News from the Texas Collegiate League: More information on the new Victoria team, while the East Texas Pump Jacks confirm a return.Today the Texas Collegiate League formally announced what we reported yesterday: a new Victoria team is entering the summer-collegiate circuit. The team will be owned and operated by local businessperson Tracy Young.
The new Victoria franchise will play its home games at Riverside Stadium. The historic facility has been updated and upgraded in recent years, including new seating in the grandstand behind home plate.
The first order of business for the new franchise will be to select a nickname. The most popular nickname from past minor league teams in Victoria was Rosebuds, which dates back to 1910 and was shared by no fewer than four franchises. In fact, the last minor league team to call Victoria home, as a member of the Lone Star League in 1977, was known as the Rosebuds. Other nicknames used by Victoria minor league teams include the Cowboys, Toros, Giants, and Eagles.
So far the TCL lineup for 2009 includes the Brazos Valley (Bryan) Bombers, Coppell Copperheads, East Texas (Kilgore) Pump Jacks and McKinney Marshalls. The other big news of the week, really, is a confirmation that the Pump Jacks would be returning to Driller Park.
Apparently there was some doubt about the status of the team, as officials from Kilgore Independent School District had some disagreements with the Pump Jacks front office over fulfilling terms of the lease. In a school-board meeting Monday night, the status of the team was reaffirmed by GM Mike Lieberman, who outlined plans for 2009. The biggest point of contention: a deck promised by the team remains unfinished, and the school board wants to see it built before the beginning of the high-school season.
More from the Kilgore News Herald.
RELATED STORIES: Texas Collegiate League adds Victoria to roster