Alpine Cowboys

Last updated
Alpine Cowboys
Alpine o6 Cowboys logo.jpg
Information
League Pecos League (2011–present)
Location Alpine, Texas
Ballpark Kokernot Field
Founded 1946
League championships
  • 1959
  • 2010
  • 2012
  • 2019
  • 2024
Division championships
  • 2015
  • 2018
  • 2024
Former name(s)Big Bend Cowboys (2009–10)
Former league(s)
ColorsRed, white (red, green and white from 2009–10)
Retired numbersJared Strait (57)
OwnershipBig Bend Community Baseball and Softball Inc. (nonprofit)
ManagerLance Myers
General ManagerKristin Cavness
PresidentBob Ward
Media KVLF 1240AM/98.7FM
Website alpine.pecosleague.com

The Alpine Cowboys are a professional baseball team based in Alpine, Texas, in the Big Bend region of West Texas. The Cowboys are a franchise of the Pecos League, which is not affiliated with a Major League Baseball organization. They play their home games at Kokernot Field, a 1,200 seat stone and wrought-iron replica of Chicago's Wrigley Field that dates from 1948.

Contents

History

Early years (1946–1958)

In 1946, Herbert L. Kokernot Jr., son of Texas cattle rancher and entrepreneur Herbert L. Kokernot, retooled the semi-professional baseball team the Alpine Cats into the Alpine Cowboys. [1] While semi-professional teams were not uncommon in Texas at the time, the Alpine Cowboys had the unusual benefit of a brand new stadium, Kokernot Field, opened for them in 1947. Constructed at a cost of $1.5 million, the elaborately decorated stadium included imported infield clay shipped by train from Georgia. The Cowboys used the stadium as its home field from 1947 through 1958, during which time they took a dozen titles in the regional and were runners up for a national championship. At the end of championship seasons, Kokernot presented each team member with a pair of handmade red cowboy boots emblazoned with the brand of his "o6" Ranch—a tradition that continues with the current Cowboys' cap insignia. In addition to supporting the team and the region with a state of the art stadium, Kokernot also actively supported athletes in Alpine and elsewhere, bringing promising high school graduates onto the roster of the team and offering college scholarships to players throughout the southwest. The team featured future major league stars, including Norm Cash, Gaylord Perry, and Joe Horlen. In the days of segregation in Texas, Kokernot arranged for many exhibition games between traveling Negro league teams—led by such stars as Satchel Paige —and visiting Mexican League teams. Those exhibitions drew fans from hundreds of miles away.

In a 2007 article, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram described the team as "one of the state's finest semiprofessional teams". [2] The team launched a number of baseball professionals, including two Hall of Fame inductees. Among them was coach Tom Chandler. Team members included Gaylord Perry and Norm Cash. [2]

Minor League Baseball (1959–1961)

Boston Red Sox affiliate

In 1959, the Boston Red Sox moved their minor league affiliate, the Lexington Red Sox of the Nebraska State League, to Alpine, and took the traditional name "Cowboys" for the team. [3] The new Cowboys immediately won the Class D Sophomore League title and set the record for the highest winning percentage 88–34 (.721) of any Red Sox minor league team. [4] [5] [3] The 1959 champion team was managed by future Red Sox manager Eddie Popowski and featured three future major leaguers, pitcher Don Schwall, who two years later won the American League Rookie of the Year Awards; second baseman Chuck Schilling, who finished fourth behind Schwall in the same balloting; and pitcher Guido Grilli. The 1960 team featured future California Angels all-star Jim Fregosi. In 1962, the Sophomore League folded and the team moved to Idaho, becoming the Pocatello Chiefs of the Class C Pioneer League.

Independent Leagues (2009–present)

Continental Baseball League (2009–2010)

Professional baseball returned to Alpine in 2009 with the Big Bend Cowboys of the Continental Baseball League. The team was founded by Frank Snyder, a Fort Worth law professor, who had previously founded the CBL's Texarkana Gunslingers and who brought several local investors from the Alpine area into the new team.

Kokernot Field, Alpine, Texas (2008) Kokernot Field 2008.jpg
Kokernot Field, Alpine, Texas (2008)

In 2009, the Cowboys finished fourth with a 37–23 record. The Cowboys then defeated Bay Area in the semifinals, earning them a berth in the championship. They were then defeated by Alexandria two games to none. [6] In 2010, the final year of the CBL, the Cowboys went 33–15 in the regular season. They then defeated Las Cruces in the championship, earning them their first Ferguson Jenkins trophy. [7] [8]

Pecos League (2011–present)

After the 2010 season, Alpine reorganized as a nonprofit corporation and became charter members of the Pecos League alongside Las Cruces. In 2011, the Cowboys retired "Big Bend" and returned to the Alpine Cowboys name.

In 2012, the Cowboys won their first Pecos League championship, defeating Roswell. [9]

In 2019, the club captured their second Pecos League championship, defeating Bakersfield in the finals. [10]

On June 9, 2023, pitcher Jared Strait died in a car crash outside of Eldorado, Texas while on a road trip to play Austin. The team retired his number, 57. [11]

In 2024, Alpine held a league best 45–4 record. The team set the Pecos League record with a .918 winning percentage. On August 5, 2024, infielder James Prockish became the all time Pecos League hits leaders. [12]

Roster

Alpine Cowboys roster
Active rosterCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 21 Matteo Avallone
  • 19 Michael Castillo
  • 17 Aldo Buendia
  • 42 Jesse Garcia
  • 18 Ryan Greco
  • 33 Matt Hass
  • 65 Shane Hykin
  • 40 Brendan May
  • 69 Cameron Mulvihill
  • 30 Spencer Persky
  • 57 Jared Strait
  • 7 Brayde Hirai
  • 61 Connor Kelly
  • 12 Dom Spinoso
  • 20 Bryson Spagnuolo
  • 6 Camrin Wleczyk



 

Catchers

  • 11 Kam Holland
  • 23 Jake Sisto

Infielders

  • 22 Alex Canty
  • 10 Jeff Disla
  •  4 Manny Garcia
  • 27 James Prockish

Outfielders

  •  1 Drake Angeron
  • 24 Drew Bayard
  •  3 Cade Biddle
  • 2 Mitch Piatnik
  • 15 Andrew Capone
  • 36 Mark Traylor
 

Manager

  • 8 Sean Persky

Coaches

  • 45 Alejandro Amezquita
  • 5 Lance Myers

Injury icon 2.svg Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster  updated December 16, 2023
 Transactions

Affiliated season-by-season records

Alpine Cowboys
SeasonLeagueDivisionRecordWin %FinishManagerPlayoffsMLB affiliateClass
1959 SOPH South88–34.7211st Eddie Popowski Won Semifinals (Hobbs) 2–0
Won Finals (Carlsbad) 2–0		 Boston Red Sox D
1960SOPH–76–52.5941stDick KinamanWon First Half
Lost Finals (Hobbs) 1–2		 Boston Red Sox D
1961SOPH–62–63.2924th Mel Parnell Did not qualify Boston Red Sox D
Totals226–149.603——5–2 (.714)——

Independent season-by-season records

Alpine Cowboys
SeasonLeagueDivisionRecordWin %FinishManagerPlayoffs
2009 CNTL –37–23.6174thDonnie RandellWon Semifinals (Bay Area) 2–1
Lost Finals (Alexandria) 0–2
2010CNTL–33–15.6881stDonnie RandellWon Finals (Las Cruces) 2–1
2011 Pecos –36–30.5454thRyan StevensLost Semifinals (Roswell) 1–2
2012Pecos–45–24.6521stRyan StevensWon Semifinals (Trinidad) 2–0
Won Finals (Las Cruces) 2–1
2013PecosSouth43–26.6232ndRyan StevensLost South Finals (Roswell) 0–2
2014PecosSouth48–20.7061stRyan StevensWon South Finals (Roswell) 2–1
Lost League Finals (Santa Fe) 1–2
2015PecosSouth43–26.6231stBrett KennedyLost South Finals (Roswell) 2–3
2016PecosSouth32–32.5003rdThomas NelsonLost South Semifinals (Roswell) 0–2
2017PecosMountain43–18.7051stAustin ProttLost Mountain Division Championship (Roswell) 1–2
2018PecosMountain48–15.7621stAustin ProttWon Mountain Division Championship (Trinidad) 2–0
Lost Pecos League championship (Bakersfield) 1–2
2019PecosMountain41–16.7191stSean PerskyWon Mountain Division Semifinals (Roswell) 2–0
Won Pecos League championship (Bakersfield) 2–0
2020PecosSeason cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021PecosMountain South31–25.5542ndSean PerskyLost Mountain Division Quarterfinals (Roswell) 1–2
2022 PecosMountain South32–17.6531stSean PerskyLost First Round (Trinidad) 1–2
2023 PecosMountain36–16.6922ndSean PerskyLost First Round (Trinidad) 1–2
2024 PecosMountain South45–4.9181stSean PerskyWon Mountain Division Semifinals (Tucson) 2–1
Won Mountain Division Finals (Garden City) 2-0

Won Pecos League Champtionship (San Rafael) 2-0

Totals593–307.659——31–28 (.525)

Notable alumni

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References

  1. ↑ Stout, DJ (2010). The Amazing Tale of Mr. Herbert and His Fabulous Alpine Cowboys Baseball Club. University of Texas Press. ISBN   978-0-292-72334-4.
  2. 1 2 Carter, O.K. (2007-01-24). "Glory Days: Book to pay tribute to Alpine Cowboys, stadium". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  3. 1 2 "Alpine Cowboys - SoSH | Boston Red Sox | Red Sox Rumors | Spring Training | Pawtucket Red Sox". Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  4. ↑ "1960 Sophomore League (SL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. ↑ "1960 Sophomore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ↑ "2009 Continental League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ "2010 CBL Final Standings". cblproball.com.
  8. ↑ "2010 CBL Championship". cblproball.com.
  9. ↑ "2012 Pecos League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "2019 Pecos League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ↑ "Alpine Cowboys baseball player dies in car crash". bigbendsentinel.com.
  12. ↑ "James Prockish is Pecos League All Time Hits Leader". pecosleague.com.
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