46-418: The Prospect League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. So as to maintain their college eligibility, players are not paid. Beginning in 2012, the league added four games to the season, making a total of 60 games per team (30 home and 30 road). In 1963,
92-719: A Paints baseball team in Chillicothe. Dr. Hanners, Leo Trich , former Frontier league director of development; General Manager and majority owner of the Butler BlueSox , and Duke Ward, former owner of the Frontier League's Richmond Roosters worked with the ownership of the CICL to form the Prospect League. The Prospect League began its inaugural season in summer 2009 with the original CICL teams forming
138-702: A best-of-three Championship Series, with home advantage given to the division that wins the annual All-Star Game (to be held in Butler, PA). Game One of the Championship Series will be played at the home field of the team from the losing division at the All-Star Game, with Game Two and Game Three (if necessary) held at the home field of the team from the winning division at the All-Star Game. 2013–2016: 60-game schedule divided into two halves. Winners from each half in each division to face each other in
184-483: A best-of-three with game one being held at second-half winner and games two and three (if necessary) at home of first-half winner. There are no travel days in the Division Series. Each division champion plays in the best-of-three Prospect League Championship Series. Game one is held at the home of the team representing the division that lost that year's All-Star Game. Games two and three (if necessary) are held at
230-503: A return of the two-division format as 10 teams were broken into East and West divisions. Albany, Cooperstown, Glens Falls, Mohawk Valley and defending champion Amsterdam formed the East while newcomers Adirondack and Utica joined Elmira, Newark and Watertown in the West. A new playoff format featuring six teams was instituted as the first and second-place finishers in each division were joined for
276-857: A twelve team league for the 2019 season with the addition of the Cape Catfish in Cape Girardeau, Missouri , the departure of the Kokomo Jackrabbits to the Northwoods League , the addition of the Normal CornBelters from the Frontier League and the addition of the DuPage Pistol Shrimp in Lisle, Illinois . The 2019 league featured two divisions, each with six teams. The West Division consisted of
322-457: A wild card entry under that particular season's playoff format. 2011: 56-game schedule divided in two halves. Winners from each half in each division faced each other in a one-game playoff (home field to team winning the first half). Where the same team won both halves in a division, the team with the next-best overall record from that division was declared the wild card. Divisional playoff winners met in one-game playoff with home field awarded to
368-648: The Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL), the precursor league to the Prospect League, was formed as a charter member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) summer collegiate baseball program. The league existed under NCAA rules and guidance for 41 years. In 2005, the NCAA ended its official association with summer collegiate baseball; however, the CICL continued to preserve
414-641: The 2012 season, the Nashville Outlaws folded, and the DeKalb County Liners left the league to join the Midwest Collegiate League , leaving the Prospect League with twelve teams in two, six-team divisions. The 2012 schedule consisted of 60 games with no "cross-over" games; with all games played among teams from the same division only. The only time teams from opposite divisions meet is in the Championship Series. For
460-723: The 2015 season, the league added its easternmost team yet, the Jamestown Jammers ( Jamestown, New York ). The Kokomo Jackrabbits ( Kokomo, Indiana ) were also added to the league to play in the new Kokomo Municipal Stadium , set to open for the 2015 season. After the 2015 season, the Richmond RiverRats folded, and the Jamestown Jammers moved to the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League after just one season in
506-801: The Cape Catfish, DuPage Pistol Shrimp, Hannibal Hoots , Normal CornBelters, Quincy Gems and the Springfield Sliders . The East Division consisted of the Champion City Kings , Chillicothe Paints , Danville Dans , Lafayette Aviators , Terre Haute REX and the West Virginia Miners . On May 29, 2020, the Prospect League announced cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In January 2020,
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#1732780838029552-666: The East Division Championship Series, Amsterdam swept Mohawk Valley en route to a fourth consecutive PGCBL Championship Series appearance. In the West, Newark escaped against Elmira to set up a rematch of the 2011 Championship Series. Amsterdam came back from an early deficit to win Game One in Amsterdam and traveled to Newark the following night, where the Mohawks capped off a record-breaking season with
598-538: The Lorain County Ironmen. In 2011 the DuPage Dragons franchise folded after five years with the CICL (2006–08) and Prospect League (2009–10). As a result, the league returned to a 2-division format after having 3 divisions in 2010. Richmond was moved to the six-team Eastern Division, while Danville, Nashville, Terre Haute, and Dubois County were moved to the eight-team Western Division. Before
644-663: The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. The West Division was a little tighter with the division coming down to the final days of the regular season. Newark came out on top, winning the division by a game and a half over Elmira with a 27-19 record. In the postseason, Mohawk Valley defeated the Albany Dutchmen in the one-game playoff in the East while Elmira beat the Watertown Rams in Elmira in the West. In
690-536: The PGCBL announced the addition of the Onondaga Flames for the coming season, and awarded a franchise to Watertown, which would begin play in 2018. Three teams earned playoff berths for the first time during the 2017 season. Saugerties earned the number four seed in the East, while Geneva bounced back from a 9-40 season to get a home playoff game in the West. Onondaga also qualified for the first time, picking up
736-423: The PGCBL moved to a three division format, creating a West, Central, and an East Division before the 2018 season. In March 2018, the PGCBL announced a new President and Vice President to guide the league into the future. Former New York–Penn League (NYPL) President Robert Julian was named President, and longtime right-hand man and Utica College baseball coach Joe Milazzo was named Vice President. In October 2018,
782-534: The Prospect League. The league stayed at 12 total teams for the 2016 season by adding the new Lafayette Aviators ( Lafayette, Indiana ) and DuPage Drones ( Lisle, Illinois ). For the 2017 season, the league contracted to 10 teams, as the Hannibal Cavemen and DuPage Drones both ceased operation. Hannibal reentered the league for the 2018 season as the Hannibal Hoots . The league returned to
828-610: The RailRiders to capture the 2015 PGCBL Championship, the first in team history. At the PGCBL owners meeting in October 2015, the league announced the addition of three teams to the league roster. Former NYCBL members Geneva and Oneonta jumped to the PGCBL for 2016. The Jamestown Jammers also decided to move to the PGCBL after having played in the Prospect League in 2015. In April 2016, the Utica Brewers changed their name to
874-676: The Utica Blue Sox. The 2016 season featured a 50-game regular season for the second straight year. A year after setting a PGCBL record with 40 wins in the regular season, the Amsterdam Mohawks again finished with the best regular season record at 34-15, winning the East Division. In the West, the Elmira Pioneers won their second straight division title with a 33-15 record. A new eight-team playoff format saw
920-534: The Watertown Rams. In 2015, the Amsterdam Mohawks won the East Division with a record 40 wins in the regular season. The Elmira Pioneers won the West Division, with a team record 33 wins. Both teams were upset in the divisional round of playoffs as Mohawk Valley upended the defending champions in three games, while the first year Victor RailRiders swept the Pioneers. The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs then swept
966-740: The West Virginia Miners would be dormant for the 2023 season. In September 2023, the Dubois County Bombers announced they will rejoin the Prospect League for the 2024 season playing their home games at the historic League Stadium . Charter members: Butler BlueSox, Champion City Kings (as the Slippery Rock Sliders), Chillicothe Paints, Danville Dans, DuPage Dragons, Hannibal Cavemen, Richmond RiverRats, Springfield Sliders, Quincy Gems The Cape Catfish , DuPage Pistol Shrimp and Normal CornBelters joined
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#17327808380291012-787: The Western Division. Five expansion teams formed the Eastern Division. Three of the Eastern Division teams began play in markets previously served by Frontier League teams. Besides the Chillicothe Paints, the Richmond RiverRats ( Richmond, Indiana ) played in the previous home of the Frontier League's Richmond Roosters, which are now the Traverse City Beach Bums . The Slippery Rock Sliders ( Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania ) played in
1058-580: The amateur status of its member athletes by abiding by the rules and regulations of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB). In 2009, the CICL planned to expand to six teams by adding the Hannibal Cavemen , but in winter 2008, the league ownership voted against further expansion. Dr. Chris Hanners, owner of the Chillicothe franchise and one of the founders of the independent professional Frontier League , wanted to keep
1104-496: 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
1150-701: 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
1196-537: The defending champion Jamestown Jammers abruptly announced they were ceasing operations after the Milwaukee, Wisconsin -based ownership group pulled out of the league in favor of setting up an American Association of Independent Professional Baseball team in its home city. The city's PGCBL rights were suspended for 2019 with the intent to return in 2020; originally announced to be retaining the Jammers name and brand,
1242-415: The divisional finals against Amsterdam and Watertown. Amsterdam edged out Albany and Elmira in back-to-back Game 3's to become the first repeat champion in league history. The Cooperstown Hawkeyes were placed on Voluntary Suspension for the 2014 season, leaving four teams in the East Division. The Amsterdam Mohawks again finished with the best record in the league at 36-11- winning the East by nine games over
1288-528: The first time by the third-place finishing team - this led to a down-to-wire playoff chase where the sixth and final playoff spot was not decided until the final night of the regular season. Amsterdam and Watertown overcame slow starts to win division titles; each team captured its first division title in the PGCBL. Albany, Mohawk Valley, Elmira and Newark rounded out the playoff field. Three seeds Albany and Elmira each won opening round playoff games over second-seeded Mohawk Valley and Newark respectively to advance to
1334-668: The franchise's third straight PGCBL championship. In July 2014, the league announced a franchise will be placed in Saugerties, New York and play in the East Division-effective for the 2015 season. In January 2015, the league announced the addition of a franchise in Victor for the 2015 season. The league also decided to play a 50-game schedule, compared to the previous length of a 48-game schedule. The Cooperstown Hawkeyes remained on voluntary suspension and were joined by
1380-427: The home of the team representing the division that won that year's All-Star Game. 2017–present: After a 60-game schedule, the top two teams in the East Division and the West Division play each other in the first round in a best of 3 series with the first place teams getting home field advantage. The winner of the East Division and West Division series face off in a best-of-three Prospect League Championship series with
1426-666: The league announced adding a new team in Alton, Illinois for the 2021 season. In September 2020, the league announced adding a new team in Johnstown, Pennsylvania for the 2021 season. In February 2021, the league announced the addition of two new teams in Iowa, the Clinton LumberKings and Burlington Bees . Both teams are former Midwest League teams displaced in the 2021 realignment of the minor leagues . In December 2021,
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1472-746: The league announced the addition of the Jackson Rockabillys for the 2023 season, playing home games in Jackson, Tennessee at West Tennessee Baseball Stadium (formerly known as The Ballpark at Jackson ). In August 2022, the league announced that a Southern Illinois team would begin play in 2023 at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois ; in February 2023, the team was named the Thrillville Thrillbillies. The league announced that
1518-599: The league in the 2019, replacing the Kokomo Jackrabbits , who left for the Northwoods League , and the Butler BlueSox , who suspended operations. 2009: After 56-game schedule, teams with best record in each division faced each other in a best-of-three series for the Championship. 2010: 56-game schedule divided in two halves. Winners from each half in each division faced each other in a one-game playoff (home field to team with best overall record). Where
1564-476: The league playoffs. Newark defeated Amsterdam, two games to one, to win the very first PGCBL championship. In 2012, the league expanded to nine teams with the addition of the Oneonta Outlaws. The two-division format was replaced by a single nine-team division with the top four teams in the league regular season standings qualifying for the playoffs. Amsterdam won 35 of 47 regular season games and captured
1610-650: The league to a record 16 teams. The 16 teams were organized into three divisions: East, Central, and West. No 2021 All-Star game was held. For the 2022 season, the PGCBL switched from the three-division format back to two divisions, East and West, and the Adirondack Trail Blazers were renamed the Boonville Baseball Club. All-Star games were not held in 2022 and 2023, but players were named for All-Star teams in both divisions. In December 2022, industry veteran Butch Russo became
1656-556: The number four seed in the West. In the playoffs, Amsterdam and Mohawk Valley got through in the West, while Elmira and Jamestown matched up in the West Finals. Mohawk Valley then dethroned Amsterdam for the second time in three seasons to set up a PGCBL Finals with the Jamestown Jammers. The DiamondDawgs swept the PGCBL Finals to earn their second title. With the addition of Watertown and the voluntary suspension of Onondaga,
1702-690: The previous home of the Frontier League team of the same name . In 2010, the Prospect League expanded adding four new franchises: the Terre Haute Rex ( Terre Haute, Indiana ), the West Virginia Miners ( Beckley, West Virginia ), the DeKalb County Liners ( Sycamore, Illinois ), and the Nashville Outlaws ( Nashville, Tennessee ). Due to a change in team ownership in 2010, the North Coast Knights became
1748-521: The regular season championship. Amsterdam, Glens Falls, Newark and Mohawk Valley qualified for the postseason. Amsterdam swept Glens Falls to win its first league title. The Mohawks finished the summer ranked third nationally in Perfect Game's Summer Top 30 poll. The Adirondack Trail Blazers and the Utica Brewers joined the PGCBL in the fall of 2012 while the Oneonta Outlaws were granted a one year Voluntary Suspension of operations. The 2013 season saw
1794-579: The same team won both halves in a division, the team with the next-best overall record from that division was declared the wild card. Championship Series was a two-game affair with the divisional playoff winner with the best overall record receiving a bye into the Championship Game. The remaining two divisional playoff winners met in a one-game play-in for the right to go to the Championship Game. Championship Series held at Chillicothe, Ohio . Teams in italics qualified for that season's playoffs as
1840-811: The team unexpectedly announced in October 2019 that the new team would not use the Jammers name. The new name, Jamestown Tarp Skunks, was revealed in January 2020. The 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic on May 6, 2020. In 2021, the league welcomed the Auburn Doubledays and the Batavia Muckdogs from the NYPL and the Niagara Power from the New York Collegiate Baseball League , bringing
1886-429: The team with the best overall record from the regular season. 2012: 60-game schedule divided in two halves. Winners from each half in each division to face each other in a one-game playoff to be hosted by the first-half champions in each division. If the same team wins both halves, the team with the best overall record from that division will be declared the wild card. Winners of each divisional playoff game will meet in
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1932-531: The team with the best record getting home field advantage. 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
1978-404: The top two seeds in both divisions advance to the division finals, with Amsterdam meeting Albany and Elmira facing Utica. Amsterdam went back to the PGCBL Finals to meet Utica, who was making their first trip in franchise history. Both series went the full three games. Amsterdam then swept the PGCBL finals with two decisive victories to earn their fourth title in five years. Before the 2017 season,
2024-653: The two premier collegiate summer leagues. This list is organized by federation. Source: Chicago Suburban Baseball League Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) is a 16-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 2010. As of 2022, all teams are within New York (state). All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. Players are not paid so as to maintain their college eligibility. Each team plays an eight-week, 48 game schedule from June to August with playoffs in early August. The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League
2070-427: Was completed in the summer of 2011. The eight teams were broken down into two divisions, PGCBL East and PGCBL West. The East comprised Albany, Amsterdam, Glens Falls and Mohawk Valley. The West was made up of Cooperstown, Elmira, Newark and Watertown. Glens Falls and Cooperstown were the regular season division champions in the PGCBL East and West respectively. Glens Falls, Cooperstown, Amsterdam and Newark qualified for
2116-415: Was founded in the fall of 2010 by eight summer baseball teams located across upstate New York in conjunction with Perfect Game USA, baseball's largest scouting service. The eight founding members of the PGCBL were the Albany Dutchmen, Amsterdam Mohawks, Cooperstown Hawkeyes, Elmira Pioneers , Glens Falls Golden Eagles, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs, Newark Pilots and Watertown Wizards. The league's first season
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