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."