CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Lake County Captains have a lot to celebrate this season.
Not only did the Captains, the High-A affiliate of the Guardians, win the Midwest League championship, but they announced that Jen Yorko is the first female general manager to win a minor league championship.
Yorko has worked in a variety of roles for the Captains since joining the organization in 2007 after graduating from Lake Erie College in Painesville. She was promoted to assistant general manager in 2016 and general manager in 2019.
“Jen’s leadership, dedication, and passion for the team and the community has been instrumental to the success we are having on and off the field, ” said team owner Alan Miller, in a press release.
Said Yorko in the same press release, “Earning a championship in my hometown of Lake County has been both an honor and a privilege. The Lake County Captains organization is deeply grateful for our strong partnership with the Cleveland Guardians front office and staff, as well as the ongoing support from the Lake County Commissioners, Tour Lake County, and the city of Eastlake,”
Yorko played softball and soccer at Lake Erie. She still coaches youth softball and volleyball and supports the Miracle League and United Way of Lake County.
The Captains finished 77-53 in the regular season. They swept Dayton in the division series and won the title by taking two out of three from Wisconsin.