Thus far, the second season in Expedition League history has been more competitive than ever before. Currently, nearly every team in the Lewis Division is in the running for a playoff spot in the second half, with Badlands locking down the first spot for the Divisional round on August 7th. Here is a recap of the first half for all five teams!

Lewis Division

1: Badlands Big Sticks (32-17, 9-8 2nd Half) (Clinched 1st Half Playoff Berth)

Ever since the end of the 2018 season in which the Big Sticks fell in the EL championship series to West Nebraska, Hayden Pewitt's squad has been on a mission. Badlands has already wrapped up a playoff berth for 2019 after winning the Lewis Division in the first half. Offense has been the powerhouse leading the Big Sticks through 49 games this far. Nine hitters on the roster have batting averages above .300, including All Star players Bryson Ford and Kaimama Souza Paaluhi, with Ford leading the team at .390. Slugger Connor Vancleave owns the team lead with 10 home runs and 14 doubles, another essential part of the Big Sticks offensive attack. As a team, badlands ranks first in hits, extra base hits, batting average, home runs, and RBI's. On pitching side of things, Gonzaga product Tyler Chipman​ has been the number one starter for Pewitt this year. The righty possesses a 5-2 record with a 5.44 ERA, hurling 39.2 innings on the bump and striking out 32. Badlands will host the Divisional Round in Dickinson, ND in August, but are still striving to catch the Pioneers for the overall best record in the EL, which, if the Big Sticks can reach, would solidify home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

2: Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (30-17, 14-3 2nd Half) (Currently Leads 2nd Half Playoff Standings) 

There has not been a team in the EL more hot that Souris Valley in the second half of the season. So far through 17 games, head coach Corey Thompson has paced the Minot team to a 14-3 record, 3.5 games up on Pierre for the final playoff berth. Like Badlands, Souris Valley is also on a mission after being bested by the Big Sticks last season in the Divisional Round. Fresh off of winning 3 out of 4 from Western Nebraska, Souris Valley is led offensively by arguably one of the top hitters in all of the league in Chauncey Callier, who leads the league with 20 doubles, and leads the team in hits with 66 and RBI's with 35. Additionally, Crews Taylor has paced the squad with seven home runs and 13 stolen bases. Pitching for the Sabre Dogs has also helped Souris Valley in a massive way too. Ace Bradley Spooner is the only player in the EL with at least four wins and four saves. Spooner is 4-0, with a 0.93 ERA, including two complete game shutouts. Spooner also threw the first no hitter in EL history on July 5th in a 15-0 win over Wheat City. Souris Valley looks to be in prime contention to return to the playoffs if they are able to continue this stretch moving forward.

3: Pierre Trappers (24-22, 10-6 2nd Half) (Currently 2nd in Playoff Standings, 3.5 GB SVS)

Nine games into the 2019 season, Tanner Neale's Trappers looked to be in serious trouble. A 2-7 mark left Pierre wondering if this would be a long season. Fast forward to the all star break, and Pierre has re righted the ship to race out to a 24-22 record, 22-15 after the tough start. In the second half of the season, the Trappers have seen a nine game win streak and shut performances by many players help propel them along the way. Two all stars, ​Michael Herrera and Zane Phelps have led the charge both offensively and defensively for Pierre, with Phelps hitting for the cycle in a win over the Pioneers last Wednesday. Both carry averages above .300 with Herrera leading the league in opposite field hits. Another juggernaut at the plate is Nick Grossman. ​Since coming to the Capital City, the outfielder leads the team with a .381 average, as well as 24 RBI and 24 runs scored. Pitching for Pierre has also been a great strength, especially the starters. Returning southpaw ​Jackson Back stands at 4-0, rivaling Spooner for the best arm in the Lewis Division with a 1.95 ERA and 46 innings pitched. Other aces Dominic Parkhurst and Joey Cardamon own three wins a piece, and all star ​Kyle Nordby has four. The Trappers will have the advantage down the stretch with 11 of their last 18 games at home, but the most important series of the year will be a four game trip to Minot to take on the Sabre Dogs to begin August. 

4: Hub City Hotshots (20-26, 7-11 2nd Half) (Currently 3rd in Playoff Standings, 7.5 GB SVS)

​For Hub City, 2019 has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. The Hot Shots started out the year strong, going 5-2 before falling to under .500 about midway through June. Hub City is spearheaded by dual threat player Jake Anderson, leading the charge with a .371 batting average and 19 doubles. Anderson also has 31 RBI's and is one of the best defensive players in all of the Expedition League. Minnesota State - Mankato product Rob Meidl ​has also produced from behind the plate, recording 34 base hits and nothing six doubles to compliment four home runs. Landon Cody has been the most consistent pitcher for Hub City this season. Currently, the righty owns a 3-4 record with a more than respectable ERA of 2.48 in eight starts. Of those eight starts, four have gone at least seven innings deep. Hub City will look to improve upon their record out of the all star break, still fighting for that elusive playoff berth three weeks from now. 

5: Wheat City Whiskey Jacks (8-40, 2-17 2nd Half) (Currently 4th in Playoff Standings, 13 GB SVS)

In their inaugural season, Wheat City has seen their share of growing pains for 2019. However, the Whiskey Jacks were able to grit out a doubleheader victory over the Hub City Hotshots last week, gaining momentum heading into the all star break. Despite the record, head coach Grant Hamilton has many solid players to insert into his lineup each and every day. Second baseman Kody Kehl is a player every team in the league would like to have, as the second baseman has recorded 50 hits en route to a .301 average, 19 RBI, and has also made various appearances on the mound for Wheat City. Kehl also has stolen 13 bases for the Whiskey Jacks in 2019. For pitching, both Colton Charnholm and Mitch Lyall have picked up a victory and have led the charge on the mound. In fact, four separate pitchers for What City have an ERA of under 3.00, giving the Whiskey Jacks much promise for the final two weeks of the season as they look to finish strong in their first year as an EL franchise. 

​2nd Half Standings (as of 7/15/19)

1: Souris Valley (14-3)

2: Pierre (10-6)

3: Badlands (9-8)

4: Hub City (7-11)

5: Wheat City (2-17)

Key Series: PTR @ BBS (7/19-7/21), SVS @ WNP (7/18-7/21) HCH @ PTR (7/23-7/24), PTR @ SVS (8/1-8/4)