Questions

[Minor League Man]

Since OSC has started to cover the CCBL, I have two questions:

1. Will other collegiate wood bat leagues be covered? (such as the Coastal Plain, Northwoods, and Prospect League)
2. If so, what is the criteria for one to be included?

Thank you very much...look forward to helping out however I can.

[preeths]

Short answer is yes, other leagues will be included and will be added to OSC very soon. Your list above is an excellent indicator of what to look for. In general, the criteria we're using for the wood bat leagues is that they must have scores readily available on game nights, issue press releases, have stats available and receive some local coverage.

[nksports]

Would the NBC be treated as one entity or its constituent leagues?

[Minor League Man]

Would the NBC be treated as one entity or its constituent leagues?

Obviously I can't speak for Paul, but if that were me running the site, I would list them as their own constituent leagues (similar to how Paul lists the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL as separate leagues rather than as the CHL.)

Then again, I can't speak for him, so it's his decision.

[Jntg4]

Prospect League FTW, can't wait.

[preeths]

Obviously I can't speak for Paul, but if that were me running the site, I would list them as their own constituent leagues (similar to how Paul lists the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL as separate leagues rather than as the CHL.)

Then again, I can't speak for him, so it's his decision.

You are correct, they'll all be treated as separate leagues, which they in fact are. So in the end, some NBC league might be covered, while other may not. We'd really love to include all the wood bat leagues eventually, but right now the leagues and their teams are all over the map in issuing press releases, having readily available (even real time) scores and stats and getting local coverage.

[preeths]

Prospect League FTW, can't wait.
They're high on our list and seem to fulfill most if not all our criteria.

[preeths]

BTW, any other leagues we should look at?

[Minor League Man]

BTW, any other leagues we should look at?
Besides the Coastal Plain, Northwoods, and Prospect League, I suggest the NYCBL, the PGCBL (with some former NYCBL teams), the TCL, the NECBL, and the FCBL...

[smallballfan]

Don't overlook the West Coast League. They meet the criteria listed above as well -they use Pointstreak, are mentioned frequently on other sites and seem to be fairly consistent in getting information out. From browsing their site I see at least 4-5 operators that worked in affiliated or indy ball - their commish helped put together River City and Gateway in the Frontier League.

http://www.wccbl.com/

Might check this out too:
http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/

Glad you're adding this part - I really believe college wood bat is coming on strong, with many minor league-template operations. With the seeming demise of many independent teams, the lower operating budgets of college wood bat leagues (players don't get paid and travel is usually limited to a smaller area), these teams are growing in popularity with fans.

Glad to see the coverage.

[nksports]

Obviously I can't speak for Paul, but if that were me running the site, I would list them as their own constituent leagues (similar to how Paul lists the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL as separate leagues rather than as the CHL.)

Then again, I can't speak for him, so it's his decision.

On their latest list, there are about 15 leagues:

http://www.nbcbaseball.com/leagues.html

They vary in terms of budget and organization (Jayhawk, Alaska, MINK, California Collegiate -- high budget, high degree of organization; Walter Johnson (where our beloved Newton Rebels play), River City Victory (which is actually more an advanced adult league), low budget, low organization).

[HeadFirst]

Paul, et al.,

You know the can of worms you've opened up with adding coverage of collegiate wood-bat leagues. I thought adding major junior hockey was ambitious.

But I must insist the Valley League have its own page and board. Pretty please.

The Valley League is among the oldest and most respected of such leagues, has several established, even historic franchises, sports some of summer's most attractive and unique venues, is relatively stable and is expanding.

The Valley League is a college-level baseball institution, and rightfully should be covered in the same vein as Cape Cod, Northwoods, Coastal Plain, Jayhawk, California, etc.

ValleyLeagueBaseball.com

(Disclaimer: I have no official affiliation with the Valley or any other collegiate wood-bat league. I just really dig it. Guys, do yourselves a favor and check out Front Royal's ballpark someday.)

[tn baseball]

the ohio valley summer collegiate baseball league could be added

[preeths]

We'll keep an eye on the OVL. Do you know what three of its teams left the KIT League?

[tn baseball]

The Marion Bobcats, Owensboro Oilers, Fulton Railroaders and Tradewater Pirates, will be playing in the new league for the 2011 season. All four teams left the KIT League after the end of the 2010 season in order to form their own summer collegiate baseball league.


www.ohiovalleyleague.net


paducah and maykield,ky are possible expansions for 2011 or 2012

[preeths]

So is the KIT League dead now? Do you know who's doing the OVL's stats? Do the teams get local media coverage? It looks as if a couple teams issue regular releases, not so much the other two.

[tn baseball]

I am not sure on the stats part and all 4 had media coverage last season but have not heard much outside of league updates I get. Mr. Guess would any any questions you have if you send him an email.

Jerry Bell started the TSCBA last year but not sure on his teams this year . Tennessee Summer Collegiate Baseball Association .

[wasteland]

BTW, any other leagues we should look at?

There is also the Great Plains Baseball League that the Rockford Foresters are part of. Rockford is gonna have Pointstreak mange its stats this year, not sure about the rest of the league.

http://www.rockfordforesters.com/


http://www.greatplainsbaseballleague.com/

[miden]

BTW, any other leagues we should look at?

Baseball America is scouting 18 leagues, which seems like a good filter of worthwhile leagues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_collegiate_summer_baseball_leagues

I give my vote to the NECBL.

[preeths]

There are a ton of leagues out there, but we're looking at the ones that operate at a fairly professional level. I know the players don't get paid, but I'm talking about leagues which make certain their game scores are available in real time (or ASAP), those which issue press releases at the team and league level and those which get some consistent press in their markets. Some of the best leagues in terms of talent don't do those things. I don't begrudge them, but they just may not fit into our coverage plans.

[patmc16]

Haven't been on in a while but glad to see coverage of summer college ball on OSC. I'm sure others would disagree but I have always considered summer college ball to be the equivalent of junior hockey so it just makes since that if jr. hockey be here summer ball would be too. For years, I have used the site below as a companion to OSC for summer ball info. Not so much for news but just to know what teams are out there. Dale does a great job of keeping on top of the comings and goings of teams and leagues which, like indy pro ball, there are a lot of changes each season. He currently includes about 80 different leagues including all levels of summer ball from the highly organized (Alaska, Cape Cod, Coastal Plain, Great Lakes, Northwoods, Prospect, Western Major, etc.) to the not much more than a city rec league (Sacramento Rural League or Dallas Amateur League, anyone??) as well as links to the NACSB (8 leagues) and NBC (15 leagues) which include most of the higher leagues.

http://www.summerleaguecentral.net/

[Shootmaster_44]

BTW, any other leagues we should look at?

I would look into the Western Major Baseball League in Canada. They have teams currently in Alberta and Saskatchewan. They recently awarded a conditional 2013 team to Cranbrook, BC, so long as they build a new stadium.

As for local coverage, I can't speak for the rest of the league, but the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets have a write up in Star-Phoenix after every game. I would anticipate that coverage is similar in Regina and likely the other Saskatchewan teams in their local daily/weekly papers.

Their website is at www.wmbl.ca.

[wasteland]

There is also the Great Plains Baseball League that the Rockford Foresters are part of. Rockford is gonna have Pointstreak mange its stats this year, not sure about the rest of the league.

http://www.rockfordforesters.com/


http://www.greatplainsbaseballleague.com/

http://www.midwestcollegiateleague.com/