FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 21st, 2026) (Spearfish, SD) – Today, Independence League Baseball and the Spearfish Sasquatch announced the release of the 2026 schedule. The schedule features a 48 game regular season schedule in which member teams will vie for a chance to compete in two rounds of playoffs to determine the 2026 iLB Champion. “The day the schedule is released is a very exciting day for any team”, said Eric Schmidt – Owner/GM of the Spearfish Sasquatch. “We look forward to this day and the opportunity to finally share our summer plans with all our fans. There is a ton of work put in behind the scenes between the league and the teams to make this all come together. We all share ballparks with other organizations, so at times it can be a challenge to navigate around others schedules throughout the league and make all the pieces fit perfectly into this giant puzzle.” The Sasquatch regular season schedule will feature 48 games (31 home, 17 away). “While the schedule release is a big day, that’s when a lot of the work really begins”, said Schmidt. “Now we can kick our planning process into high gear by working on our theme nights, promotions, and prepare to schedule in-game entertainment. We’re looking to have 4 fireworks nights, celebrating our 2025 iLB Championship, playing an exhibition game against the Spearfish Post 164 American Legion Baseball Club, bringing back the very popular Free Jersey Night, in addition to a couple other special evenings this summer!” With teams located throughout the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Regions, Independence League Baseball is an elite summer collegiate wood bat baseball league which aims to provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment while enhancing the quality of life in its member communities by providing the tools and experience needed to optimize the collegiate players’ development as they pursue their dreams to play baseball professionally. The players stay with host families from the local communities. Host families are a very integral part of the Spearfish Sasquatch and these host family relationships provide a lifetime of memories for both the host families and the players. If you are interested in learning about the Spearfish Sasquatch Host Family Program, please email spearfishsasquatch@gmail.com for more information. For information on Independence League Baseball, visit www.independenceleague.com, and for more information on the Spearfish Sasquatch visit www.spearfishsasquatch.com.

The Spearfish Sasquatch of Independence League Baseball announce Phil Dimas as Head Coach for the 2026 season. Phil Dimas enters his first season as Head Coach of the Spearfish Sasquatch, bringing with a strong track record of success at both the junior college and summer collegiate levels. He currently also serves as the Director of Player Development for the University of New Mexico Baseball program (NCAA Division I), where he continues to impact athletes at the highest level of college baseball. “Phil stood out from the first time we spoke as someone who I felt was the perfect fit for our ballclub. I’m excited to get him started, add some assistant coaches, and begin recruiting a talented team with the goal of bringing another iLB Championship to our great fans.” Eric Schmidt – Sasquatch Owner/GM Before joining UNM, Dimas spent four seasons (2021–2025) as an Assistant Coach and Strength & Conditioning Coordinator at College of the Desert (COD) in Palm Desert, California. During his tenure, COD experienced a dramatic turnaround, capturing its first conference title in 51 years, earning its first-ever Super Regional appearance, and making the playoffs every year. Notably, COD also achieved a 100% sophomore move-on rate, sending more than 75 players to the next level—ranking among the best in California and top five nationally. In the summer collegiate circuit, Dimas has also made his mark. In 2024, he was named Coach of the Year in the Palm Springs Collegiate League (PSCL) and celebrated a California Premier Collegiate League (CPCL) championship as a member for the coaching staff for the Palm Springs Power. Over the past two seasons, he has also served as the hitting and fielding coach for California Post Grad Baseball, continuing to shape and mentor athletes across Southern California’s developmental baseball scene. Dimas’ coaching philosophy is rooted in experience and mentorship. He has played for and coached alongside respected baseball minds, including former Colorado Rockies hitting coordinator Jimmy Johnson, whose mentorship has been pivotal in shaping his approach as a coach. A Driveline-certified hitting coach, Dimas emphasizes individualized player development grounded in modern hitting philosophies and success driven results. He is deeply connected within the national and western U.S. college baseball scene, with strong relationships across NCAA, NAIA, and junior college programs. Among his coaching network is Justus Scott, who led the Spearfish Sasquatch to a championship last season. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Dimas is a graduate of Tanque Verde High School and played collegiate baseball at several programs, including College of the Desert during the 2019–2020 seasons. In addition to his coaching career, he has worked as a private strength and performance coach, training hundreds of college and professional athletes. Known for his relentless work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to developing players both on and off the field, Coach Dimas brings leadership, vision, and a successful culture to Spearfish this season. “I’m incredibly excited and honored take the reins as head coach of the Spearfish Sasquatch. I’m looking forward to bringing in a team of players and staff that not only carries on the winning tradition, but one who also brings an energy and passion that excites our fans and that our community can get behind.” Phil Dimas – Sasquatch Head Coach