Orem Owlz Relocating to Pueblo

A well-placed source confirms that the Orem Owlz (Rookie, Pioneer League) are relocating to Pueblo (CO).  A formal announcement is scheduled for Wednesday.  Read more and watch news report here.

Utah Valley Gets Ballpark Naming Rights Partner

When Utah Valley University started looking for a partner to step up and purchase the naming rights for the baseball facility, UVU president Matthew Holland said there was plenty of interest.  And Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU) stepped up to the plate.  The baseball stadium has been officially renamed UCCU Ballpark as part of a $5.5 million gift UCCU donated to support UVU athletics and other programs.  Read more  here.

Osprey Announce New Radio Voice

PRESS RELEASE – The Missoula Osprey announced today the addition of Cooper Perkins as the new Voice of the Osprey. Perkins will also fill the role of media relations coordinator upon his arrival in Missoula prior to the season.

New Turf Looking Good in Johnson City

Boyd Sports has completed its $250,000 installation of new synthetic turf on TVA Credit Union Ballpark’s infield and other areas well ahead of the Johnson City Cardinals’ (Rookie, Appalachian League) season.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Colorado Springs Downtown Ballpark Talk Resurfaces, but Not for Sky Sox

Colorado Springs may not be finished with talks of a downtown baseball stadium.  Addressing the City Council on Tuesday, Mayor John Suthers said Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) owner Dave Elmore indicated he would consider moving a Class-A team to the city, but only to a downtown stadium.  As we suspected all along, Elmore is contemplating moving his Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) to Colorado Springs to replace the Sky Sox, if they depart for San Antonio.  Read more here.

‘Brewfest at the Ballpark’ Returns to Centene Stadium June 10th

PRESS RELEASE – The Voyagers are proud to announce the 2016 “Brewfest at the Ballpark” to take place on Friday, June 10th. This event will rock out country style with headliner Old Southern Moonshine Revival with opening acts Jessie Leigh and local stars Pollo Loco.

Mustangs Working on New Lease, Enhanced Amenities on Deck

The Billings Mustangs (Rookie, Pioneer League) and the city are in the process of negotiating a new lease agreement for Dehler Park.  The team wants to build a three-thousand square-foot, glass enclosed “great Room” above the concessions stand and concourse down the third base line and a zip line in the area between left and center field to the sidewalk along 10th Avenue North.  Read more and watch news report here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

JC Cardinals Unveil Rendering for New Deck

PRESS RELEASE – The Johnson City Cardinals have released the first renditions of their new Party Deck/Beer Garden addition to TVA Credit Union Ballpark for the 2016 season.

Calfee Park Looking Good, More Events Targeted

After undergoing $6 million in renovations over the past couple of years, operators of Calfee Park, home of the Pulaski Yankees (Rookie, Appalachian League), are looking to keep the facility humming with more games and events.  Read more and enjoy a news report/ballpark tour here.

B-Royals Ballpark Getting New Bleachers

New bleachers will be installed along the first- and third-base sides at  Burlington Athletic Stadium in another upgrade that Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League) General Manager Ryan Keur said is a significant enhancement.  Read more here.

Owlz Announce New Voice

PRESS RELEASE – The Orem Owlz are pleased to announce Dominic Cotroneo as the new “Voice of the Owlz”.

Bristol (TN) Approves Funding for Ballpark Study

A resolution to fund a $35,000 study to determine if Bristol needs a new Minor League baseball stadium for the Bristol Pirates (Rookie, Appalachian League) on the Tennessee side of town was approved by City Council Tuesday night.  The Virginia side of town currently hosts the team at Boyce Cox Field at DeVault Memorial Stadium.  Read more here.

Appy League Unveils New Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The Appalachian League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced today the creation of a new logo for the 10-team Rookie-Advanced level league.

Owlz Hire Rick Berry as GM

The Orem Owlz announced that Rick Berry has been named General Manager. Berry will be assuming the duties of Justo Vazquez, who has left the Owlz to return to his native California.

Brewfest Returns to Centene Stadium, All-Female AC/DC Tribute Band to Headline

PRESS RELEASE – The Voyagers are proud to announce the return of a 2012 event “Brewfest at the Ballpark”. On Thursday June 4th Centene Stadium will return to the 1980’s with an all Rock N’ Roll lineup with headliner Hell’s Belles, an all women AC/DC cover band as well as Metal Steel, Mabel’s Rage.

Osprey Announce 2015 Promotional Schedule

PRESS RELEASE – With the 17^th Missoula Osprey Home Opener less than 50 days away, the club announced its 2015 Promotional Calendar that includes many customary staples including five low-level Fireworks Extravaganzas, Jake Lamb T-Shirt Night, Sparky the Fire Dog Bobblehead Night, Satuday Brewfests, and many other fun and affordable opportunities to see Osprey baseball.

New Owners of Billings Mustangs Talking Ballpark Upgrades

Dehler Park will be in for major upgrades if the new owners of the Billings Mustangs (Rookie, Pioneer League) accomplish even some of the amenities they have planned.  Ideas include a children’s play area beyond the center field wall, installation of Wi-Fi throughout the park, an activity center off left field, a group area down the first-base line, and a community room behind home plate.  Read more here.

Osprey’s Ogren Park to Host Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss

PRESS RELEASE – Music legends and Grammy Award winning artists Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas will be touring together in June and July of 2015. The tour will make a stop at Ogren Park Allegiance Field in Missoula, Mont. on Wednesday June 17, 2015.

One-Year-Old ‘Rookie’ Prepares for Duty

While pitchers and catchers don’t report for another few weeks, the Double-A Trenton Thunder’s (Eastern League) bat dog Rookie is already deep into spring training for the 2015 season.  Read more and watch video here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Geivett Named New Voice of Osprey

PRESS RELEASE – The Missoula Osprey announced today the addition of Tyler Geivett as the new Voice of the Osprey. Geivett will also fill the role of media relations coordinator upon his arrival to Missoula in early June.

Appy League Holds Off on Expansion, Kinston (NC) Waits

The Rookie-level Appalachian League has been considering expansion, but it is off the table for 2015.  The hope of securing an Appy club is reportedly one reason Kinston (NC) has held off bringing a summer collegiate Coastal Plain League franchise to Grainger Stadium after losing the Single-A Kinston Indians (Carolina League) after the 2011 season.  Read more here.

New Team Owners Will Bring Improvements to Dehler Park

No specific plan has been unveiled yet, but the new owners of the Rookie-level Billings Mustangs (Pioneer League) will work to make Dehler Park better, including enhancing the park’s group area and growing food services.  Read more here.

Main Street Baseball Officially Takes Reins of Billings Mustangs

PRESS RELEASE – Main Street Baseball, LLC, has officially taken the reins of the Billings Mustangs, the rookie-level Pioneer League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the team announced Tuesday. Major League Baseball has approved the team’s sale, formally bringing the Mustangs into the Main Street Baseball family, led by Dave Heller and Bob Herrfeldt.

Owlz Announce New Assistant GM

PRESS RELEASE – Highlighting this year’s Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego was the Orem Owlz announcement of their new Assistant General Manager, promoting Julie Hatch to the role. Julie has been apart of the organization since it relocated to Orem in 2004 and has been a staple of the Organization ever since.

Main Street Baseball Purchases Billings Mustangs

PRESS RELEASE – Main Street Baseball, LLC, has purchased the Billings Mustangs, the rookie-level Pioneer League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The ownership group and team will make a formal announcement at 3:00 pm mountain time this afternoon at Dehler Park.

Heller Buying Mustangs? Team Plans ‘Major Announcement’ Friday

The Rookie-level Billings Mustangs (Pioneer League) have called a press conference for 3 p.m. Friday to make what the Pioneer League franchise is calling “a major announcement” about the team’s future.  Attendees will include Mustangs President Woody Hahn, Main Street Baseball President Dave Heller and Main Street Baseball partner Bob Herrfeldt.  Read more here.

Pulaski to Sell Ballpark, Mariners Pulling Out

The city of Pulaski (VA) voted Tuesday night to sell antiquated Calfee Park to Shelor Motor Mile — a car dealership owned by David Hagan.  The Rookie-level Pulaski Mariners (Appalachian League) will not be returning in 2015.  Hagan plans to renovate the park and is currently negotiating to bring in

Northwest League, Pioneer League to Battle in 2015 All-Star Game, Logo Unveiled

PRESS RELEASE – The Pioneer Baseball League and Northwest League of Professional Baseball are pleased to jointly announce the scheduling of a 2015 PBL-NWL All-Star Game, hosted by the Spokane Indians in Spokane, Wash., at Avista Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. The historic game is the first-ever meeting between the two leagues in their long standing history of play in the region.

Osprey Complete Another ‘Float to the Ballpark’ Promo (We Think)

We were passing through Missoula (MT) on Sunday afternoon and stopped by Ogren Park at Allegience Field a few hours before the Rookie-level Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League) game to see if the “Float to the Ballpark” participants had docked yet.  They hadn’t, but we took a few photos to give you a feel for the venue.  We have yet to see a report from the Osprey on their website, Facebook or Twitter page that the promo actually took place, but we assume it did.  View our photos here.  Read about the float promo here.  View photos from 2012 here.

Beer Finally Returns to Howard Johnson Field

For the first time in years, fans of the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals (Appalachian League) this week were able to cheer on their team while drinking a cold beer in the bleachers at Howard Johnson Field in Cardinal Park.  Read more here.

Developing the Old Sawmill District Next to Osprey’s Home

A development team looking to transform an old sawmill site along the Clark Fork River in Missoula (MT)  into a trendy urban village, complete with condominiums, office space, shopping, dining, student housing and senior living.  That should be good news for next door neighbor Ogren Park Allegiance Field, home of the Rookie-level Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League).  Read more here.  View map here.

Burlington (NC) Dreams of New Downtown Ballpark

Powers in Burlington (NC) dream of a new downtown ballpark for the Rookie-level Burlington Royals (Appalachian League), but it’s really nothing more than a dream right now.  The B-Royals currently play at Burlington Athletic Stadium.  Read more here.

Owners of Pulaski Mariners to Retire, Owners of Speedway/Dragway Will Take the Reins

PRESS RELEASE – After twenty-five years of operating a team in the Appalachian League, the owners of Pulaski Baseball, Inc. have decided to retire.

Greenville Astros Introduce ‘Gizmo’

PRESS RELEASE – With Toby’s suggestion, the new Greeneville Astros’ lovable new mascot is named Gizmo. He is a furry neon-orange creature of the Homerunus Magnificentus species that hails from The Great Bullpens of the Grand Slam Galaxy in outer space. He sports a Greeneville Astros jersey and hat with baseball antennas extending above his head. The jersey has a patch on the sleeve

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Joe O’Brien Field (Elizabethton, TN)

Graham Knight from BaseballPilgrimages.com visits Joe O’Brien Field, home of the Rookie-level Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League).  Read more and view photos here.

ZZ Top, Jeff Beck to Rock Home of the Osprey

PRESS RELEASE – The Missoula Osprey in conjunction with The Knitting Factory announced today that ZZ Top and Jeff Beck will be live in concert at Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Friday, August 8. The gates will open at 5 p.m. with the show starting at 6.

Missoula Osprey Announce New Voice

PRESS RELEASE – The Missoula Osprey announced today the addition of Nolan Alexander as the new “Voice of the Osprey.” Alexander will also fill the role of media relations coordinator upon his arrival to Missoula in early June.

Owlz Unveil 10th Season Logo, Los Owlz Hispanic Heritage Night Highlights 2014 Promo Schedule

PRESS RELEASE – This June marks the 10th Anniversary of Owlz baseball in Orem, Utah. The Owlz have released their promotions schedule for the commemorative season.

Bristol Pirates Unveil Logos

The Rookie-level Bristol Pirates (Appalachian League) introduced their new branding at a press conference this afternoon at the Pavilion at Boyce Cox Field in Bristol (VA).  View press release here.

Alternate logo, inspired by the classic sign over State Street in downtown Bristol (VA), Bistol Pirates Twitter

New cap logo, Bristol Pirates Twitter

Trenton’s New Bat Dog Has a Name (SEE PUPPY PHOTO HERE)

PRESS RELEASE – After nearly three weeks of fan input and voting, the Trenton Thunder’s bat dog of the future has a name. The Golden Retriever puppy, who is the son of team bat dog, Derby, and grandson of original bat dog, Chase, will be named, Rookie.