Why owner John Bollinger believes the Grand Forks Spitfires are here to stay

May 15—GRAND FORKS — Longtime Grand Forks residents can't be blamed if they approach the prospect of another local collegiate summer league with apprehension.

After all, three baseball teams have come and gone in the last three decades, each leaving a sour taste in the community's mouth.

After the Northwoods League announced its plans for an expansion softball team in Grand Forks, the Herald editorial board published a column titled

Our Opinion: Northwoods League softball could fill niche, if presented and operated correctly.

When John Bollinger, a member of the Grand Forks Spitfires ownership group, read the editorial, he added a section on the

team website

responding to the concerns.

Bollinger is the majority owner and CEO of the Bismarck Larks and Minot Hot Tots, two Northwoods League baseball teams. He is also the majority owner and CEO of the Minot Honeybees, a Northwoods League softball team.

Bollinger believes his latest venture, now

named the Grand Forks Spitfires

, can succeed where previous baseball teams failed: sticking around.

"Folks that have their doubts, I'd say you should, because we have to earn it," Bollinger said. "But I'd also say we came into this with eyes wide open. We know why teams have come and gone. It won't be easy. But I do know we care a lot, and I know we have some really good, fun strategies and ways we approach this, and we're going to do our best. I think that's why it's different."

With opening day approaching on June 9, some previous concerns have already been addressed.

The venue, Albrecht Field, will be among the best in the league. It opened in 2024 and played host to the North Dakota Class A state tournament in 2025.

The name Spitfires was chosen by the community through a naming contest and is a nod to Grand Forks' strong ties to aviation.

The Northwoods League has a stronger reputation than previous leagues that have attempted to expand into Grand Forks. The Upper Midwest collegiate summer baseball league was established in 1994 and expanded to softball in 2024 with four teams.

The Northwoods League added a fifth softball team in 2025, and Grand Forks will be the sixth.

The Spitfires have added local talent, such as UND's Brooklyn Hofer and Makenna Alexander.

The collegiate players, including some from schools such as Washington and San Diego State, will stay with host families.

The team will not only be run by interns. The Spitfires have four full-time employees on staff: general manager Roberto Lemus, sponsorship activation and marketing manager Gabby Knopik, corporate ticket sales and experience manager Jessica Sardilli and ballpark operations and ticket sales manager Caitlyn Connolly.

All of that is important. Bollinger believes a driving force for the Spitfires' success, though, will center around the experience and atmosphere at Albrecht Field.