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In this series, we will be taking a look at each of the teams that make up the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Even though these teams won’t be playing any baseball this summer, hopefully by reading about them you can pick out the team that you want to root for in 2021, or learn more about the opponents your team will be facing if you already have a favorite. Perhaps you can attend some road games at some other GLSCL locations after learning about what they’re up to. The first team we’re going to look at is the Grand Lake Mariners.

The Mariners are the second oldest team in the league – starting in the 1990 season. A baseball fanatic named Dave wanted to see a team in his native town of Celina and wrote a letter to the GLSCL. Lou Laslo was the commissioner at the time, and after visiting Celina, he later approved the franchise. The Grand Lake Mariners team name is based on being on the shores of Grand Lake St. Mary’s. The GLSCL at the time was just three years old and had seven other members. The only one of those teams that are still active to this day is the Lima Locos. The Mariners have won three league titles – in 1994, 1997, and 2006. Recently in 2017, they were the runners-up. They play at Montgomery Field in Celina.

Mariners General Manager John Dorner has coached high school baseball for over 30 years – enjoying the daily challenges of preparing his team to be successful. At St. Henry High School, he helped guide their teams to Division IV state titles in 1999 and 2000, a Division III state title in 2003, and a 544-253 overall record. Yet working in the front office side as the General Manager for the Mariners since 2019 has been a nice change of pace for him. “It has allowed me to work with and get to know collegiate baseball players - and I have really enjoyed that,” Dorner says. “It has also allowed me to enjoy interacting with kids and fans during our games.”

The Mariners had several promotional events lined up for their home games that Dorner believes fans would have enjoyed. He’s keeping them on their toes though, by saying “they’ll just have to wait another year to see what we roll out in 2021.” On the field, Dorner thinks the Mariners would have been very competitive this season. He states that fans can expect “a family-friendly environment with fun activities and raffle drawings all game long.  The game itself is usually very competitive and a joy to follow.”

Dorner and the rest of the Mariner Family wish the best health for all of their fans in this pandemic era and vow to put together another enjoyable season with many surprises in 2021.