 The Pioneers were affiliated with the Florida Marlins from 1993 to 1995, after which Smoll moved the team to Lowell, Massachusetts and reaffiliated with the Red Sox as the Lowell Spinners.After some significant scrambling, an ownership group anchored by an Elmira native living in Maryland, John Ervin, got a new Pioneers team into the independent Northeast League before the 1996 season began.The following year, the Pioneers defeated the defending champion Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs two games to none to win their first championship in 21 years.