Independent League news

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Since Indy League baseball is loved by many, I thought it would be nice to start a thread for it.

Here is a link to the site of the Independent Professional Basebal Federation. All Indy Leagues are mentioned on that site and have a link there.
http://www.independentprofessionalba...ederation.com/

[yankeebiscuitfan]

In the meantime this is old news, but in October it has been announced that the legendary Newark Bears will jump leagues. Playing in the Atlantic League in 2010, the Bears will play in the CanAm league in 2011. Their departure leaves a void that will be filled by a team called the Road Warriors, which will play their games, you guessed it, on the road. There has been a team called the Road Warriors before in the Atlantic League, used every time by the League to fill a void of a team folding or leaving.

Furthermore it has been announced that the Atlantic League will ad a new team in 2012: The Sugarland Skeeters. Notable is that this Texas based team is about 1700 miles away from the rest of the league. That will be some long busrides. I wonder how long this team will stay in the Atlantic League.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

The independent leagues, Northern League, United League and the Golden League have joined forces and will create a new independent league: The North American League.

The excisting leagues will keep their names and their baseball operating structure. The new formed league will have 16-20 teams, with expansion already set in 2012.

The structure of the North American League will be set up with the three original leagues covering their respective regions where the teams will play approximately 75% of their games within their region and 25% outside their region/division. This will be followed by playoffs that will conclude with a North American Championship Series. It is anticipated that the league will play a 92 - 100 game regular season schedule that will be determined at the inaugural NAL meetings that will be held in northern California at the end of this month. All of the existing Golden League, Northern League, and United League teams will be part of the circuit, and it is expected that additional teams will be announced in the coming weeks as well. The full slate of 2011 NAL teams and the makeup of each region will be announced following the league meeting. Baseball related playing rules will also be finalized including player classification/eligibility and playing rules (National League or American League).

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Former Angels' minor leaguer Hainley Statia has signed a contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. Statia, born on Curacao, played shortstop at all Minor League levels for the Angels, hitting a combined .278 at AA Arkansas and AAA Salt Lake.

Statia also represented the Netherlands during the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
He is the best Dutch shortstop I have ever seen. I was quite surprised to see that he is not in the Angels organization anymore.

[astrosfanatic]

Furthermore it has been announced that the Atlantic League will ad a new team in 2012: The Sugarland Skeeters. Notable is that this Texas based team is about 1700 miles away from the rest of the league. That will be some long busrides. I wonder how long this team will stay in the Atlantic League.

my guess is not but 1 or 2 years....the ballpark is being built to AAA specifications for a reason....i am hoping and praying for it to eventually become an Astros farm team...our contract with Corpus ends this year and most expect Corpus to move to the Rangers system since it is owned by Nolan Ryan, but only time will tell

[yankeebiscuitfan]

The new Atlantic League, Sugarland Skeeters, announced that Gary Gaetti will be their manager for the 2012 season.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

The Play Offs in the Independent Atlantic League are set.

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Each division has played two games already:

Liberty Division:

Wednesday, September 21st
Southern Maryland BlueCrabs - Long Island Ducks 3-6
Thursday, September 22nd
Southern Maryland BlueCrabs - Long Island Ducks 8-6

Freedom Division:

Wednesday, September 21st
Lancaster Barnstormers - York Revolution 2-3
Thursday, September 22nd
Lancaster Barnstormers - York Revolution 1-4

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Saturday September 24:
Long Island Ducks - Southern Maryland BlueCrabs 4-2 (Long Island leads series 2-1)
York Revolution - Lancaster Barnstormers 1-5 (York leads series 2-1)

[yankeebiscuitfan]

In the independent American Association, the Grand Prairie Air Hogs won the championship beating the Saint Paul Saints 3-2 in a best of five series.

The Quebec Capitales have won the CanAm championship for the third year in a row by beating the New Jersey Jackals 3-1 in a best of five series.

In the Frontier League the Joliet Jackhammers beat the River City Rascals 3-1 in a best of five series.

The Edmonton Capitals have won the North American Baseball League title by beating the Rio Grande Valley White Wings 4-1 in a best of seven series.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Atlantic League Play Offs:

Sunday, September 25:

York Revolution - Lancaster Barnstormers 1-6 (series tied at two)
Long Island Ducks - Southern Maryland BlueCrabs 9-8 (Ducks win series 3-1)