Sunbelt Baseball League
The Sunbelt Baseball League (SBL) is a non-profit collegiate summer baseball league with teams located in metropolitan Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia. The SBL is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, which is partially funded by Major League Baseball.[3] Games are played with wooden bats. The season starts in early June and runs through the end of July/early August, with playoffs determining the league champion.
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Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 2005[1] |
Commissioner | Todd Pratt |
Administrator | Becky Kelly Bobby Bennett |
Motto | Georgia's Premier Collegiate Summer Baseball League |
No. of teams | 8[2] |
Country | United States |
Headquarters | Lawrenceville, Georgia |
Most recent champion(s) | Gainesville Gol'Diggers (2023) |
Most titles | Atlanta Crackers (4) |
Sponsor(s) | Major League Baseball, Rawlings, Peach State Roofing, Kapp Koncepts, Ignite Business Solutions, CorTech, Wilson Action Photography and Atlanta Rehabilitation & Performance Center |
Official website | SunbeltLeague.com |
Current league teams[4]
Team | Head coach | Location | Home field | Established |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alpharetta Aviators | Brandon Boggs | Alpharetta, GA | Veterans Field (American Legion Post 201) | 2010 |
Atlanta Blues | Joe Austin | Decatur, GA | Georgia State Baseball Complex | 2014 |
Atlanta Crackers | Kevin Meistickle | Kennesaw, GA | Fred Stillwell Stadium at Kennesaw State University | 2009 (1983[5]) |
Brookhaven Bucks | Corey Patterson | Brookhaven, GA | Hermance Stadium at Oglethorpe University | 2011 |
Chattahoochee Monsters[6] | Steve Gillispie | Columbus,GA | Golden Park | 2022 |
Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots[7] | Steve Smith | Columbus, GA | Golden Park | 2021 |
Gainesville Gol’Diggers | Micah Owings | Gainesville, GA | Ivey-Watson Field at Lanier Point Park | 2009 |
Waleska Wild Things | Davis May | Waleska, GA | Reinhardt University | 2021 |
Past champions and runners-up
Year | Champion | Runner-up |
---|---|---|
2023[8] | Gainesville Gol'Diggers | Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots |
2022[9] | Gainesville Gol'Diggers | Atlanta Crackers |
2021 | Alpharetta Aviators | Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots |
2019[10] | Brookhaven Bucks | Norcross Astros |
2018[11] | Brookhaven Bucks | Marietta Patriots |
2017[12] | Sunbelt Patriots | Atlanta Crackers |
2016[13] | Atlanta Crackers | Carrollton Clippers |
2015[14] | Atlanta Crackers | Phenix City Crawdads |
2014[15] | Atlanta Crackers | Phenix City Crawdads |
2013[16] | Atlanta Crackers | 6-4-3 DP Cougars |
2012[17] | Douglasville Bulls | Windward Braves |
2011[18] | Berkeley Lake Tides | Douglasville Bulls |
2010[19] | Berkeley Lake Tides | Douglasville Bulls |
2009 | Rockdale A's | Atlanta Crackers |
2008 | ||
2007 | ||
2006 | Rockdale A's | |
2005 | Atlanta Astros |
Former league teams
- Choccolocco (Oxford,Al) Monsters (2022) became Chattahoochee (Columbus, GA) Monsters [20]
- Gwinnett Astros (2020-2022)
- Gainesville Braves (2020-2021) became G'ville Gol'Diggers
- Marietta Patriots (2018-2021) became Atlanta Blues
- Gwinnett Tides (2014-2019) became Gainesville Braves
- Norcross Astros (2016-2019) became Gwinnett Astros
- Phenix City Crawdads (2014-2017)
- Carrollton Clippers (2016-2017)
- Alpharetta Braves (2015-2017) became Alpharetta Aviators
- Sunbelt Patriots (2017) became Marietta Patriots
- Marietta Patriots (2016) became Sunbelt Patriots
- Douglasville Bulls (2009-2015) became Carrollton Clippers
- East Cobb Patriots (2014-2015) became Marietta Patriots
- Home Plate Chukars (2010-2014) became Peachtree City Chukars (2015)
- Windward Braves (2010-2014) became Alpharetta Braves
- Berkeley Lake Tides (2009-2013) became Gwinnett Tides
- 6-4-3 DP Cougars (2011-2013)
- OTC Bearcats (2012-2013)
- Rockdale Roadrunners (2011)
- South Atlanta Bearcats (2011)
- Rockdale A's (2005-2010)
- Signature Park Grizzlies (2010)
- South Atlanta Phillies (2010)
- Atlanta Astros (2005-2010)
- Fulton Grizzlies (2009)
- Alpharetta Phillies (2009)
- Johns Creek Wood Ducks (2005-2009)
Sunbelt Baseball League alumni in Major League Baseball
Player | MLB team(s) | MLB debut | SBL team (year) |
---|---|---|---|
Xzavion Curry | Cleveland Guardians | August 15, 2022 | Brookhaven Bucks (2017) |
Sean Guenther | Miami Marlins | August 4, 2021 | Brookhaven Bucks (2014) |
Nate Lowe | Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers | April 29, 2019 | East Cobb Patriots (2014) |
Touki Toussaint | Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox | August 13, 2018 | Brookhaven Bucks (2014) |
Alan Busenitz | Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds | June 17, 2017 | Berkeley Lake Tides (2011) |
Drew Steckenrider | Miami Marlins | May 24, 2017 | Windward Braves |
Tyler Austin | New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants | August 13, 2016 | Rockdale A's (2010) |
Buck Farmer | Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds | August 13, 2014 | Rockdale A's (2009) |
David Hale[21] | Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees | September 13, 2013 | |
Tyler Flowers | Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves | September 3, 2009 | Rockdale A's (2005) |
References
- "Sunbelt wooden-bat league grows in metro area". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- "National Alliance of College Summer Baseball". Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- "The Atlanta Crackers: A Storied History of Excellence on and Off the Field". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- "Chattahoochee Monsters coming to Golden Park this summer". Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- "Columbus Reveals Name and Manager". Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- "Back to back: Gainesville Gol'Diggers claim Sunbelt Baseball League title at Ivey-Watson". Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- "Gol'Diggers find gold in the 11th, and win the 2022 SBL". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- "Bucks Repeat as Sunbelt Champions; Edmond, Brace Named Co-MVPs | Sunbelt Baseball League". sunbeltbaseball.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
- "Brookhaven Bucks win first Sunbelt league title". Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- "Patriots Dominate Crackers in 13-5 Win to Claim the Sunbelt League Championship". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- "Crackers Win Championship in 13-1 Rout of Clippers". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- "Crawdads swept by Crackers in Sunbelt Championship series". Retrieved July 30, 2015.
- "Crackers win second consecutive Sunbelt title". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Atlanta Crackers win the Sunbelt League Championship". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Coach Todd Pratt". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Bulls Fall Short in Championship". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Marshall helps Berkeley Lake to title". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "Monsters out". Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- "Sunbelt League has 12 in MLB draft". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
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