The Worcester Bravehearts (summer collegiate; Futures League) begin play tonight on the road before a home opener tomorrow night at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field. As you’ll recall, pro baseball in the form of the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) flamed out spectacularly in 2011, with the team locked out of its offices and […]
Tag Archives | summer collegiate
Simmons Field / Kenosha Kingfish
This, friends, is why summer-collegiate leagues exist: to provide new life to old ballparks – evidenced by the makeover of Simmons Field, home of the Northwoods League’s Kenosha Kingfish. A successful business model for summer-collegiate ball is pretty simple: take an old ballpark formerly used for minor-league or industrial-league play, fix it up, and play […]
Green Bay Bullfrogs open new era at Joannes Stadium
The new owners of the Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) unveiled improvements to Joannes Stadium in last night’s season opener. As you’ll recall, Big Top Baseball — the ownership group that also owns the Madison Mallards, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the Kenosha Kingfish — acquired the Bullfrogs in the offseason, with Liz […]
A thousand more fans per game approved for Kingfish
Capacity at Simmons Field is now a thousand more than planned after ballpark and parking-lot improvements were implemented by the Kenosha Kingfish (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). The Kenosha City Council voted 12-1 Monday night to approve a Simmons Field capacity of 3,218 after presentation of a new parking plan. Ballpark capacity is determined by the […]
Renovated Bradner Stadium set to host baseball this season
Bradner Stadium, longtime home to NY-Penn League baseball in Olean, will welcome back baseball when the Olean Oilers (summer collegiate; NYCBL) play this season at the renovated facility. The renovated Bradner Stadium is a community effort, with lot of volunteers and the Oilers involved. What was a community eyesore has been transformed into a modest […]
New Kokomo ballpark on tap for 2015
Kokomo (Ind.) is moving ahead with a new downtown ballpark, and though there are no plans yet for summer-collegiate or independent ball, history would indicate interest in the near future. Though it’s being designed for high-school, Legion and town ball, Kokomo Municipal Stadium is clearly destined for bigger things: the $11.5 million project (which also […]
Saving Bringhurst Field in Alexandria
With Alexandria (La.) officials proposing to tear down Bringhurst Field, home to baseball there since 1933, locals are seeking to save the historic facility. That Bringhurst Field is in bad shape is a given: part of the grandstand was shut down two years ago because of safety issues. And Alexandria has not embraced either pro […]
Another final season for Capital City Stadium
For the third year in a row, the Columbia Blowfish (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) will celebrate a final season at historic Capital City Stadium — and this year it may stick. To owner Bill Shanahan’s credit, the actual closing date for the ballpark has changed more than once, as an attempt to develop the […]
The most unique outfield wall in baseball? Meet The Bambino
We’ve seen outfield party spaces designed to look like a boat, but this takes the cake: a real fishing boat from the 1930s is being installed at Simmons Field, home of the Kenosha Kingfish (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), for the 2014 season. The 43-feet-long by 13-feet-wide fishing boat originally named the “Bambino” (yes, really) was […]
Final renovation work underway at Wausau’s Athletic Park
This season will be a big one for the summer-collegiate Northwoods League: Besides new teams in Kenosha and Kalamazoo, the Wisconsin Woodchucks will be playing at a renovated Athletic Park. A Civilian Conservation Corps-funded and constructed facility that was once a longtime home to Midwest League and Wisconsin State League baseball (John Henry Moss, of […]
Witter Field to be outfitted with Interactive Accessible Seating Area
This could end up being a model for other ballparks: The summer-collegiate Northwoods League today announced plans to build an Interactive Accessible Seating Area at Witter Field, home of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, for the 2014 season pending city approval. A concrete patio will be connected to the existing grandstand on the first-base side to […]
Pump Jacks to don Pharrell-inspired Buffalo hats this season
We see a lot of April 1 stories, but this one stood out: The East Texas Pump Jacks (summer collegiate; Texas Collegiate League) are donning Pharrell-inspired Buffalo hats this season. Really, this story needs to be seen to be appreciated. So go to the Pump Jacks site and take a look. —- Share your news […]
Rouillard new Voice of the Yakima Valley Pippins
Another personnel move to note: Ryan Rouillard is the new voice of the Yakima Valley Pippins (summer collegiate; West Coast League), with games to be broadcast on ESPN 1460 Yakima. All 60 games regular-season games, plus the 2014 WCL All-Star Game from Klamath Falls, Ore., will be broadcast live on Yakima’s ESPN affiliate, including streaming […]