9-538: The Kokomo Jackrabbits are a college summer baseball team based in Kokomo, Indiana . They are a member of the summer collegiate Northwoods League , beginning with the 2019 season. Previously, the team played in the Prospect League . The Jackrabbits play at the 4,000-seat Kokomo Municipal Stadium in downtown Kokomo. Kokomo's baseball team went through a naming contest in the summer of 2014 before landing on
18-538: The 1970s and 1980s with brown, mustard and orange colors. The Jackrabbits have canceled their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Matt Howard On October 20, 2014, Greg Van Horn was named the first Field Manager in Jackrabbits history. After a tumultuous first thirty games to the 2015 season (in which he was ejected three times), Van Horn was relieved of his duties by Matt Howard, who remained in place for
27-489: The 2016 season. Howard lead the Jackrabbits to a 46–45 record across his one and a half seasons. Howard then moved on to accept the same position at Indiana University Kokomo , where he became the baseball team's first field manager in school history. The Jackrabbits then hired former Austin Peay coach and all time Ohio Valley Conference wins leader Gary McClure . McClure posted a 64-55 (.538) record in his two seasons with
36-672: The club. After leading the team to the Prospect League Championship Series in the 2018 season, it was announced that McClure would be taking over as the first manager of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball expansion team, the Milwaukee Milkmen (also owned by the Jackrabbits' parent company, ROC Ventures). In 2022 Johnston Hobbs was hired by Nathan Martin, the general manager. Martin won general manager of
45-496: The collegiate summer season. These draftees can remain with their collegiate summer team until they sign a professional contract. During the season, players are housed by volunteer host families and bussed to and from road games. The leagues vary greatly in their attendances, quality of play, and ability to attract scouts. The Alaska Baseball League (ABL) and the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) are considered
54-701: The common nickname of these leagues as "wood-bat leagues". Collegiate summer leagues allow college baseball players the ability to compete using professional rules and equipment, giving them experience and allowing professional scouts the opportunity to observe players under such conditions. To find a collegiate summer team, players work with their college coaches and prospective teams' general managers. They report to summer leagues after completing their spring collegiate season with their NCAA , NAIA , NJCAA , CCCAA , and NWAC teams. Some players arrive late due to their college team's postseason play, which sometimes runs into early June. In some cases, players are drafted during
63-413: The two premier collegiate summer leagues. This list is organized by federation. Source: Chicago Suburban Baseball League Alaska Baseball League The Alaska Baseball League ( ABL ) is an amateur collegiate summer baseball league based entirely in southern Alaska . Players in the league must have attended one year of college and must have one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. In
72-558: The winning name of "Jackrabbits." Of around 1,000 entries in the online naming campaign, 15 people suggested the name "Jackrabbit" for Kokomo's Prospect League team. The name is the same as a popular automobile developed by the Apperson Brothers in a building adjacent to where Kokomo Municipal Stadium now stands. The Kokomo Jackrabbits have adopted a look that is reminiscent of the San Diego Padres uniforms during
81-740: The year for Indiana Northwoods League teams. This article related to sports in Indiana is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operate from early June to early August. In contrast to college baseball , which allow aluminum or other composite baseball bats , players in these leagues use only wooden bats, hence
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