Riverdogs to play in Mon-Clair League in 2016

Mon-Clair League President Don Barton has announced the addition of the Charleston Riverdogs to their 2016 league lineup.

The Riverdogs will join the St. Louis Spikes, St. Louis Printers, Edwardsville Mavericks and Fairview Heights Redbirds in the St. Clair Division. The Monroe Division consists of the Waterloo Millers, Valmeyer Lakers, Belleville Rockies, Columbia Saints and the Millstadt Green Machine.

The Riverdogs will play each team in St. Clair Division a home and away doubleheader, and each team in Monroe Division a single doubleheader. Most of the Riverdogs' home games will be played at Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson, Mo. Some will be played at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, Mo.

The Mon-Clair league is celebrating its 50th year in existence in 2016. The MCL prides itself on quality level baseball. The league consists mostly of current and ex-college players, as well as many ex-professional players. The Mon-Clair league has the reputation of being one of the most competitive amateur leagues in the Midwest. The regular season starts on May 22 and concludes with league playoffs in early August.

"The Riverdogs are known for their competiveness, their facilities and just an overall good organization, as well as a desire to play baseball at a high level," Barton said. "It was an easy decision to adopt the Riverdogs into our league."

The Riverdogs are comprised of college level players from all over southeast Missouri and some from the St. Louis area. Players are all college-age and older. The Riverdogs finished their 2015 season with a record of 17-9.

"We look forward to competing in the tough Mon-Clair league," Riverdogs coach Paul Sander said. "It is a first class baseball league with a history of 50 years of quality baseball. The Riverdogs played some of the league teams in non-league play the past three summers and look forward to league play in 2016."