2017 Team Recap: Maple City Magic

9 games through the 2011 season, the Mill Creek Minutemen folded. Within a day span, Alex Friedman purchased the team, came up with a roster, a home field and a new brand. Friedman came up with the Maple City Magic who would finish their first season with an 8-34 record.

After years of building the team from the ground up, the Maple City Magic became a legitimate threat in 2012 and made their World Series debut in 2013. Maple City dropped the 2013 World Series which started a downward trend for the team.

That all changed in 2016 upon the arrival of John Arndt. Maple City finished the 2016 season 17-1 but were swept away by the New Carlisle Newts in the World Series.

Just as Friedman had done in previous offseason's, he aggressively pursued big name free agents. Therefore once Anthony Rieff announced that he and his brother Austin would be joining Maple City, Friedman knew that his rebuild may finally be complete.

The news that the Rieff brothers would be signing with the Magic overshadowed the offseason signings of Caleb and Jared Jonkman.

The Jonkman brothers proved to be difference makers for this Maple City team who cruised to a 22-8 regular season record. Looking to find the right lineup, Friedman decided to move Caleb Jonkman up to the leadoff spot and have Wes Ellis and Zach Libertore follow him up.

The mid season change surely paid off as the Maple City lineup was in full swing come playoff time. Maple City had its toughest playoff matchup with the Hudson Lake Heat in the ALDS as they sweated out a 2-1 series win to advance to the ALCS.

The Magic dominated Jet City en route to a 3-0 ALCS sweep as the Magic won their 3rd American League Pennant.