to Dubois County where they would play their home games at League Stadium. In their first year in Dubois County, the Bombers once again made it to the Championship Series, losing to the Quincy Gems
two games to none. The following season, the Bombers lost to the eventual CICL champion Twin City Stars two games to one in the Semifinal series, marking the first time in team history that the Bombers failed to make the championship series. However, the next year would be a return to form; after winning the regular season title, the Bombers won their second CICL title, defeating the Dupage Dragons
5-2 in the championship game. In 2008 (the CICL's final season), the Bombers finished in second place in the CICL; however, since the playoffs reverted to a two-half format, the Bombers failed to make the playoffs that year, the first where they have failed to do so.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team located in Huntingburg, Indiana
Huntingburg, Indiana
-Notable people:* Baseball pitcher Alex Graman was born in Huntingburg.* Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mitch Stetter was born and raised in Huntingburg.* Retired professional basketball player Don Buse was born in Huntingburg.* Gordon St...
. The team plays in the Prospect League
Prospect League
The Prospect League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. Players are not paid so as to maintain their college eligibility...
, which their former league, the NCAA sanctioned Central Illinois Collegiate League
Central Illinois Collegiate League
The CICL was a collegiate wooden bat summer baseball league. It was composed of five teams from Illinois and Indiana.The CICL was founded in 1963 as a charter member of National Collegiate Athletic Association certified summer baseball...
, was absorbed into.
The Bombers were formed in 1998 by a group of investors led by Albany, NY-based financial software consultant John Bigness as the Bluff City Bombers, based in Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
and playing at Lloyd Hopkins Field, the Bombers were immediate contenders; in their inaugural season of 1998, the Bombers finished second place in the Western Division and wrapped up the #3 seed in the CICL Tournament, losing to the fifth-seeded Decatur Blues in the first round. The next year, the Bombers again finished second in the West and again wrapped up a playoff berth (this time as the #2 seed. After defeating the Springfield Rifles 7-6 in the first round, the Bombers lost to the Twin City Stars
Twin City Stars
The Twin City Stars was a Central Illinois Collegiate League baseball team located in Bloomington, Illinois. The Stars' homefield was on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. The team was founded in 1982 by Illinois State University Hall of Fame Coach Buford "Duffy" Bass and Eldon Warfield....
and later the Quincy Gems
Quincy Gems
The Quincy Gems are a collegiate summer league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois. The team plays in the Prospect League, which absorbed their former league, the Central Illinois Collegiate League.Records- Records :CareerGames...
in the following round, thus being eliminated.
In their following four seasons, they won the Western Division title and were CICL Runners-Up, losing to the Danville Dans
Danville Dans
The Danville Dans are a collegiate summer league baseball team located in Danville, Illinois. The team plays in the Prospect League, which their former league, the NCAA sanctioned Central Illinois Collegiate League, was absorbed into....
in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and the Decatur Blues in 2002, respectively. In 2004, the Bombers finally won the CICL Championship, defeating the Twin City Stars
Twin City Stars
The Twin City Stars was a Central Illinois Collegiate League baseball team located in Bloomington, Illinois. The Stars' homefield was on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. The team was founded in 1982 by Illinois State University Hall of Fame Coach Buford "Duffy" Bass and Eldon Warfield....
two games to none in the Championship Series.
The next year, the Bombers' owners moved the team to Dubois County where they would play their home games at League Stadium. In their first year in Dubois County, the Bombers once again made it to the Championship Series, losing to the Quincy Gems
Quincy Gems
The Quincy Gems are a collegiate summer league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois. The team plays in the Prospect League, which absorbed their former league, the Central Illinois Collegiate League.Records- Records :CareerGames...
two games to none. The following season, the Bombers lost to the eventual CICL champion Twin City Stars two games to one in the Semifinal series, marking the first time in team history that the Bombers failed to make the championship series. However, the next year would be a return to form; after winning the regular season title, the Bombers won their second CICL title, defeating the Dupage Dragons
Dupage Dragons
The DuPage Dragons are a collegiate summer league baseball team located in Lisle, Illinois. The team plays in the Prospect League, which their former league, the NCAA sanctioned Central Illinois Collegiate League, was absorbed into...
5-2 in the championship game. In 2008 (the CICL's final season), the Bombers finished in second place in the CICL; however, since the playoffs reverted to a two-half format, the Bombers failed to make the playoffs that year, the first where they have failed to do so.