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The River Raisin Conference
began in 1976 when varsity baseball coaches Brian Cousino of Ida and Darrell Polter of Summerfield wanted to find a way to
generate more interest in their baseball programs. The two coaches proposed the idea of a summer baseball league for
13-18 year-olds. Both coaches had their players playing in the Connie Mack summer league in Monroe during the '74 and
'75 seasons, but they wanted a league that fit the needs of their players. The league began its first year of play in '76,
with four schools contributing teams to that inaugural season: Ida, Mason, Summerfield and Whiteford.
During the early years, the league went from two age groups
(13/14, 15-17), to three age groups (12/13, 14/15, 16/17), finally settling on the present age groupings (13/14, 15-19) in
the early 1980s.
The River Raisin Conference moniker
is derived from a former high school league in the area (operating from 1959 until 1973) that included Adrian CC, Adrian Madison,
Britton, Boysville, Deerfield, Erie Mason, Ida, Sand Creek, Summerfield, and Whiteford as member schools.
Below is a timeline of events that have happened
in the RRC since 1976.
1976 - RRC formed by baseball coaches Brian Cousino
of Ida and Darrell Polter of Summerfield. Mason wins first-ever RRC championship. The title game was held at Keeney
field, where it would be held for the next four years.
1979 - RRC splits into American and National divisions. Dundee joins
the RRC, expanding the league to five teams. They win the National Division championship, their only title to date.
1980 -
RRC drops American and National divisions.
1981 - RRC breaks into three age brackets: 12/13, 14/15, 16/17.
Mason wins the title in both the 12/13 league and the 14/15 league.
1983 - RRC returns to 13/14 and 15-18 age bracketing, the
same bracketing that is still used today.
1988 - Custer joins the RRC.
1990 - Maybee joins the RRC
1996 -
Corey Shipe of Maybee takes over commissioner's duties; league split into American and National divisions for one season.
1997 -
Kevin Stubleski of Custer named commissioner of RRC. Rockwood joins RRC. Dundee, Summerfield, Whiteford leave RRC.
Maybee wins title thanks to heroics of Ben Lovell. Lovell would later go on to play professional baseball.
1998 -
RRC drops end-of-season playoff format and all-star game for one season.
1999 - Jeremy Potter named commissioner of RRC. Carleton,
South Rockwood join RRC. 10 teams representing 6 programs invlolved in the RRC, its lowest membership since the early '80s.
2000
-Monroe, Frenchtown join RRC. Dundee, Summerfield, Whiteford re-join RRC. Rockwood leaves RRC.
2001 - RRC splits
into Accelerated and Recreation leagues. River Raisin tournament team formed to play in Bowling Green tournament.
2004 -
Bedford joins RRC for two seasons. Mason wins their 12th RRC championship, the mostby any RRC member team.
2005 -
Tecumseh joins RRC for one season. RRC enjoys its largest membership ever, 23 teams representing 14 programs. South Rockwood leaves RRC at the end of the season.
2006 - RRC tournament team takes 1st place at South Farmington
tournament, beating league-mate Custer in the finals.
2007 - RRC Accelerated league makes agreement to play Bedford's 3B
baseball teams in a 12-game schedule, going 11-1 against Bedford 3B teams. RRC hosts first tournament with teams from outside
the league.
2008 - Bedford, Tecumseh re-join
RRC. RRC Tournament team (renamed the Southern Michigan Timberwolves as part of a sponsorship agreement) wins its own
tournament and finishes 2nd at Bowling Green.
