Leave the planning to us! let us host your group for an allinclusive night at the ballpark on the Party Deck!
Located down the left field line, the Party Deck is a great place for company gatherings, team parties, family celebrations or just a night out with friends. With space to host groups of 25 – 500, let us provide the perfect event for you!
For just $24 per person you will enjoy:
• Ticket to the ballgame (Option to sit on the deck or in Reserve Section A)
• 90 minute all you can eat baseball themed menu*
• Group welcome on the video board
Party Deck Menu includes:
• Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Tiefenthaler Brats
• Plus Baked Beans, Potato Chips, Cookies and Pepsi Products
• Alcohol can be purchased in advance, if desired
*Food service starts 30 minutes prior to first pitch
LEWIS AND CLARK PARK STADIUM RULES
CASHLESS FACILITY
Lewis and Clark Park is a cashless facility (only credit and debit cards are accepted). This includes at the Box Office, the Team Store, all Concession Stands, and all Food & Beverage portable carts.
WHEN DO THE GATES OPEN?
Gates to Lewis and Clark Park open 1 hour prior to game time. This is subject to change for special events.
HANDICAPPED SEATING
Lewis and Clark Park is equipped with handicap and companion seating in the seating bowl just below sections D-H. If you need any special assistance, please let us accommodate any needs you may have.
WATCH OUT FOR FOUL BALLS
Please be alert for foul balls and other “debris” that may come into the seating area from the playing field. All fans are subject to the possibility of being hit by a flying object from the field.
RADIOS, CAMERAS & VIDEO EQUIPMENT
Radios (if they are small “Walkman” type of radio), cameras and video recorders are permitted at Lewis and Clark Park. Fans may not reproduce or rebroadcast any film or videotape shot at Lewis and Clark Park for any commercial use without the permission of the Sioux City Explorers.
NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED
Fans are not allowed to enter the stadium with food, beverages or other containers such as picnic baskets, coolers or ice chests. No glass bottles or cans are allowed. Clear, empty, plastic bottles are allowed and may be filled at designated drinking fountains.
FAN BEHAVIOR
While at Lewis and Clark Park, we want everyone to have a great time every time they come to the ballpark. Fans using loud, obscene or abusive language or engaging in any other conduct detrimental to the social environment of enjoying a public event will be asked to cease their conduct, and may be subject to ejection from the stadium. No alcohol or illegal drugs may be brought into Lewis and Clark Park. Fans breaking local laws are subject to ejection from the ballpark and criminal prosecution. For your safety and the safety of others, please refrain from throwing objects onto the playing field. Fans doing so are subject to ejection from the ballpark.
TRESPASSING ON THE FIELD
Anyone trespassing on the playing field will be ejected and subject to arrest and prosecution in accordance with local law.
SCALPING OF TICKETS
Tickets must not be resold or offered for resale in a manner or at a price in violation of any Federal, State or Local law or regulation.
PEDDLING OR VENDING
The peddling, vending or distribution of merchandise at Lewis and Clark Park is not allowed. The Sioux City Explorers must grant permission for these activities.
RE-ENTRY TO THE BALLPARK
Fans needing to leave Lewis and Clark Park can reenter through the same gate they arrived in or 3rd base gate one hour after first pitch.
RADIO BROADCASTS
All home and road games will be broadcast live on KSCJ 94.9 FM and 1360 AM.
RESTROOMS
Public restrooms are located on the concourse level and are handicap accessible.
ALCOHOL MANAGEMENT
Iowa law provides that you must be 21 years of age to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages. Upon request, each customer may be asked to present valid identification at the time of purchase. The Sioux City Explorers reserve the right to refuse service to any fan. Please drink responsibly. For any fans that may be in need of transportation service, please visit “guest services” located inside the Explorers team store located in the silver building located behind Homeplate! Alcohol sales will cease with the first pitch at the end of the eighth (8th) inning.
LOST AND FOUND
If you lose or find any items while at Lewis and Clark Park, please report to the Explorers team store located in the silver building behind Homeplate.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Lewis and Clark Park implements a clear bag policy for all sporting and outside events, including Explorers games. Fans are encouraged to bring only necessary items into Lewis and Clark Park in a clear plastic bag.
Permitted with Inspection
• Clear Plastic Bag (12" x 6" x 12")
• Small Clutch Bag (4.5" x 6.5")
• 1 Gallon Clear Plastic Freezer Bag
• Blankets (Carried in on the shoulder)
• Small Camera w/out case
• Binoculars w/out case
• Hand-Held Radios & TVs
• Infant Feeding Supplies
• Empty Plastic Water Bottle
• Seat Cushion (No larger than 16" x 16", no arms, no zippers)
Prohibited Items
• Purses
• Backpacks
• Clear Backpacks
• Tinted Plastic Bags
• Printed Pattern Plastic Bags
• Oversized Tote Bags
• Mesh Bags
• Diaper Bags
• Camera/Binocular Cases
• Fanny Packs
• Umbrellas
• Lawn Chairs
FOUL BALLS
Foul balls may be returned to the concessions stand to be exchanged for a FREE DQ cup of ice cream!
GUEST SERVICES
For any “guest services” issues or concerns, we ask fans to visit the Explorers team store located in the silver building located behind Homeplate!
There’s no better atmosphere to enjoy a group outing than with your Explorers at Lewis & Clark Park!
Treat your group of 20 or more to some of the most unique and exciting event opportunities in the Siouxland area. Whether it be a company picnic, youth sports team, church get together, or simply a group of family and friends, let us know how many and we will take care of the rest.
WHAT YOU GET
• Per ticket discount for each member of your group based on the size of your group (the more you bring, the more you SAVE, minimum of 20 required).
• Recognition over the PA System.
• Opportunity to participate in various pre-game and in-game activities (first pitch, national anthem, baseball buddies, mid-inning promotions).
• Opportunity to purchase X’s Bucks for all members of your group (prepaid vouchers available in $1 & $5 increments that may be used at the concession stand or team shop)
• No waiting in ticket lines!
ACE IN THE
Peniel Otano
There is a song by country artist George Strait with lyrics that say, “You got to have an ace in the hole, a secret that nobody knows…”. The Sioux City Explorers have an ace in Peniel Otano, and if he continues to pitch like he has for the X’s this season, he could very well be a secret everyone knows. The American Association has taken notice of the big right-hander, naming him the Carbliss Pitcher of the week ending June 14.
Otano tossed a complete game shutout on Sunday, June 14 at Lewis and Clark Park, holding the Cleburne Railroaders to “goose eggs” and tossing just the second complete nine-inning shutout for the Explorers since 2018. Otano hurled the complete effort, scattering four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. That start followed an outing six days earlier where he threw 5.2 innings and just missed a quality start by one out. He picked up his fifth quality start when he took the bump on Saturday night, June 20 at Kane County. Otano went seven innings, holding the Cougars to one unearned run, and if not for four defensive miscues, he could have picked up the win instead of a no decision.
THE HOLE
2026 has been a remarkable season so far for Otano. He made his way to Sioux City last season and was the fifth man in a rotation that featured four aces. Kyle Marman, who now pitches for the Rakuten Monkeys in the CPBL; Austin Drury, who is in the Bannan Ball League; and Jared Wetherbee, who is in Triple-A Mexico at Yucatan, formed the best foursome in the American Association. Otano has made a considerable jump since last season as he did not record
a quality start in 2025, but he already has five this season. In 2025, Otano posted a 2-7 record with a 6.72 ERA for the Explorers. The native of the Dominican Republic must have taken notes as he has elevated his play this season. Otano is 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA and is poised to be one of the top arms in the American Association this season.
Otano may be a known commodity in the league, but
Josh Landry
the Explorers may have found another hidden gem that may become a household name: Lefty Josh Landry, a true rookie who pitched at Hope International University in California and who has shown signs of becoming the next in line of outstanding arms developed under Manager Steve Montgomery and Pitching Coach Bobby Post for the Explorers. Landry has given the X’s innings so far this season, going at least five innings in all five of his starts and showing signs that he was about to break out prior to his June 19th start at Kane County. Those signs were in full view on a Friday night as Landry threw the second nine-inning complete game shutout in five days for Sioux City in a 3-0 blanking of the Cougars. It is the first time in club history that the team has tossed two nine-inning complete games in a span of five days.
Zach Willeman has also been a known commodity in the league for parts of three seasons. Two seasons ago he was the top set-up man in relief where he teamed up with Kyle Marman to shut the door on the opposition. Last season he was part of the rotation and earned a transfer to the Cincinnati Reds organization. After electing to return to Sioux City, the Ohio native was counted on to be the top of the rotation. He got off to a slow start but has since found his groove for the X’s. Willeman gave up 17 earned runs in 19.2 innings for a 7.96 ERA out of the gate to start the season, but since then he has allowed just five earned runs in his last 17 innings for a 2.64 ERA. “Willy” is one of the top arms in the entire league.
Division crown. There are some new faces that should help as well. First of all, Sioux City has added another true rookie in McGwire Taylor, who pitched at NAIA power Tennessee Wesleyan to a World Series win just two weeks ago. We also have a pair of experienced arms in former Big Leaguer Kelvin Cáceres and Triple-A arm Jasseel De La Cruz.
Sioux City has a top-five offense in the American Association. The power numbers are up with the help of Alberto Osuna and his eight home runs, and the Explorers feature a fleet-footed running game in Zac Vooletich, Austin Davis, Henry George and Braulio Vasquez that leads the league in stolen bases. All four hit, and all four get on base, causing havoc on the base paths. Toss in D’Shawn Knowles, who makes his 2026 debut this week, adding more speed and fire power at the plate for Sioux City. Knowles is no secret in Sioux City or around the league. The native of the Bahamas hit .286 with nine home runs and 54 RBI in 88 games in 2025. Knowles finished with 53 stolen bases— second in the league to teammate Austin Davis who had 60. Knowles is a weapon that has provided plenty of spark to the X’s over his two previous seasons with the club, and with his arrival, the Explorers get better instantly.
Sioux City has a legitimate 1-2-3 in the rotation that could help push the Explorers into contention for the West
For the first time this season, the Explorers have help from players from their visa-restricted list. They found another ace in Otano, a soon to be not-so-secret Landry and paired them with Willeman, an ace they already have on the roster. Add in the other pieces, and as we hit the tail end of June and officially into the summer, the Explores will be an interesting watch the rest of the way. With a top-five offense, new aces and new faces, Sioux City is poised to be a secret that everyone knows.
STEVE MONTGOMERY 55 Manager
Steve Montgomery (widely known as “Mongo”) will mark his 12th season with the Explorers in 2026. He is the winningest manager in franchise history and has led the club to the playoffs in eight of his first 11 seasons, including finals appearances in 2015 and 2019. Known for building teams around strong pitching and speed, Montgomery consistently keeps the Explorers in the playoff mix while fielding some of the most exciting rosters in the American Association.
The 2025 season followed that trend, as Sioux City finished with the league’s best record at 64-36, ending the year 28 games above .500. The team also led the league in stolen bases for the second straight season with 275, setting a new American Association single-season record and surpassing the club mark set in 2024. Montgomery’s teams have a reputation for finishing strong, and 2025 was no exception. The Explorers went 35-18 over the final two months, continuing a trend of success down the stretch. Since 2018, the club has posted five winning Augusts and holds a 94-71 record in the season’s final month over the last six years. Under Montgomery, the team owns a .570 winning percentage and has consistently performed when it matters most.
Entering 2026, Montgomery holds a 617-482 (.561) regular-season record. He became the winningest manager in team history on July 22, 2022, earning his 427th win to surpass Ed Nottle. He later reached the 600-win milestone in dramatic fashion with a comeback extra-inning victory over Kansas City.
The 2025 campaign marked his seventh winning season and the seventh time his team has reached at least 50 wins. His 2015 club set a franchise record with 75 victories and is one of three teams under his leadership to lead the league in wins. He also reached the 500-win milestone in Siouxland on May 27, 2023.
Montgomery began his coaching career in 2004 with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and also served as pitching coach at North Dakota State from 2005-2009. During his time with Fargo-Moorhead, the club posted a 590-383 record. As a player, he spent nine seasons in professional baseball within the Orioles, Royals, Dodgers, and Red Sox organizations, reaching Triple-A, and also competed in independent leagues. He was part of the 1996 Australian Baseball League champion Perth Heat.
A native of Ohio, Montgomery resides in Sioux City and remains active in the community. He frequently participates in local events and youth baseball clinics and is a regular at Sioux City Musketeers games.
BOBBY POST 40
Pitching Coach
Bobby Post is a familiar face at Lewis and Clark Park as he enters his 18th season coaching for the Explorers. A native of Victorville, California, Post has worked alongside Manager Steve Montgomery for the last 11 years in Sioux City. Under Post’s guidance, the Explorers are year-in and year-out one of the top pitching staffs in the American Association with a reputation of turning players careers around and getting them back into affiliated ball. In the last seven seasons, the X’s pitching staff has finished fourth lowest or better in five of seven seasons.
The 2025 season was another textbook example of the value Post brings to the organization as the team’s Pitching Coach. Last season Sioux City finished with the second lowest ERA in the league with a 3.94 and notched the second most strikeouts in the circuit with 908. Overall Sioux City held opponents to a .238 average against, the second lowest in the American Association, and the lowest in the last eight seasons for the club. Under Post the 2025 season starting staff finished with a 4.19 ERA with 552 strikeouts in 552.0 innings. The starters boasted 42 quality starts for the season through 100 games. Post helped shape an outstanding pen with All-Star Felix Cepeda matching an organizational high of 24 saves during the season. Kyle Marman also set a new single-season strikeout mark with 140 in 2025.
Post is also a former Explorer, having pitched for the team two seasons as part of a five-year career where he posted a 35-19 record with a 4.85 ERA between Sioux Falls and Sioux City in the Northern League. He pitched his first two seasons for the Canaries in 1995 and 1996, leading the team with 10 wins and 120.2 innings during his second season. Post then moved down the interstate to Sioux City for three seasons from 1997 to 1999. He would lead the team in innings pitched in 1997 and was second on the club in innings in 1998. Post is fifth all-time in innings pitched for the X’s with 318.2 innings, and his 51 starts is fourth overall in franchise history. Post’s 22 starts in 1998 still ranks first all-time in organizational history.
Post played collegiately at Cerritos Junior College before pitching at the University of Nevada. He was 18-5 with Nevada in his career. Post can be heard on each Sunday broadcast of Explorers games in the “Sundays with Bobby” segment with Dan Vaughan Jr on the X’s pregame show.
RAFAEL MELCHIONE 25
Hitting Coach
Rafael Melchione returns to Sioux City in 2026 for his second season with the Explorers. In 2025 Melchione oversaw an offense that improved all season long and finished fourth in the American Association with a .257 batting average and third in runs scored at 516. The X’s also ranked near the top of the league in on-base percentage, finishing fourth in the league with a .343 mark.
Melchione is no stranger to Sioux City. He served as hitting coach for the 2009 Explorers under Manager Les Lancaster. Melchione returned to Sioux City last season after spending two seasons as co-hitting coach of the Rocky Mountain Vibes in the Pioneer League on former Sioux City Explorers Manager Les Lancaster’s staff. Under Melchione the Vibes finished second as a team in average (.319) and third in on-base percentage (.409) in the Pioneer League. The Vibes also finished third in hits (1067) and runs (755) in the 12-team league for the 2024 season. Melchione was on the coaching staff in 2023 when the Vibes made the playoffs and finished second in runs scored (816) and second in runs batted in (754) in for the season. Under Melchione, the Vibes saw increases in runs, hits, home runs and walks. He also coached the Pioneer League’s 2023 batting average champion, Jake McMurray.
Melchione has been a scout for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since 2022, assigned to partner and independent leagues. He scouted for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2017 to 2021, including being a part of the Rays ALCS Championship while with the organization in 2020. Prior to his time with Tampa, he had his first stint with the Angels from 2007 to 2017 as a professional scout.
The native of New Jersey spent 2012 and 2013 with the Florence Freedom in the Frontier League, coaching two division championship teams that made back-toback runner up appearances for the league title. Melchione worked with the Angels catchers as the club’s catching instructor from 2007 to 2009 and spent two seasons in the Golden League in 2005 and 2006. In his career, Melchione has helped coach teams to one league title and four championship series and five more playoff appearances. As a player, Melchione played in Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2001 both in the summer and winter. He was invited to two Major League camps—the first in 1999 with the Oakland A’s and the second in 2001 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Melchione played in eight games in the Prairie League between Green Bay and Brandon Gray in 1996 and three more in Abilene in the Texas-Louisiana League in 1999. He makes his home in the Phoenix area and owns a training center in the area.
LANDEN BARNS 47
Assistant Hitting Coach/Bullpen Coach
Landen Barns returns to Sioux City as Assistant Hitting and Bullpen Coach in 2026. Barnes spent last season in two roles for the Explorers. He signed on June 12, 2025, and served as a backup catcher and would eventually be added to the coaching staff as bullpen coach following his release on August 22.
Barns played in part of five professional seasons, including his final stop as a player in Sioux City. The native of Texas spent the 2024 and 2023 campaign in the Pioneer League with the Ogden Raptors, and he also made a one-game appearance with the Tri-City Valley Cats of the Frontier League.
Following a year away from the game in 2021, Barns returned to pro ball by signing with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Barns began his pro career in 2020 with the Westside Woolly Mammoths of the United Shore League.
At the collegiate level, Barns played for East Texas Baptist University in NCAA Division III’s American Southwest Conference. He was a three-year starter for the Tigers, appearing in 129 games and hitting .309 with 12 home runs and 85 RBI over his career.
A native of Cypress, Texas, Barns attended Rosehill Christian High School where he lettered in both baseball and football. He comes from a strong baseball lineage—his father Jeff played collegiately for South Carolina from 1985–87 and spent a decade playing and coaching in the Angels, Athletics, and Royals organizations.
GLAVIN MATTHES 45
Assistant Coach
Glavine Matthes is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Explorers. Matthes spent last season as a Graduate Assistant Coach with Briar Cliff University. He spent 2023 to 2025 as an Assistant Coach at New College of Florida located in Sarasota, Florida. He was an assistant in Baseball Operations in 2024-2025 and an assistant coach in 2023-2024. Matthes also has spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. From 2022 to 2025 he served as a visiting clubhouse assistant with Milwaukee. Matthes played collegiately at Wisconsin Luthern College from 2020 to 2023. He pitched 47 games over four seasons all but one in relief. He is a native of Appleton, Wisconsin and attended Appleton North High School. Matthes is a 2023 graduate of Wisconsin Luthern earning his degree in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.
BRUCE FISCHBACH
Head Athletic Trainer
Bruce Fishbach, the 2025 American Association Trainer of the year, will return for his eighth season as the Head Athletic Trainer for the X’s during the 2026 season. Fishbach, a certified athletic trainer, served as Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at the University of South Dakota from 1987 until he became Director Emeritus in 2021. He also served 34 seasons with the South Dakota Coyotes before retiring in the summer of 2021. As the Head Trainer for the USD Men’s basketball team, he led a staff of nine certified trainers.
Since 1984, Fischbach’s services have been utilized at a wide variety of athletic events. He has worked as a special-events athletic trainer at the College World Series, the NCAA Division II Indoor National Track Meet, the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, the Orange Bowl, and the South Dakota High School Football Championships. He is currently the head trainer for the U23 Team USA Wheelchair Basketball Team and is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Fischbach was inducted into the South Dakota Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Hall of Fame in June of 2014. He has served as president, vice president and secretary/treasurer for the SDATA and has been on the Mid American Athletic Trainers’ Association’s board of directors.
Over the years, he has continually advocated for the athletic training profession. Prior to his arrival at USD, Fischbach was a trainer for the Kinston Eagles, formerly of the Carolina League. While a student at the University of Nebraska, he worked as a student trainer for the Cornhuskers. Fischbach received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 from Nebraska, and in 1991 he obtained his master of sport science degree from the United States Sports Academy. He and his wife Kelly have three children: Ryun, Kylie, and Dylan. Fishback resides in Vermillion, South Dakota.
EXPLORERS ROSTER
# PITCHERS
3 Ryan Beaird R/R 5-11 185 2002-09-09 San Antonio, TX Tarleton State/UTSA
