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CornBelters Move To College Summer League

Normal CornBelters
Eric Stock
/
WGLT
Normal CornBelters President Steve Malliet (l) introduces new team owners Rick DeStefane (c) and Matt Stembridge.

The Normal CornBelters are hoping a move from professional to collegiate ball will reduce the minor baseball team's costs and enable it to provide a better fan experience.
The team's new owners are moving the franchise to the Prospect League and will play a reduced 60-game schedule next season.

Corn Crib
Credit Eric Stock / WGLT
/
WGLT
Prospect League Commissioner Dennis Bastein said the Corn Crib is the "Yankee Stadium of summer league baseball."

The CornBelters had played in the Frontier League since the team’s inception in 2010.

Rick DeStafane is the new principal owner. He already owns the league’s Hannibal Hoots franchise.

“The costs in the Frontier League are much greater than they are in the Prospect League,” DeStefane said. “Our expenses are going to be down considerably, so we won’t have to have as many home games to break even or (have) a positive bottom line.

The CornBelters had played a 96-game schedule in the Frontier League, which includes 48 home dates.  

The ownership group also includes Hoots general manager Matt Stembridge and Jimmy Loutah, who owns the Prospect League’s Quincy Gems. They purchased the CornBelters from a group of about 20 investors.

Team President Steve Malliet said the new owners will be able to invest more in promotions to improve the fan experience.

“This is a long time partnership coming in with great resources to be able to get things done that maybe we just couldn’t get to,” Malliet said. “Although we’ve had a lot of good times here, I think this group represents the stability the CornBelters need for many years to come.”

Malliet said the franchise will save about $200,000 a year in payroll and workers’ compensation costs by using college players.

The Prospect League franchises in Springfield, Quincy, Danville and Terre Haute, Indiana.

Commissioner Dennis Bastein said the league has 11 teams with plans to add a 12th franchise in the coming weeks.

He referred to the CornBelters’ home the Corn Crib as the “Yankee Stadium of summer league baseball.”

The CornBelters average 1,857 fans per game last season, which ranked 10th in the 12-team Frontier League. The team posted a 48-47 record. 

The owners said Malliet will stay with the franchise. 

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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