tommy thompson great falls voyagers

TOMMY THOMPSON SIGNS THREE YEAR AGREEMENT TO BECOME MANAGER OF THE GREAT FALLS VOYAGERS

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The Great Falls Voyagers are happy to announce that Tommy Thompson has been signed to an agreement to manage the team for the next three seasons. “I am extremely excited to be back in baseball, and I appreciate the opportunity that the Voyagers have given me,” said Voyagers Manager Tommy

The Great Falls Voyagers are happy to announce that Tommy Thompson has been signed to an agreement to manage the team for the next three seasons.

“I am extremely excited to be back in baseball, and I appreciate the opportunity that the Voyagers have given me,” said Voyagers Manager Tommy Thompson, “I consider this an opportunity of a lifetime to manage and help develop players to reach their goals of getting signed by a Major League team.”

This will be Thompson’s second stint as Manager for the Voyagers. His first time in Great Falls was during the 2016 season. During that season, he led the Voyagers to an impressive 47-28 record. He also managed a few notable names that have since made it to the Major’s. Those players were Aaron Bummer, Bernardo Flores, and Matt Foster.

“My wife and I are excited to come back to Great Falls and help spread the word about baseball in this wonderful community,” said Thompson.

He has held various roles with the Chicago White Sox farm system over the years in helping develop players from 2011-2020.

“We are so excited to have Tommy back as our manager for the 2021 season,” said Scott Reasoner, President of the Great Falls Voyagers, “his love for the game and his care to help our players develop is second to none. We are very lucky to have him in our dugout moving forward!”

The Voyagers first home game of the season is schedule for Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. Season tickets, 10 packs, and group outings are currently on sale. More information on single game tickets and promotions will be released as we get closer to the season. Please visit www.gfvoyagers.com or call us at 406-452-5311 for the most up to date information.

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The Manager's Office - Ep. 5 Tommy Thompson

Great Falls Voyagers looking toward the future

GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls Voyagers won the Pioneer League in 2018 - but a lot can happen in three years. They had always been affiliated with the Chicago White Sox until this year, when the Pioneer League went independent, putting a lot more responsibility on the Voyagers' staff, including making all roster moves and transactions, and it didn’t look promising at the beginning of the season, when the Voyagers started 0-9.

To make things worse, the losing streak was capped off by a 31-11 demolition at the hands of the Ogden Raptors. The second half of the season was a much different story and even though they missed the playoffs, everyone at Centene Stadium is expecting next year to be a big one for Great Falls.

There was a lot of uncertainty going into the year with added responsibilities, new additions to the game such as extra-inning home run derbies, and worries of Covid, but the season is almost completely in the rear-view mirror and management is looking to the future. Team president Scott Reasoner said they accomplished a lot this year despite the record and hope to build on it for next year and the goals they have set for themselves.

“We want to keep working on having better teams not just here but across the league,” Reasoner said. “Things were a little crazy at the start of the year with a lot of new things but if you came to a game, you saw baseball improve here and across the Pioneer League, especially in July and August.”

Being independent means a lot of the roster is younger and not as experienced as players sent down from the White Sox in years past, but manager Tommy Thompson says he saw big improvements from the team during the second half of the season and knows he’ll have most of them back next year to make a playoff push.

“Every day we got better, even after losing the nine games, we learned from mistakes and the team really came together. I like the nucleus of the guys we got and we’re bringing a lot of them back next year,” Thompson said.

Tavis Brunson is one of those returning players and says he was able to learn a lot in his first year in independent league. He says next year’s Voyagers are going to be dangerous because of the chemistry they were able to put together this year and how they finished the season.

“It was an adjustment for sure, being out in the west part of the country and playing independent but it was a great time playing with them. Chemistry is really good here and it helps a lot as well as having guys help you through the struggle,” Brunson said.

Next year seems way down the road for baseball fans, but the Voyagers are looking forward to it and will be ready for what the Pioneer League has to offer them.

The Voyagers finish their season later this week in Idaho Falls against the Chukars.

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Great Falls Voyagers roster begins to fill as season approaches

GREAT FALLS — With the Pioneer League baseball season set to begin in a little more than a month, teams have been busy filling out rosters on their own now that the league is no longer affiliated with Major League Baseball.

Manager Tommy Thompson and the Great Falls Voyagers announced their first signing in late March with the addition of infielder Chris Caffrey, and now the roster is officially up to 10 players. The full roster will have anywhere from 22 to 26 players, but Thompson expects more deals to be done soon.

"It's amazing how many young men want to play professional baseball," Thompson said. "And the videos I've been getting, the emails, the texts, the phone calls ... it's been overwhelming."

Going mostly off of videos and references from scouts and coaches around baseball, Thompson said the process is a far cry from getting players assigned by the Chicago White Sox. But Thompson has done this before, in 2009 when he managed Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League.

The key is getting guys who are versatile. Caffrey plays the corner infield spots, outfielder Jason Nall will bring a power bat into the lineup, and Bronx, New York, middle infielder Mike Howard brings speed. Thompson said the team has five pitchers, all right-handers, at the moment.

"We got the nucleus of a little infield. And what a lot of these guys are, it's a good thing too, are utility (players)," he said. "Some can play first base, some can play outfield, second and short, short and third. So there's some versatility I think you need to have with a smaller roster."

Building a roster isn’t the only thing Thompson is doing to prepare for the season. He’s also started a licensed peanut brittle business, which will be available at Centene Stadium concession stands this summer.

"My mom had a great recipe. And you know what, I shared it with some people always around Thanksgiving, Christmas and I met a lady here. She said this, 'I've been in business 30 years, this is the best peanut brittle ever, you need to sell it,'" Thompson said.

The Voyagers' home opener is on May 26 against the Ogden Raptors.

Results from around the state

PRO BASEBALL: Paddleheads steamroll Voyagers to end first half

Tommy Thompson was optimistic Sunday afternoon, even though his Great Falls Voyagers got their heads handed to them – literally – by the Missoula Paddleheads 21-8 as the two teams wrapped up the first half of the Pioneer League's North Division season at Centene Stadium.

The game was stopped for a lightning delay in the top of the eighth inning, but instead of trying for a miracle comeback, Thompson talked with his Missoula counterpart, Michael Schlact, and the umpiring crew, and agreed to call the game off and head for home.

It wasn't the only lightning the Voyagers (27-20) saw, as the Paddleheads (35-12) racked up 30 base hits, including five dingers. Jayson Newman hammered a pair of long ones to increase his league-leading total to 20, and Lamer Sparks - who has feasted on Voyagers pitching since day one – also hit two big flies. The one he swatted in Missoula's six-run second came with rye bread, mustard, grand salami and Grandma.

There is just no way to make a 21-8 shelling sound or even look rosy ... and this reporter isn't even going to try. And neither would Thompson.

He didn't sugar-coat it, either: "We're playing the best team in the league, and they flat-out kicked our (insert word of your choice here). Not to take anything away from Missoula, they are the best team in the league, and they kicked our (repeat word-insert process).

"We have to be better. We played better against them than any other team, but we have to learn from this. We have tonight off. We have Monday off. We start a new season, the second half, Tuesday in Billings. We need to regroup and come back to who we are. And I think we're going to be okay."

Missoula's lineup was tantamount to a Pioneer League Murderer's Row: Nick Gatewood went 6-for-6 and drove in two. Sparks was 5-for-7 with EIGHT RBI, and Newman was 4-for-4 and drove in four. Even leadoff man Brandon Riley had two driven in and five base hits. He also had the first of the Paddleheads' five bye-bye blasts.

Michael Deeb had three of the Voyagers 10 hits – including two doubles – and pushed a couple of runs across. Great Falls scored four times in the last of the eighth, doubling their score. It wasn't anywhere near enough.

Connor Spear (0-1), making his first start, took this one for the team. Two and a third innings. Eleven hits, 12 runs, all earned, only two walks and one strikeout. Three of those base hits left the friendly confines of Centene Stadium. He was the first of five pitchers – four rostered hurlers and a position player (Myles McKisic).

Missoula starter Domingo Pena took a line drive off his hand with two out in the fifth and had to come out of the game, falling short of qualifying for the win. That went to reliever Nate Boyle (1-0), who worked 1⅓.

The Voyagers open the second half of the season Tuesday night at 6:35 at Dehler Park against the Billings Mustangs.

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Voyagers Come From Behind To Take Game One Versus Idaho Falls

(Great Falls, MT)— The Great Falls Voyagers (4-3) started a big six game series on Tuesday night versus the Idaho Falls Chukars (5-2). Both teams look to be fighting for the second half championship to make the playoffs and the Voyagers started off in tremendous fashion, finishing the game with a come from behind win.

The game started with both starting pitchers pitching extremely well for their respective teams. Voyagers' starter, Matt Thomas , gave up only two runs in the second inning, giving up just four hits before leaving in the seventh inning. Thomas didn't leave of his or Manager Tommy Thompson's doing, though, as the first batter lined a ball right off of Thomas, causing him to leave the game. 

The Voyagers were only able to tap the Chukars starting pitcher for one run until the seventh, and that one run came in the fourth. Riley Jepson started the inning with a double to right and scored on a single to center by Chris Monroe. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Voyagers were unable to push anymore runs across the plate in the 4th. 

Anthony Becerra-Lopez came in to pitch after Thomas was hit, and one run was scored on him on one hit. The Voyagers answered back in their half of the seventh in a big way, scoring 4 runs. 

Breydon Daniel started the inning off with a single up the middle. Jake Malec hit a slow roller toward first and an attempt was made to get Daniel at second, and failed. With runners at first and second Riley Jepson hit a line drive single to right that the runners had to wait on to make sure it wasn't going to be caught, thus leading to the bases being loaded for Derek Kolbush after Collin Runge lined out to second. With one out, Kolbush stayed alive, fouling off a couple of pitches and drew a walk, bringing home Daniel. 

Chris Monroe came up and it looked like good things were going to happen as Monroe had three singles on the day, but after a strikeout, that left it up to Michael Deeb . As has often been the case in high-pressure situations, Deeb came through once again as he hit a hard ground ball to center scoring two runs. The scoring wasn't over, though, as Will Olson came up and promptly hit a single to right field scoring the fourth run in the inning for the Voyagers giving them a 5-3 lead after seven innings. 

Becerra shut down the Chukars 1,2,3 in the eighth inning and the Voyagers looked to get some insurance runs. Daniel started off the eighth with a high fly ball to left, which appeared it was going to be caught at the wall. The ball hit the top of the fence and was ruled a homerun by the third base umpire, giving Daniel his team-leading ninth home run of the season. Jepson reached with another hit to right field for a single, and promptly stole second base. Runge drove a line drive to center that laned safely and Jepson came home and on a close play at the plate was safe.

With the two extra runs and the Voyagers up 7-3, closer Montana Quigley came in to shut down the Chukars. After two flyouts and a strike out later, the Voyagers had secured themselves the first win of this series, 7-3. 

The Voyagers will look to keep the hometown winning going as they will face the Chukars in game two Wednesday night. Gates open at 6 p.m. and first pitch is at 7p.m. See you at Centene Stadium!

Range Riders add ex-Voyagers skipper to staff

The Glacier Range Riders added former Great Falls Voyagers manager Tommy Thompson to its coaching staff, the Pioneer League baseball club announced Thursday.

Thompson joins a staff that includes manager Paul Fletcher and bench/hitting coach Stu Pederson. 

Thompson managed the Voyagers when their affiliated with the Chicago White Sox in 2016, then returned as manager when the PL became a Partner League (non-affiliated) with Major League Baseball in 2021.

Pederson guided the Range Riders to a 54-42 record this past season.

Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1979, Thompson had a 10-season career in the minor leagues with the Braves and White Sox organizations, eventually making his way to AAA. Thompson spent over 31 years with the White Sox organization, including being a catching instructor for 12 years. 

"Tommy is an excellent addition,” Fletcher said in a Range Riders release. “With his experience, knowledge, and contacts with MLB clubs, he will be a massive asset to the players and me, helping them continue pursuing their dream of playing at the MLB level, while helping the Glacier Range Riders get closer to the goal of winning a championship for the community."

Glacier Range Riders President Chris Kelly said, "Adding Tommy to the coaching staff solidifies our commitment to our players’ development. With Paul, Stu, and Tommy leading these young men, we're excited to help the next generation of ballplayers and to continue to bring a quality baseball experience to Flathead Valley."

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Tommy Thompson Joins Coaching Staff

November 16, 2023 - Pioneer League (PL) Glacier Range Riders News Release

Glacier Range Riders announce the appointment of respected baseball veteran Tommy Thompson to their coaching staff. With a rich background in the game and a passion for player development, Thompson brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the team.

Thompson's illustrious career in baseball spans over three decades, encompassing both playing and coaching roles. Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1979, Thompson had a 10-season career in the minor leagues with the Braves and White Sox organizations, eventually making his way to AAA. Thompson spent over 31 years with the White Sox organization, including being a catching instructor for twelve years.

A highly respected figure in the baseball community, Thompson managed the Great Falls Voyagers in 2016 when the team was a White Sox affiliate, then signed a three-year deal with the Voyagers when they became a member of the Pioneer Baseball League. Thompson has consistently demonstrated his commitment to honing players' skills and fostering a love for the game. Over the course of his career, Thompson has sent nine players on to affiliated baseball.

Recently appointed Glacier Range Riders Manager Paul Fletcher says, "Tommy is an excellent addition. With his experience, knowledge, and contacts with MLB clubs, he will be a massive asset to the players and me, helping them continue pursuing their dream of playing at the MLB level, while helping the Glacier Range Riders get closer to the goal of winning a championship for the community."

Glacier Range Riders' decision to bring Tommy Thompson on board reflects their unwavering dedication to providing exceptional coaching and training opportunities. Thompson's notable achievements include multiple championships as a player and coach at various levels of the sport. His coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of a strong work ethic, team camaraderie, and individual skill development.

Glacier Range Riders President Chris Kelly says, "Adding Tommy to the coaching staff solidifies our commitment to our players development. With Paul, Stu, and Tommy leading these young men, we're excited to help the next generation of ballplayers and to continue to bring a quality baseball experience to Flathead Valley."

With Thompson's addition to the coaching staff, the team gains a valuable asset well-versed in various aspects of baseball, including hitting, fielding, and strategic game planning. His expertise will be pivotal in refining players' techniques, helping players get to the next level, and enhancing overall performance.

The Range Riders, renowned for their state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to excellence, are confident that Tommy Thompson's inclusion will further strengthen the organization. With the coaching staff of Paul Fletcher, Stu Pederson and now Tommy Thompson, the Glacier Range Riders aim to expand upon last season's 54-42 record and bring home a PBL championship.

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Pioneer League Stories from November 16, 2023

• Tommy Thompson Joins Coaching Staff - Glacier Range Riders

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Coaching Staff

Over Fletcher's career, he has been a  player, scout, and coach. As a player, Fletcher was drafted in the 24th round by the Kansas City Royals, then spent time with the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Pittsburg Pirates. Fletcher was also named as an All-Star in the Frontier League.

Fletcher has had various coaching positions at collegiate and professional levels and spent time coaching and managing in the Frontier and Atlantic Leagues. Fletcher also has scouting experience for organizations like the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburg Pirates. Throughout his scouting career, he discovered twenty-three players who eventually made it to MLB. 

Stu Pederson- Bench Coach

Experienced coach and mentor, Stu Pederson has had an extensive career in baseball. Stu played professionally for 12 seasons (‘81-‘92) at both the Major and minor league levels. Following his playing career, he went on to coach high school and collegiate baseball. Pederson’s coaching career has taken him from Anchorage, Alaska all the way to New England and many places in between. He’s developed a keen eye for talent in his many years around the game, seeing over 100 of his players go on to be drafted, earning him the reputation he holds today.

Stu has a wife, Shelley, and four children, Joc, Tyger, Champ, and Jacey. 

Tommy Thompson

Thompson's illustrious career in baseball spans over three decades, encompassing both playing and coaching roles. Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1979, Thompson had a 10-season career in the minor leagues with the Braves and White Sox organizations, eventually making his way to AAA. Thompson spent over 31 years with the White Sox organization, including being a catching instructor for twelve years. 

 A highly respected figure in the baseball community, Thompson managed the Great Falls Voyagers in 2016 when the team was a White Sox affiliate, then signed a three-year deal with the Voyagers when they became a member of the Pioneer Baseball League. Thompson has consistently demonstrated his commitment to honing players' skills and fostering a love for the game. Over the course of his career, Thompson has sent nine players on to affiliated baseball.

Todd Pratt- Special Advisor To the GM

Tommy Thompson

Tommy Brian Thompson Born: October 18, 1957 Oklahoma City, OK US Coaching Career: 1990-2023

Tommy Thompson compiled a record of 803 wins and 832 losses in his managing career with the Utica Blue Sox, South Bend White Sox, Duluth-Superior Dukes, Charleston Alley Cats, Sioux Falls Canaries, Frederick Keys, Windy City Thunderbolts, Kannapolis Intimidators, Winston-Salem Dash, Great Falls Voyagers and White Sox. He began managing during the 1990 season and last managed during the 2023 campaign.

Coaching Record:

Persons data from the Chadwick Baseball Bureau are Copyright Chadwick Baseball Bureau, and are made available under the Open Data Commons Attribution License.

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