Giants announce National Tourney

For immediate release:

The Topeka Golden Giants are excited to announce plans for the first annual National Collegiate Summer Classic to be held July 12th - 17th at the Lake Shawnee Baseball complex in Topeka, Kansas.

With a great location, outstanding playing surfaces and top competition, the Summer Classic looks to be one of the top summer league tournaments in North America. The tournament will be open to all Summer Collegiate teams and will feature a double elimination schedule with the winner taking home the title of Summer Collegiate National Champions.

Topeka, a city of over 123,000; is the capital of Kansas and sits smack dab in the middle of the Continental United States. Topeka's proximity to Kansas City's International Airport makes it an excellent location for a National Tournament of Summer Collegiate baseball.

Making the Classic shine is the outstanding site at Lake Shawnee. The baseball complex features two beautiful baseball stadiums with artificial turf infields and all the modern amenities to make your teams experience a memorable one. The complex, currently under renovation, looks to be one of the premier facilities in the U.S. and will be completely brand new this coming spring. The Golden Giants will begin their second season of play at the complex in 2010 and along with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, look to add fan-friendly amenities such as a beer garden, expanded seating, closer restrooms and new concessions.

The National Collegiate Summer Classic is not affiliated with the National Baseball Congress or the NBC World Series held annually in Wichita. We respect the NBC and it's member teams. We choose to hold our tournament before the NBC World Series, therefore giving teams a chance to play in both tournaments if they see fit.

If your team is interested in participating in the National Collegiate Summer Classic, please click the following link, fill out the form and submit it to the Topeka Golden Giants.

http://www.topekagoldengiants.com/ncsc.html

Golden Giants: Trail of Terror!!!

TOPEKA, KS - The Topeka Golden Giants are stepping into the dark realm of Halloween as they ask daring citizens to take part in The Trail of Terror on October 29, 30 and 31st.

The Trail is a fundraising effort for the Golden Giants baseball team, who are preparing for their 6th year of operation in 2010. The team is comprised of former high school players and current college players looking to hone their skills in summer wood bat competition.

Regarded as top prospects by Major League scouts, the Golden Giants will feature outstanding talent from NCAA Division I universities including Kansas State, Wichita State and other Big 12 and national programs.

The Trail of Terror will be open from 6:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. for an admission price of $8. A children's trail for ghouls and goblins under 8 will be open for $2.

The team will also have concessions and merchandise available for sale at the Trail making for a frighteningly good time for all!

The Trail of Terror will be located 1 block east of NW 50th and Topeka Boulevard. There will be signs pointing the way from 50th and Topeka.

A video preview of the Trail of Terror is availiable at the new Giants website.

Giants leave MINK

TOPEKA, KS - The Topeka Golden Giants are announcing plans to leave the Missouri Iowa Nebraska Kansas League (M.I.N.K. League) for the upcoming 2010 season. The Golden Giants will instead play an independent schedule and will fill 25 home dates this summer.

The Golden Giants have enjoyed their relationship with the M.I.N.K. League and it's member franchises throughout their first five years of existence, but feel the time is right to move in another direction.

Team President Brett Cowdin issued the following statement to the members of the M.I.N.K. League on Monday:

Dear M.I.N.K. League Directors, Members and staff,

Before anything else, allow me to express my sincerest gratitude for allowing us to be a part of the M.I.N.K League the last 5 years.

We have been happy and thankful to be a member of the league and am proud of where our team is today because of this. With your help and support the Topeka Golden Giants have helped many players gain the experience they needed to prosper in Collegiate baseball and provided outstanding entertainment for the Topeka area. For these, I am forever grateful to the M.I.N.K. League and it's members. I have always considered it an honor and privilege to be a part of the M.I.N.K. "family".

Unfortunately, the Topeka Golden Giants organization will resign our membership effective October 10, 2009. After much thought and discussion we have decided for the long-term growth of our team that this is the right time to move on. Our organization is very much looking forward to the professional challenge of playing as an Independent team and continuing the growth of Colligate summer league play in the Midwest.

Leaving friends and colleagues is never an easy decision nor one we took lightly. The Golden Giants will continue to play in Topeka, KS and hope to continue their relationships with the M.I.N.K. members as an independent team.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the member teams of the M.I.N.K league, as well as to many friends and colleagues who have competed against us over the past 5 years. I have truly enjoyed being a part of the league and am grateful for the many learning and growth opportunities being a member of the M.I.N.K. has provided us over the years.

We wish all of the M.I.N.K. member teams continued success and hope to meet on the diamond in the future.

- Thomas Brett Cowdin, President, Topeka Golden Giants

Topeka will join the ranks of the Junction City Generals, who also operate as an independent team and are not affiliated with any league. The Giants are currently negotiating to host an NBC Regional Tournament that will provide the winner an automatic berth in the World Series tournament.

Related article:
St. Joseph News Press: MINK meeting sees 2 teams leave, 2 take their place

Golden Giants announce Tetuan as Head Coach

The Topeka Golden Giants are pleased to announce that former Hayden High School standout John Tetuan will be the team's new field manager for the 2010 season.

Tetuan has been an assistant coach with the Golden Giants since 2005 and will step into the role being vacated by Kent Becker.

"We are excited to name John Tetuan as our new head baseball coach for the Topeka Golden Giants," Team President Brett Cowdin said. "My familiarity with John, his experience and his view of where our organization is headed was pivotal in his appointment to our head position. John helped Kent Becker in every aspect of coaching the Giants the last two seasons, we have been blessed."

"The Giants are lucky to have a guy like John Tetuan as our head Coach."

Tetuan, a former three-sport star at Hayden, pitched for Wichita State University from 2000-2002. In 2002, he posted a 10-1 record, earning Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-American honors.

Following his break-out season for the Shockers, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 9th round of the 2002 June Amateur Draft. After signing with Colorado, he was assigned to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Single-A Northwest League. There he played during the 2002 and 2004 seasons before retiring for pro baseball.

"I am excited and eager to get to work on the upcoming season, it is an honor to work in this organization. The Giants have great future plans and I am fortunate to be a part of them," Tetuan said.

"It is time to get rolling on putting together our roster."

The Golden Giants are currently working on their 2010 schedule and are looking at June 4th, 2010 as their opening night.

For more information please visit http://www.topekagoldengiants.com/

New Official Website

The official home of the Golden Giants on the web is now at http://www.topekagoldengiants.com/.

Wrapping things up

The Giants won their final game of the 2009 season 2-1 over the visiting Clarinda A's after losing 9-4 to the Beatrice Bruins on Wednesday night. The Golden Giants final record for 2009 is 18-15 in the MINK and 19-16 overall.

This would normally mark the start of the post-season for the Giants, but the team will forego playing in an NBC Regional this year due to player injuries and some other roster departures.

Thanks to all the players, coaches, staff and fans for making this season possible. See you next year!

Topeka Capital-Journal: Giants end season with win

Clarinda @ Topeka updates

We're underway. Ryan Frevert is the starting pitcher for the Giants.

1-0 Giants after one inning. Leadoff batter Jake Brown scored on an RBI single by Nick Martini.

Still 1-0 Giants after 1 1/2.

Still 1-0 Giants after two complete.

Still 1-0 Giants after 3 1/2.

Still 1-0 after four complete.

Still 1-0 Giants after five. Tobi Cowdin comes in to pitch the top of the sixth for the Giants. Frevert pitches 5 innings giving up only 2 hits.

1-1 tie after 5 1/2. Clarinda scores on an RBI double by their leftfielder (#23).

Still 1-1 after six. Brett Mize comes in to pitch the top of the 7th.

Still 1-1 at the stretch.

Giants go ahead in the bottom of the 7th on an RBI single by Martini. Kurt Spomer comes on to pitch the top of the 8th. 2-1 Giants after seven.

Still 2-1 Giants after 7 1/2. Stephen Thompson comes in to pitch the bottom of the 8th for the A's.

It's a fun atmosphere at Lake Shawnee tonight. Joel Ricketts is currently "pinch hitting" for the PA announcer. Fans love the accent.

Evan Marshall comes in to pitch the top of the 9th. 2-1 Giants.

1-2-3. Giants win 2 to 1.

-- Post From My iPhone

One more game in 2009

From the team president:

Dear Friends and Family,

The Giants season is coming to a rapid close. The 2009 season will be ending on Saturday night, July 18th, against the Clarinda A's. Many of us that follow the Giants team know, the season has not ended like we had hoped: injuries and player situations beyond our control have taken their toll on the team's success. This outcome has been disappointing to all that root for the Giants. Our last game this season will be Saturday night against Clarinda, I want to invite every one out to enjoy the ball game and say goodbye to the 2009 edition of the Topeka Golden Giants.


This season has not ended like we wanted, but, we had a fun battle for first for several weeks and saw some really exciting high level baseball this summer. Some positive highlights this summer were...

1. We have found a home, The Shawnee County Baseball Complex is our home, we love it. It will be ready for big time next year.
2. We have started using promotions in-game and will only get better.
3. Word is getting out,our attendance has been increasing.
4. Our talent level has increased and will only get better.
5. Fourth of July
6. Saint Francis Night (June 4th 2010 Opening Night next year)


Things that will improve next season.
1. Facilities, rest rooms, concessions closer, covered bleachers.
2. More home games.
3. More between innings action.
4. More corporate nights (like St. Francis)
5. Play teams from farther away


If you have positive suggestions please let me or one of our staff know and we will take that in consideration for next season. I want to give a heartfelt thanks to those that want good baseball in Topeka, we are improving every year, soon we will have what we want.


Warm Regards;


Brett Cowdin