Prospect League Adds Clinton LumberKings, Burlington Bees to Lineup

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League is proud to announce further expansion with the additions of the Clinton LumberKings and Burlington Bees.  “We are proud to announce that both the Burlington Bees and the Clinton LumberKings are joining the Prospect League for the upcoming 2021 season and beyond,” said Prospect League Commissioner Dennis Bastien. “We applaud their decision to be a part of our league and welcome them with open arms.”

New Johnstown Franchise Named ‘Mill Rats’

PRESS RELEASE – The first Pennsylvanian team in the collegiate summer level Prospect League will pay tribute to that state’s blue collar heritage with its brand. The Johnstown Mill Rats’ nickname derives from a term used to describe coal miners and steel workers. The term originally had a derogatory connotation, but it’s been embraced and repurposed to reflect the grit and determination a person needs to work in those industries.

Prospect League Adds Johnstown (PA) to Lineup, Name-the-Team Contest Underway

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League is proud to announce the addition of Johnstown, Pa. as an expansion franchise, which will begin play in the 2021 season at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point.

Lafayette Aviators Selected to Lease New Loeb Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – The City of Lafayette and Lafayette Board of Parks & Recreation are pleased to announce that the Lafayette Aviators have been named the baseball team to play in Loeb Stadium. The announcement was made during a Park Board meeting at the Loeb Stadium construction site.

Prospect League Cancels 2020 Season

PRESS RELEASE – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting government regulations, the Prospect League has made the heartbreaking determination to cancel the 2020 season. The decision was based on the varying guidelines for safety, protection and limits on public gatherings and travel across the five states that are home to Prospect League teams.

Lafayette Exploring Team Options for New Ballpark

When the new Loeb Stadium, going up at the corner of Main Street and Wallace Avenue in Columbian Park, opens, what baseball team will take the mound at the $20 million facility during its first full summer in 2021?  Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski isn’t making any promises.  Read more here

Prospect League Adds Alton (IL) to 2021 Lineup

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League today announces the awarding and selection of Alton, Illinois as its newest member to begin play for the 2021 season. Alton becomes the 13th Prospect League team. Beautiful Lloyd Hopkins Field in Gordon Moore Park will be the home of the to-be-named Prospect League team.

It’s a No Go for Prospect League at Millikin University’s New Ballpark

Millikin University and the Prospect League (Summer Collegiate) could not come to an agreement to bring a franchise to the new Workman Family Baseball Field for the summer of 2020.  A stumbling block to securing an agreement was reportedly over the length of the proposed 10-year contract between the potential team owners and the university.  Read more here.  View original renderings here.

Prospect League Announces Five-Year Partnership with Under Armour

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League today announced it has entered into a new five-year (2020-2024) agreement with international brand Under Armour as its official on-field uniform. All Under Armour apparel, uniforms, and other related merchandise will be supplied by Kollege Town Sports, a Madison, Wisconsin-based corporation. Kollege Town Sports will also initiate two separate online stores for each team, which is a significant first.

End of An Era: Demolition of Loeb Stadium Underway

It’s the end of an era as demolition crews began tearing down Loeb Stadium Wednesday morning.  The new stadium is on schedule to be finished by the end of 2020.  The Lafayette Aviators (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League) will play their 2020 home games at Purdue’s Alexander Field.  Their first season at the new Loeb Stadium will start in the spring of 2021.  Read more and watch video here.

Despite Higher Cost, No Changes to Plans for New Lafayette Ballpark

Lafayette’s (IN) mayor doesn’t plan major changes to plans for a new city baseball stadium even though construction bids totaled nearly $4 million more than expected.  The new 2,500-seat stadium would be built at the same site as the current Loeb Stadium in Columbian Park southeast of downtown Lafayette.  Read more here.

 

Normal CornBelters Prepare to Open First Summer-Collegiate Season

After nine seasons as an independent professional team in the Frontier League, the Normal CornBelters prepare to open their first season as a franchise in the summer collegiate Prospect League.  Read more here.

City Putting Final Design Touches on Loeb Stadium Rebuild

The city of Lafayette (IN) is wrapping up the final design details of the full renovation of Loeb Stadium, home of the Lafayette Aviators (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League).  The $17 million project is expected to be completed in time for the 2021 season.  Read more here.

Prospect League Adds ‘Pistol Shrimp’ to 2019 Lineup

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League is proud to introduce its newest franchise, the DuPage Pistol Shrimp, which begins play at Benedictine University’s Ben U Baseball Field in Lisle, Ill., when the collegiate wood-bat league opens its 11th season in late May.

Prospect League Expects to Add One More to 2019 Lineup

The Prospect League (Summer Collegiate) has already added the Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Catfish and formerly professional Normal CornBelters to next season’s line up.  The league expects to announce one more team soon to get to twelve.  Read more here.

Prospect League Adds CornBelters to 2019 Lineup

PRESS RELEASE – Today marks a momentous occasion in Normal CornBelters baseball history, as the announcement has been made that they will begin play in 2019 as members of the summer collegiate Prospect League. It is also being announced that the Corn Crib is being sold to Corn Crib Associates and that the Normal Prospect League Membership will now be operated by Normal Corn Belters Baseball, including Mr. Rick DeStefane, Mr. Jimmie Louthan and Mr. Matt Stembridge. All three are current members and operators of Prospect League teams in Hannibal, MO and Quincy, Illinois.

Confirmed: CornBelters to Become Summer Collegiate Franchise

Normal CornBelters (Independent Professional, Frontier League) team president Steve Malliet confirmed this week that the team is  — as expected — leaving the independent professional Frontier League and will be a part of a summer collegiate wood bat league for the 2019 season.  The Northwoods League, Prospect League and Great Lakes League have been mentioned.  Read more here.

‘Belters Next to Leave for Summer Collegiate Ranks?

The Traverse City Beach Bums formally left the Frontier League (Independent Professional) on Wednesday, as new ownership announced the team would shift to the Northwoods League (Summer Collegiate) for 2019.  Are the Normal CornBelters next to depart the Frontier League?  The chatter is that the team will switch to the Prospect League (Summer Collegiate) for next season.  Read more here.

CornBelters Again Contemplate Future as a Pro Team

Like this time last year, the Normal CornBelters (Independent Professional, Frontier League) are pondering an off-season move from the Frontier League to a summer collegiate circuit — possibly the Northwoods League or Prospect League.  Read more here.

Butler BlueSox Leaving Prospect League, Future Uncertain

More information about the future of the Butler BlueSox, as well as the future name of Kelly Automotive Park, could be revealed at a special meeting next week.  Read more here.  In a news release issued earlier this month, Butler BlueSox Baseball Organization, the team’s ownership group, announced the club would be leaving the Prospect League (Summer Collegiate) after 10 seasons.  The more economical Great Lakes League (Summer Collegiate) was mentioned as a possible landing spot for the franchise.  Read more here.

Jackrabbits to Move to Northwoods League in 2019

After playing four seasons in the Prospect League (Summer Collegiate), the Kokomo Jackrabbits will join the Northwoods League (Summer Collegiate) beginning the 2019 season.  Read more here.

Jackrabbits Host ‘JAX 500’ Night

The Kokomo Jackrabbits (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League), will host JAX 500 night on Saturday, June 23.  The team will wear special racing jerseys, and fans will receive a checkered flag as they enter the stadium.

Prospect League Looking to Expand East

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League, the Summer Collegiate Wood Bat circuit, is now looking eastward in its endeavor to grow the league and its brand. With eleven current cities readying for Opening Day 2018 on May 30th, the league has already added the Cape Girardeau (Mo.) Catfish for the 2019 season, with several other markets currently in talks and discussions for the 2019 season and beyond.

Aviators Get New Ownership

Milwaukee (WI)-based MKE Sports and Entertainment has sold the Lafayette Aviators (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League) to a trio of Purdue graduates, including Bill Davidson, CEO of National Sports Services, Brent Gutwein, co-founder of Granite Student Living, and Stuart Gutwein, a Lafayette attorney.  Read more here.

Prospect League TV Logo and Packages Announced

PRESS RELEASE – In advance of its 10th season, the Prospect League unveiled the logo for its newest way for fans to watch games and stay in touch with their favorite teams, Prospect League TV (PLTV). The collegiate wood-bat circuit also laid out viewership packages available through the service.

Prospect League Adds Cape Girardeau (MO) to 2019 Lineup

PRESS RELEASE – At a press conference filled with local media members, baseball fans and local baseball legends, the Prospect League and the City of Cape Girardeau announced an expansion franchise for the summer wood-bat circuit will play at Capaha Field beginning with the 2019 season.

Prospect League to Provide HD Video Streaming of All Games

PRESS RELEASE – The Prospect League has entered into a multi-year partnership with Stretch Internet to provide high definition video streams of all games beginning with the 2018 season, which begins May 30.

Baseball Returns to Hannibal, Officials Introduce ‘Hannibal Hoots’

PRESS RELEASE – In a press conference several weeks ago, the Prospect League and team officials announced Hannibal’s return to the league lineup for 2018 with a new ownership structure and completely new management. This is to be, for all intents and purposes, a new team, not a revival of the one that played at Clemens Field up until two seasons ago.

Loeb Stadium Getting Multi-Purpose Redesign Makeover

Loeb Stadium, home of the Lafayette Aviators (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League), is being redesigned as part of the Five Points area of Lafayette (IN) to accommodate soccer, concerts and other events.   The project will include a few key changes to the stadium, including a new entrance off Main and Wallace, synthetic turf for the field, and a reduction of capacity to 1,900, but with added suites.  Read more here.

MKE Sports & Entertainment is Now ROC Ventures

PRESS RELEASE – MKE Sports & Entertainment, owner and operator of the Kokomo Jackrabbits Baseball Team at Kokomo Municipal Stadium, has changed its name to ROC Ventures – and with the change comes a new level of excitement for Kokomo.

Cavemen Co-Owner Hopes to Get Team Back in the Game

Rick DeStefane, co-owner of the Hannibal Cavemen (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League), hopes a meeting on Tuesday can be the first step toward bringing summer collegiate baseball back to the city in 2018.   The city of Hannibal filed a lawsuit last Monday alleging that Clemons Field Management LLC is in breach of its lease agreement.  Read more here.

Prospect League Announces 60-Game Schedule, Drones and Cavemen to Sit Out 2017 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The summer home of collegiate baseball’s most elite players, The Prospect League, has adopted its 2017 schedule. Once again, each team will play a 60-game regular-season in the summer collegiate wood-bat league, opening Tuesday, May 30.

Dennis Bastien Named Prospect League Commissioner

PRESS RELEASE – The search is over and the Prospect League has just reeled in a Big League catch with the hiring of Dennis Bastien to a 3 year contract beginning 12/1/16. Dennis Bastien’s baseball pedigree is the talk of all team owners.

Sale of Hannibal Cavemen Still Pending

A California farmer who is in negotiations to purchase the Hannibal Cavemen (Summer Collegiate, Prospect League) outright says the deal is still “in the works” but not finalized.  Read more here.

Paints Unveil 25th Anniversary Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, will play their 25th season in 2017. To kick off the silver anniversary celebration, the club is introducing a special logo and a season ticket offer.

Where to Put New Home Plate in Lafayette?

Where’s home plate in Lafayette’s (IN) new baseball stadium?  There’s your No. 1 topic from the two public input meetings as the city moves forward with a new facility in Columbian Park to replace the aging Loeb Stadium.  Read more here.

Paints Announce Beer Festival

PRESS RELEASE -The Chillicothe Paints are excited to announce a new event at VA Memorial Stadium. The Chillicothe Paints Craft Beer Festival will take place at the ballpark Saturday, October 15 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Danville Stadium to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of ‘The Babe’ July 29

PRESS RELEASE – This year marks the 25th anniversary of the filming of The Babe at Danville Stadium. And the Danville Dans invite the public to join in an evening celebrating that historic event.

Checking In with the Prospect League

The summer collegiate Prospect League’s season is off and running, and newcomers to the circuit, the Lafayette Aviators and DuPage Drones, are reporting per-game average attendance numbers of 949 and 146, respectively.  Meanwhile, the Hannibal Cavemen have rebooted the franchise, both actually and mentally, with a refreshed logo and a new website, after now-resolved “internal business issues” caused front office division for the past three and a half years.  Read more here.

DuPage Drones Unveil Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The fans of the DuPage Prospect League baseball team have voted on their new team’s identity. With over 57% support amongst the seven options, the DuPage Drones new logo was selected to represent the new team and community.