The Lake County Captains play their home games at Classic Park, seen here during my 2014 visit to the venue. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

The Lake County Captains and the Cleveland Indians have extended their player-development contract through the 2018 season, the teams announced Saturday.

“We’re pleased to be extending our relationship with the Captains and the city of Eastlake,” Carter Hawkins, director of player development for the Indians, said in a press release. “With the support this partnership has provided, our players and staff continue to thrive, and a steady stream of former Captains have become contributors to our major-league team.”

The Captains have been an Indians affiliate for their entire existence. They started play as a South Atlantic League team in 2003, and moved to the Midwest League (along with the Bowling Green Hot Rods) after the 2009 season. Lake County won the Midwest League Championship Series in 2010.