The 97th season of Chippewa River Baseball is set to open on Saturday April 26, 2025 with a matchup between the Bloomer Woodticks and the Jim Falls Sturgeons at Grudem Field. With 110 games played throughout the season, teams will have a collection of doubleheaders, two, 7-inning games, and single 9-inning games.
Other Notable Schedule Dates
- Sunday, July 6th – CRBL All-Star Game hosted by the Tilden Tigers at Casper Park, 2 pm (Hall of Fame Classes of 2025 to be honored)
- Wednesday, July 30th – Wildcard Wednesday
- Saturday, August 2nd – Championship Saturday
The 2025 season saw the Eau Claire Rivermen fold and were replaced by the Whitehall Whitetails to keep the South Division at six teams.
Both the Tilden Tigers and Osseo Merchants claimed back-to-back titles a season ago, Tigers in the North division and Merchants in the South division. The Merchants hoisted the best league record at 18-2, but lost 6-5 on Wildcard Wednesday to the Eau Claire Cavaliers. The Tigers dropped their wildcard matchup to the Eau Claire Bears 8-4. The Cavs went onto win their first CRBL championship defeating the Eau Claire Bears 6-4 on August 3, 2024 at Cinder City Park.
Tilden and Osseo will continue to be the teams to beat in the North and South Divisions. Both Eau Claire teams, Bears and Cavaliers, should challenge Osseo for the South title while Cadott, Chippewa and Jim Falls may have the firepower to dethrone Tilden. Bloomer looks to improve on their one win season from a year ago. Augusta and Beef River will have a large hill to climb in the ultra competitive South division.
A noteable event took place during the winter meetings of the league. Andy Niese, longtime secretary and treasurer of the CRBL, stepped down after 28 years serving the league. Niese is widely known for his CRBL record book and beginning the CRBL Hall of Fame. He also managed the Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks, before moving the team to Eau Claire and renaming them the Eau Claire Rivermen in 2017.