Giants' 2nd season comes to an end

The Topeka Golden Giants lost to Clarinda on Tuesday, 12 runs to 7. They faced the Omaha Diamond Spirit in the loser's bracket on Wednesday, this time falling by the score of 8 to 5. TH Giants' final overall record for 2006 is 20 wins, 18 losses.

Bracket
C-J story

Giants win opening game at regional

Found this little tidbit in the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune.

Clarinda began defense of its regional tourney title with a 7-0 whitewash of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Grays Monday and, also in the bottom half of the bracket, Topeka's Golden Giants topped Omaha Winery, the Upper Deck champ, 10-5.

The bracket has also been updated

Giants finish out regular season with 2 losses

The Topeka Golden Giants lost 13-6 in Parkvlle on the 20th, and also lost to Chillicothe on the 21st, 6-1.

The Golden Giants final regualar season record for 2006 is 19-16 overall, they finished 4th in the MINK League with an 11-12 league record.

The postseason starts tomorrow.

Giants lose final home game

The Topeka Golden Giants were defeated by the Beatrice Bruins in their final 2006 game at Hummer Sports park. Final score: 14 to 3.

Update: Capital-Journal article.

There is a make up game in Parkville this evening, followed by a Friday night game in Chillicothe. The opening game of the regional will be against winner of the Omaha Upper Deck League pennant at 5:45 p.m. Monday in Clarinda. Info and bracket are availiable on the A's site.

Giants over Grays, 6-4

The Topeka Golden Giants won at home tonight over the FCA Grays of Blue Springs, Missouri. The final score was 6 runs to 4. Bringing them to 11-9 in the MINK and 19-14 overall.

The final home game will be tomorrow night versus the Beatrice Bruins. 7 o'clock first pitch.

Final regular season game will be Friday night in Chillicothe, also at 7 p.m. The postseason begins with the National Baseball Congress Central USA Regional tournament in Clarinda starting on Tuesday the 25th.

Update: Capital-Journal article

Giants lose close game to Clarinda

Monday's game ended on a failed suicide squeeeze play in the bottom of the ninth, alowing Clarinda to win, 9 runs to 8.

Capital-Journal article

Final Homestand begins

The Topeka Golden Giants will face the Clarinda A's at Hummer Sports Park tonight. This is the first game of their final homestand of the season. The FCA Grays will be in tomorrow and Beatrice arrives Wednesday. All games start at 7:00 p.m.

Today's game canceled

Today's Golden Giants game at Seaman High School against the Wichita Gators has been canceled.

Golden Giants sweep doubleheader

The Topeka Golden Giants won both games tonight. The final score for Game 1 was Topeka 3, Parkville 2. Game 2 ended Topeka 6, Parkville 4.

Update: C-J article

Game in Beatrice "hailed out"

The Giants game with Beatrice was rained/hailed out. The hail and heavy rain started just before 6 p.m. in Beatrice. The Giants and Bruins will make the game up if needed on July 20th in Topeka.


The Giants play on Friday July 14th at 4:00 p.m. at Hummer Park in Topeka. The first game will be continued from an earlier game that was rained out. The game will resume in the top of the 3rd inning with the score tied at 1. Both games will be seven inning affairs.


On Saturday the Giants will play at Seaman high school against the Wichita Gators. This game is a 6 p.m. start.

Giants lose close one

The Topeka Golden Giants lost a close game in Chilicothe to the MINK-leading Mudcats on Tuesday. Final score was 3-2.

49 News

Giants lose to Generals

The Topeka Golden Giants lost to the Junction City Generals in Topeka tonight. Final score was 2-0.

Update: Capital-Journal article

Giants-Generals rained out

Today's Golden Giants game at Seaman High School vs. the Junction City Generals has been rained out. Tomorrow's 7:00 p.m. game vs. the Generals at Hummer is still on.

Giants sweep Generals in Ozark

The Topeka Golden Giants swept the Ozark Generals in a doubleheader Friday. The Giants won the first game 5-3 in nine innings in a scheduled seven inning game, with a solid pitching performance from Austin Todd. Todd gave up only one earned run, scattering eight hits. Jake Dean singled in two runs in the ninth inning to give Topeka a two run lead. Kyle Knuteson pitched the bottom of the ninth, allowing no Generals to reach base.

The second game was scheduled for seven innings also. Tim Brown pitched six of those innings, giving up only two hits. Jake Dean hit a towering solo-shot home run, off the right field foul pole, which seemed to ignite the Giants as they went on to score four more runs in the top of the 4th. The Giants momentum continued into the 5th with three additional runs. Josh Corpening came on in relief in the 7th to finish the game for the Giants.

The Giants are now 8-7 in league play and 16-11 overall, they are currently 3rd in the MINK, 2 1/2 games behind the first place Chillicothe Mudcats.

The Sunday game with the Junction City Generals is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start at Seaman high school.

The Giants will play Junction City again on Monday, this time at Hummer Sports Park with a 7:00 p.m. start.

Giants win in Beatrice

I don't have results for yesterday's game in Parkville, but I just caught the score for tonight's road game in Beatrice on WIBW-TV. Giants won 13-8.

Update: Here's the Capital-Journal article on the Beatrice game. The Parkville game was not mentioned in the article, but the Giants league record is listed as 6-7, which implies they haven't played another league game since the Nevada tournament. If anyone knows for sure, please post a comment below.

2nd update: The game in Parkville was rescheduled to July 20th.

Giants take second at Tournament of Champions

The Topeka Golden Giants got to the finals of the Nevada Tournament of Champions the hard way, fighting through the entire loser's bracket. In the end, they fell to the Nevada Griffons for a second time, and came in second.

From the Topeka Capital-Journal:

While coming up short of a tournament title -- falling 11-10 to the Nevada Griffons in the championship game Monday in Nevada, Mo. -- coach Daniel Esposito believes the Golden Giants may have turned a corner.

"Teams have to go through stuff like this to become closer and come together," Esposito said Tuesday.

"I'm hoping that after going through some adversity to come back and finish second in the tournament , it will catapult us into the second half of our conference season."

The tourney games make Topeka 13-11 overall, but they remain 5-7 in league play. The Giants are currently in 5th place in the MINK.

The tournament so far....

The Topeka Golden Giants have advanced to the semi-final game of the Tournament of Champions in Nevada, Missouri. After an opening round loss to the Nevada Griffons, the Giants bounced back and defeated the Topeka Badgers 14-0. The Giants later beat the Parkville Sluggers 14-3 and won the night cap against the Ozark Generals 6-2, highlighted by a Matt Berner 2-run 4th inning homer. The Giants play the semi-final on Monday July 3rd at 10:45 a.m.

Giants succumb to Grays rally

Giants lose another one at home. The Giants lead early, but the final score was 18-9. The Giants are now 5-7 in the MINK and 9-9 overall.

C-J article

Next up is the annual mid-season NBC qualifying tourney in Nevada, MO. The Giants are seeded 7th, and will play the hometown Griffons on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Win or lose, they will play again at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night against either the Topeka Badgers or the Lee's Summit Blues.

Giants lose at home

The Topeka Golden Giants lost to the Beatrice Bruins in Topeka, 10 runs to 3.

C-J article

Giants over Grays in 12

The Topeka Golden Giants overcame an early 3 run deficit to win 15 to 7 in a 12 inning marathon. The Giants had 24 hits to the Grays 7. Those 7 Grays hits all occured in the first 3 innings, meaning the Giants pitchers combined for 9 innings of no-hit baseball in the 4th through the 12 innings.

Jason Cooper tied the game in the top of the ninth with a 2 out RBI double.

Ryan Tousley came in from the outfield to pitch the 9th, 10th and 11th innings, keeping the game alive unitl the Giants offense took over in the top of the 12th. Ryan also had a good night at the plate, as did Nick Carlson, Reed Kreiser, and the previously mentioned Cooper.

Hat tip to the Grays for another quality webcast.

Giants are now 5-5 in the MINK, 9-7 overall. Beatrice comes to Topeka on Wednesday night.

Giants in Blue Springs tomorrow

The Giants visit the FCA Grays tomorrow evening. The game is scheduled to be webcast starting at 5 p.m.

Giants-Sluggers suspended by rain

Ok, I was wrong, Topeka and Parkville remain tied for 3rd place in the MINK. I guess I had forgotten the last third of that Bull Durham quote:

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes... it rains."

Tonight's game was suspended after a cloudburst in the top of the 3rd thoroughly soaked the field. The score was 1-1. Parkville had 2 hits and an error. Topeka had one hit, no errors.

The game will be resumed as part of a doubleheader in Topeka on July 14th.

Giants lose 2 in Clarinda this week

The Giants lost both road games in Clarinda this week. They lost 12-3 on Sunday night and 6-0 on Wednesday.

It looks like our squad is not alone in losing to the A's. At long last the league site has standings and results up. First place Clarinda is 8-1 in the league, Chillicothe is in second place at 5-3 and Topeka and Parkville are tied for third at 4-5.

That tie for third won't last long, Parkville will be facing the Giants in Topeka tomorrow evening. 7 o'clock start.

Golden Giants sweep DH

All of the sudden the Giants are back above .500 in the MINK League. They won both games of tonight's doubleheader against the Ozark Generals. Game 1 was 13-4. Game 2 was 14-1.

Our Giants are now 8-5 overall, 4-3 in the MINK.

Update: C-J article

Giants fall to Chillicothe

Giants lose a league game at Hummer to the Chillicothe Mudcats. Final score 7-5.

The Topeka Golden Giants are now 6-5 overall, 2-3 in the MINK.

Next game is a home doubleheader against the Ozark Generals on Friday, starting at 4 p.m.

Update: Here's the C-J article and 49 News video. The article form the Capital-Journal has this quote regarding the Giants' recent woes:

"The guys need a day off," Esposito said. "I don't feel like they're putting forth the effort needed, and we addressed that with them. They need to go about their business a little better. We have two games Friday we need to win."

It was closer this time...

The Giants fall in Junction City again, but it took extra innings tonight. Final score was 7-6 after 10 innings.

Topeka at Junction City

I was present for the first 7 innings of tonight's game in Junction City, at which point my son was tired and grumpy enough that we needed to head home. When I left Topeka was down 4-1 in the middle of the 8th.

Update: The final score was 5-1. Also, here's the article from the Generals' website. Also video from 49 ABC.

Review: The ballpark and the atmosphere in Junction City was impressive. An old limestone WPA stadium with some new aluminum bleachers down the left field line, and a new beer garden down the right field line. My only minor complaint was that the sound effects were a little over the top. I'm no purist, but a wacky sound effect on every pitch, and a comedic movie line during every little lull in the game is a bit much. The between innings promotions were well run and did not delay the game at all. Not much foul territory, so you are really close to the game even in the cheaper aluminum seats.

Editorial: This is probably my one road trip this year, and I really wanted to see what Junction City was like, since the league has expressed an interest in Topeka. I love the compactness of the MINK, and the tradition of the National Baseball Congress, but I would not be opposed to the Golden Giants moving to the CPBL. It would be tougher for Topeka, since we don't have a classic old municipal ballpark to renovate, but it could be done. The CPBL has the minor league atmosphere of an indepedent professional league, but it represents a more sustainiable business model. Nothing is certain at this level of baseball, but the CPBL has a better chance to last in Topeka than an indy league.

Giants win in North Topeka

Giants defeat the Wichita Gators of the Walter Johnson League, 7 to 3.

Update: C-J article

Defensive woes doom Giants

Topeka lost to Chilicothe tonight, 6 to 3. Both teams had 9 hits. Defense made the difference in this game, and the Giants were in a defensive slump tonight. There were only 4 Giant errors officially, but numerous other non-error miscues were just as costly.

The Giants have a chance to bounce back in a non-league game against the Wichita Gators tomorrow (at Seaman High School, not Hummer), followed by a 2 game series in Junction City.

Update:
article and boxscore from Chillicothe

Giants defeat Sluggers

Giants win 10-7 in Parkville after 10 innings.

Update: WIBW-TV said 10-7, but the paper says 11-7. Still a win, regardless. Golden Giants are now 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the MINK.

Giants outslug Blue Jays

The Topeka Golden Giants defeated the Salina Blue Jays tonight by the score of 10 to 2.

Update:
Capital-Journal article

MLB Draft

2005 Golden Giant Gus Milner was picked in the 14th round by the Phillies.

2006 Golden Giant Chris Carlson was picked in the 29th round by the Tigers.

Update:
2006 Golden Giant Kent Williamson drafted by the Tigers in the 46th round.

Giants win on the road

The Topeka Golden Giants defeated the FCA Grays in Blue Springs by a score of 10-2. Chris Graves picked up the win, and Kyle Knutson earned a save (by pitching more than the final 3 innings).

Hat tip to the Grays broadcaster, whose name I didn't catch, for a quality broadcast (or netcast?). You really never know what to expect at this level of baseball and I was prepared for anything from dead air to an FCA homer. Instead, the play-by-play was both fair and entertaining. Giants fans should consider tuning in (linking in?) on June 25th when the Giants return to Blue Springs.

Giants are now 1-1 in the MINK, 2-1 overall. Non-league home game tomorrow vs. the Salina Blue Jays. MINK road game on Thursday afternoon in Parkville.

Update:
Capital-Journal article

Internet Broadcast availiable

Sorry for the late notice, but apparently you can listen to live audio of tonight's road game in Blue Springs via this website.

Around the MINK

Couple of articles from around the league:

Generals provide chance
Positives in Mudcats opener, but still a loss

Schedule Change

The upcoming road game at Parkville, originally scheduled for Monday the 5th, has been moved to Thursday the 8th.

Next home game is still Wednesday the 7th, vs. the Salina Blue Jays.

Giants fall to Clarinda

Tonight's MINK league opener was a rough one for the Giants. At times it seemed like a lost cause, at other times frustratingly within reach. Final score was 15 runs to 8. Clarinda had 10 hits to the Giants' 7. Errors were a problem for both teams: the A's had 4 miscues and our Giants had 5.

The Giants led early, until a costly top of the 4th. Matt Thompson came in to relieve starter Kent Williamson 2/3s of the way thru the 4th. Thompson's curveball looked impressive from the stands, but the A's batters seemed to be able to handle it.

Highlights for the Golden Giants included: Good base-running in the 1st inning, including Nick Giuliani scoring the first run of the game via a well executed double steal (with Daniel Helfin). Nick Carlson's solo homer in the 3rd. Clint Samuels legging out a single to lead off the bottom of the 4th. Reliever Ross Keeling shutting the A's down in the 7th and 8th. And a great 6-4 play to end the top of the 8th.

Update:
Capital-Journal article
49 News video
box score from Clarinda

Exhibition vs. Junior Giants

For the first several innings, it went about like you would expect a college vs. 18 & under game would go. In the later innings the Junior Giants made it, not just respectable, but interesting.

CJ article
video from 49 News

Opening Night Victory!

The Topeka Golden Giants defeated the Salina Blue Jays 8 to nothing in a non-league game.

Update:
News coverage:
Game recap from Capital-Journal
Profile of Chris Carlson from Capital-Journal

Opening Day-eve

Two articles in the Topeka Capital Journal today. The first was a preview of the 2006 Golden Giants, and included an updated rosterand schedule:

2006 ROSTER
Pitchers
Ross Black, LH, North Alabama; Tim Brown, RH, Beloit College; Nathan Copeland, RH, Northwestern State; Josh Corpening, RH, Emporia State; Peter Davenport, RH, Johnson County; Chris Graves, LH, Allen County; Ryotaro Hayakawa, RH, Kansas; Justin Hildebrand, RH, Northwest Missouri State; Kyle Knutson, RH, Johnson County; Aaron Lewis, RHP, Ohlone JC; Matt Thomason, LH, Johnson County; Austin Todd, LH, Missouri State; Daniel Waggoner, RH, Emporia State; Kent Williamson, RH, Cowley County.
Infielders
Chris Carlson, New Mexico; Nick Carlson, Emporia State; Jason Cooper, Union; Jake Dean, East Carolina; Daniel Heflin, Armstrong Atlantic; Ross Kelling, Kansas; Jason Tweedy, Long Beach State; Jeff Zelenovich, Missouri.
Outfielders
Jerry Cook, Emporia State; Chris Dobler, Emporia State; Nick Giuliani, Jefferson JC; Truman Marek, Armstrong Atlantic; Clint Samuels, Alabama; Ryan Tousley, East Carolina.
Catchers
Joel Benchoff, Union; Reed Kreiser, Johnson County; Jerrod White, Missouri State.
Head coach: Daniel Esposito, Johnson County. Assistant: Tych Cowdin.

May

31 Salina, 7 p.m.

June

1 Junior Golden Giants, 7 p.m.; 3 Clarinda, 7 p.m.; 5 at Parkville, 5 p.m.; 6 at FCA Grays, 7 p.m.; 7 Salina, 7 p.m.; 10 Chillicothe, 7 p.m.; 11 Wichita Gators, 3 p.m. at Seaman HS; 12 at Junction City, 7 p.m.; 13 at Junction City, 7 p.m.; 14 Chillicothe, 7 p.m.; 16 Ozark (DH), 4 p.m.; 18 at Clarinda, 7 p.m.; 21 at Clarinda, 7 p.m.; 24 Parkville, 7 p.m.; 25 at FCA Grays, 5 p.m.; 28 Beatrice, 7 p.m.; 29 FCA Grays, 7 p.m.

July

5 at Parkville, 5 p.m.; 6 at Beatrice, 7 p.m.; 7 at Ozark (DH), 5 p.m.; 9 Junction City, 7 p.m.; 10 Junction City, 7 p.m.; 11 at Chillicothe, 7 p.m.; 13 at Beatrice, 7 p.m.; 14 Parkville, 7 p.m.; 15 Wichita Gators, 6 p.m. at Seaman HS; 17 Clarinda, 7 p.m.; 18 FCA Grays, 7 p.m.; 19 Beatrice, 7 p.m.; 21 at Chillicothe, 7 p.m.; 25-29 NBC Central Regional at Clarinda.

Home games at Hummer Sports Park, unless listed otherwise.

But the second article, while primarily about the Junior Giants, had some interesting information about the possible future of our summer-collegiate team.

The Golden Giants are second-year members of the MINK League, but Cowdin said he has received overtures from the Central Plains League that brought a team to Junction City this summer.

"We're happy in the MINK," Cowdin said, "but the Central Plains is a high collegiate league that plays for different stakes. The MINK is an NBC affiliate (National Baseball Congress) with a chance to go to Wichita to play for a national championship.

"The CPL is designed to show off top-level college talent. It's a big showcase league and we have to decide which way we want to go. That would go against the original starting point of this program, which is to have a team for local kids who might not be superstars in college. We're wrestling with that decision."

Cowdin said a CPL team would likely require a bigger venue than the Golden Giants' current home at Hummer, which is owned by USD 501. That could put them in competition with potential independent professional teams that have explored expansion in Topeka.

"If an independent team came in, I don't know that both could coincide," Cowdin said. "I've never sat down with the city and said we need a ballpark. I do know people want a beer and a hot dog at a game, and I don't have a venue to do that (sell beer) with Hummer being a school facility.

"We're wrestling with this decision and we want to know the feeling of the community. Regardless of what direction we go, we are going to continue our junior program and we hope to keep growing."

NBC on ESPN?

A recent Google News search turned up the following three articles about the Military All-Stars team:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=64001&paper=69&cat=105
http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/tester/11_14/sports/40590-1.html
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=64001&paper=69&cat=105

All 3 articles mention that the team has a chance to be on ESPN during this year's NBC World Series.

On the NBC web page for the 72nd annual World Series, Tournament Director Jerry Taylor said to contact him with any questions, so I did. He did confirm that the Military All-Stars will receive a berth to this year's World Series, and they (the Military All-Stars) "have contacted ESPN regarding coverage of their games."

National coverage of an NBC World Series game? It seems to good to be true. We'll just have to wait a few months to find out if it actually happens.

2005 Standings

The 2005 MINK standings are availaible on the Clarinda A's site.

Chris Carlson named National Player of the Week

Topeka native (and 2006 Golden Giant) Chris Carlson was named a Louisville Slugger Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

1B/DH Chris Carlson, New Mexico: Carlson belted 6 home runs over 4 games with 14 RBIs as he went 11-for-18 at the plate. Carlson also had a 1.778 slugging percentage on the week.

Lobos press release
CJ Article (typo on the Slugging percentage)

New hats, new logo for 2006 

2006 Roster

Pitchers
Phillip Ledee Northwestern State
Ryotoro Hayakawa University of Kansas
Jacob Roberson Armstrong Atlantic
Daniel Waggoner Emporia State
Justin Hildebrand Northwest Missouri State
Matt Thomason Johnson County CC
Nathan Copeland Northwestern State
Scott Schieve Johnson County CC
Austin Todd Missouri State
Josh Corporing Emporia State
Chuck Kelley Allen County CC
Tim Brown Beloit University
Kyle Knutson Johnson County CC
Ross Black North Alabama University
Chris Graves Allen County CC

Infielders
Daniel Heflin Armstrong Atlantic
Tyler Evans Armstrong Atlantic
Mike Younghanz Northwest Missouri State
Nick Carlson Emporia State
Ross Kelling University of Kansas
Jason Cooper Union University
Joe Hosey Allen County CC
Chris Carlson New Mexico State
Jake Dean East Carolina

Outfielders
Truman Marek Armstrong Atlantic
Clint Samuels University of Alabama
Kevin Deao Pittsburg State
Jerry Cook Emporia State
Ryan Tousley East Carolina
Chris Dobler Emporia State

Catchers
Joel Benchoff Union University
Jerrod White Missouri State
Reed Kreiser Johnson County CC

Coaches
Daniel Esposito
Jason Clemensen

2006 Schedule

Topeka Golden Giants College Schedule
Wed. 5/31 Salina Blue Jays 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Thur. 6/1 Topeka Jr. Giants 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Sat. 6/3 Clarinda A's 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Mon. 6/5 Parkville Sluggers 5 p.m. 1-9 Parkville, MO
Tues. 6/6 FCA Grays 7 p.m. 1-9 Blue Springs
Wed. 6/7 Salina Blue Jays 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Sat. 6/10 Chillicothe Mudcats 7:05 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Sun. 6/11 Wichita Gators 3 p.m. 1-9 TBA
Mon. 6/12 Junction City 7 p.m. 1-9 Junction City
Tues. 6/13 Junction City 7 p.m. 1-9 Junction City
Wed. 6/14 Chillicothe Mudcats 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Fri. 6/16 Ozark Generals 4 p.m. 2-7 Hummer Park
Sun. 6/18 Clarinda A's 7 p.m. 1-9 Clarinda, IA
Wed. 6/21 Clarinda A's 7 p.m. 1-9 Clarinda, IA
Sat. 6/24 Parkville Sluggers 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Sun. 6/25 FCA Grays 5 p.m. 1-9 Blue Springs
Mon. 6/26 MINK Raindate
Wed. 6/28 Beatrice Bruins 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Thurs. 6/29 FCA Grays 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Sat. 7/1 - Mon. 7/3 4th of July Tournament Nevada, MO NBC Qualifying Tournament
Wed. 7/5 Parkville Sluggers 5 p.m. 1-9 Parkville, MO
Thurs. 7/6 Beatrice Bruins 7 p.m. 1-9 Beatrice, NE
Fri. 7/7 Ozark Generals 5 p.m. 2-7 Ozark, MO
Sun. 7/9 Junction City 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Mon. 7/10 Junction City 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Tues. 7/11 Chillicothe Mudcats 7:05 p.m. 1-9 Chillicothe
Thurs. 7/13 Beatrice Bruins 7 p.m. 1-9 Beatrice, NE
Fri. 7/14 Parkville Sluggers 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Sat. 7/15 Wichita Gators 6 p.m. 1-9 TBA
Mon. 7/17 Clarinda A's 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Tues. 7/18 FCA 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Wed. 7/19 Beatrice Bruins 7 p.m. 1-9 Hummer Park
Fri. 7/21 Chillicothe Mudcats 7:05 p.m. 1-9 Chillicothe, MO
Sun. 7/23 MINK Raindate TBA
Tues. 7/25 - Sat. 7/29 NBC Central Regional Championship Clarinda, IA
Sun. 7/30 National Baseball Congress Tournament Wichita, KS

Junction City Generals and the CPBL

The new team in Junction City will be known as the Generals and will play as an independent in 2006, acting as a showcase for the planned 2007 Central Plains Baseball League.

The CPBL is envisioned as a for-profit league operating on a minor league model (beer sales and promotions being a part of that). The fledgling league is also interested in Hastings, Nebraska. Gotta give 'em credit, they are certainly targeting some nice ballparks.

We'll have to wait and see how this pans out for the future. This sort of league is not likely to be involved with the NBC, or to play non-league games once fully formed (think Texas Collegiate, WCCBL and Northwoods). I have to say, right now it reminds me of last season's early plans for the Dodge City Desparados. That has gone from a one season stint as an NBC indepedent, to being a permanent part of the Walter Johnson League. Time will tell, in the meantime we've got another great venue for 2006 baseball.

FCA Grays link updated

Fixed the sidebar link to the FCA Grays, so that it goes to their new site. Their 2006 schedule is up there as well.

The Grays open on the road against the new Junction City team. Our Golden Giants then travel to Blue Springs to face them in their home opener on June 6th.

League changes

The St. Joe Saints are no more, replaced by an independent professional team in the new American Association. Replacing the Saints in the MINK League are the Ozark Generals (formally the Springfield Generals) who will play in an Ozark, Missouri stadium called Price Cutter Park that has been abandoned by the indy leagues.

The Generals have always been one of the first NBC teams to announce their schedule, and 2006 is no exception. The Generals play a twin-bill with the Golden Giants in Topeka on June 16th. Topeka will travel to Ozark for a doubleheader on July 7th.

Groundhog Day

Well I guess this is as good a day to come out of Internet Hibernation as any. Look for updates coming soon.