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United Shore Professional Baseball League Unveils Team Names, Logos, Scholarship at Utica Community Schools’ Eppler Junior High School

January 29th, 2016

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Utica, Mich. – November 23, 2015 – The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL), bringing the excitement, competition and family friendly entertainment of independent professional baseball to Metro Detroit in 2016, today unveiled official team names, logos and mascots for the league’s three initial ball clubs to play at Jimmy John’s Field in downtown Utica in 2016. The announcement took place at Utica’s Eppler Junior High School – in a special student assembly worthy of pre-game audio-visual spectacular.
Chosen via fan vote competition, USPBL teams named today are:

Utica Unicorns

One of the league’s two home teams to play at Jimmy John’s Field, the Utica Unicorns were developed to be loveable yet fierce.
Colors: Red, white and purple
Mascot: “Lancelot” the Unicorn

Eastside Diamond Hoppers

Named to represent a “fly” ball catching frog one might see capturing fish flies along Lake St. Clair, the league’s other home team playing at Jimmy John’s Field features the first-ever use of an orange and green color scheme in professional sports.
Colors: Orange and green
Mascot: “Ribbi” the Frog

Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers

The Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers were conceived to be the cross-town rival to the league’s two home teams, also to play at Jimmy John’s Field.
Colors: Blue, red and gold
Mascot: “Buzz” the Beaver

The league held a ‘name the team’ contest earlier this year with the Utica Unicorns generating the largest number of votes overall. All fans that voted for the Unicorns will be receiving official Utica Unicorns team merchandise as prizes from the league.

“This league and these teams will bring a professional baseball experience like no other to this region,” said Andy Appleby, league founder, president and chief executive officer of Rochester, Michigan-based General Sports and Entertainment. “The USPBL will be competitive, affordable, community-focused and tremendous fun for fans of every age.”

“Our school district greatly values the partnership we have established with Andy and the USPBL. We appreciate their support of our exemplary academic and athletic programs,” said Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns. “We look forward to the positive impact this continued partnership will have on our community.”

Gold Glove Performances

On Monday, the league also presented a check for $1,000 to the Utica Community Schools Superintendent’s Scholarship fund, awarded each year to approximately 40 graduating seniors. The recipients embody the spirit of reaching higher in UCS by excelling in academics, displaying leadership, serving the community and overcoming personal challenges.
During the special school assembly, Utica School District also named ten “Academic All-Stars.”

Recognized for their classroom achievements were:

7th Grade:

  • Nolan Dishman
  • Salma El-Mahrouky
  • Isabella Streiber

8th Grade:

  • Stefan Habba
  • Gabrielle Smith
  • Kayla Thorne

9th Grade:

  • Adriana Hannan
  • Mone’ Knowles
  • Nicholas Roberts
  • Jacob Rumin

The unveiling event took place in the shadow of the $12 million state-of-the art Jimmy John’s Field, located along M-59 in Utica, currently under construction, and featured a range of dignitaries including: Mark Hackel, county executive of Macomb County and Jacqueline K. Noonan, mayor of Utica.

About A League of its Own

General Sports and Entertainment announced this past summer the creation of the United Shore Professional Baseball League – which will provide a fun, exciting, family-friendly experience, showcasing America’s pastime and featuring top baseball prospects for fans of all ages. League Opening Day is Memorial Day 2016.