The summer-collegiate Great Plains League is no more, replaced with a new name — the Midwest Collegiate League — designed to better reflect the league’s footprint for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The league lineup: the Chicago Zephyrs (playing out of Judson University), Homestead Ranchers (playing out of Grosche Field), Rockford Foresters (playing out of […]
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Metrodome out for the count; Gophers working on backup plan
The Metrodome will be unavailable for use by the University of Minnesota baseball team for the entire season, as officials will debate whether to repair the roof or replace it — a process that could last until August — so the Gophers are looking for a new home. No decision has been made about the […]
Futures Collegiate Baseball League set for 2011
A new summer-collegiate league is on the horizon in New England, as the Lowell Spinners (short season; NY-Penn League) will operate a team out of Nashua’s Holman Stadium on behalf of owner and Wisconsin businessman Eric Butlein in the start-up Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. Not a lot of specifics on the new […]
Finalists unveiled for Martha’s Vineyard team name
Four finalists were unveiled for the potential name of the new summer-collegiate Martha’s Vineyard team launching in 2011; meanwhile, the team made its first hire, a GM. The four finalists are the Sharks, Islanders, Osprey and Fighting Clams. The names were chosen out of hundreds submitted to the club via e-mail. “We received so many […]
First look: Warner Park renovations, Madison Mallards
One important thing to know about the front office of the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League): they move quickly. Within a short period of city approval for a makeover of Warner Park, Vern Stenman, Conor Caloia and crew were out tearing down the Muskies-era bleachers to make way for new seating from Oriole Park […]
Big East/Big Ten tourney expands, contracts
The annual Big East/Big Ten Challenge will be scaled back to 24 games in 2011 but will be played at a wider variety of venues, including Bright House Field and Dunedin Stadium. Last year the tournament was expanded to 30 games, but this year it’s being cut back to 24 games. The 2011 Challenge will […]
Awards gala added to SBC agenda
New this year at the Summer Ball Conference in Madison, Wisconsin: an Awards Gala will recognize achievements by summer-collegiate baseball teams across the country. The six awards, sponsored by Baseball America, will be Highest Percentage Growth in Attendance, Best Promotion, Best Community Project or Activity, Best Ticket Sales Campaign, Best Marketing Campaign, and Best Non-Traditional […]
Summer Ball Conference announced for Madison, Nov. 6-8
The Second Annual Summer Ball Conference (SBC 10) will be held in the Mecca of Summer Collegiate baseball — Madison, Wis., on November 6-8. The concept of the conference is a version of the Winter Baseball Meetings: providing teams with the knowledge and direction necessary to become elite in the summer collegiate ranks. The conference […]
Ballpark Visit: Taunton Stadium, home of the Willmar Stingers
Baker Field at Bill Taunton Stadium, home of the Willmar Stingers and the Minnesota state amateur baseball tournament, isn’t the showiest or most historic ballpark in summer-collegiate circles, but it’s certainly one of the most pleasant. Ryan Voz and Marc Jerzak, both vets of the circuit with various franchises, took a chance on bringing a […]
It’s what for dinner: the two-foot brat
Sunday night we had the best food of this season at a ballpark: a two-foot brat served up by the Madison Mallards at the Duck Pond. Not a gimmick: it was surprisingly good. The brat itself is from Stoddard’s of Cottage Grove, who also supplies brats and other meats (smoked turkey legs, smoked brisket, smoked […]
Ballpark Visit: Franklin Rogers Park, home of the Mankato MoonDogs
We visit Franklin Rogers Park, home of the Mankato MoonDogs and former home of the Mankato Mets. The Frank is a perfectly nice, if low-key place to watch a baseball game these days. Back in the days of the Mankato Mets the ballpark hosted four future major leaguers, a future MLB manager and one of […]
Ballpark Visit: Howard Lamade Stadium, home of the Little League World Series
We visit Howard J. Lamade Stadium, the home of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. We visit Howard J. Lamade Stadium, the home of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. For most of the year this ballpark sits virtually empty, with minimal action on the field. Come August, though, tens of […]
Summer-collegiate season opens tonight
It seems too soon, but the summer-collegiate season is already upon us, as the Coastal Plain League launches tonight. It seems too soon, but the summer-collegiate season is already upon us, as the Coastal Plain League launches tonight. The college season is far from over — most of the major college tourneys are this week, […]