Sunbelt Baseball League

Last updated
Sunbelt Baseball League
Sunbelt Baseball League.png
Sport Baseball
Founded2005 [1]
Commissioner Todd Pratt
AdministratorBecky Kelly
Bobby Bennett
MottoGeorgia's Premier Collegiate Summer Baseball League
No. of teams6 [2]
CountryUnited States
Headquarters Lawrenceville, Georgia
Most recent
champion(s)		Gainesville Gol'Diggers
(2023)
Most titlesAtlanta 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

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.

Contents

Current league teams [4]

TeamHead coachLocationHome fieldEstablished
Alpharetta Aviators Brandon Boggs Alpharetta, GA Veterans Field (American Legion Post 201)2010
Atlanta BluesJoe Austin Decatur, GA Georgia State Baseball Complex 2014
Atlanta CrackersKevin 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
Gainesville Gol’Diggers Micah Owings Gainesville, GA Ivey-Watson Field at Lanier Point Park2009
Waleska Wild ThingsDavis May Waleska, GA Ken White Field at Reinhardt University 2021

Past champions and runners-up

YearChampionRunner-up
2023 [6] Gainesville Gol'DiggersColumbus Chatt-a-Hoots
2022 [7] Gainesville Gol'DiggersAtlanta Crackers
2021Alpharetta AviatorsColumbus Chatt-a-Hoots
2019 [8] Brookhaven BucksNorcross Astros
2018 [9] Brookhaven BucksMarietta Patriots
2017 [10] Sunbelt PatriotsAtlanta Crackers
2016 [11] Atlanta CrackersCarrollton Clippers
2015 [12] Atlanta CrackersPhenix City Crawdads
2014 [13] Atlanta CrackersPhenix City Crawdads
2013 [14] Atlanta Crackers6-4-3 DP Cougars
2012 [15] Douglasville BullsWindward Braves
2011 [16] Berkeley Lake TidesDouglasville Bulls
2010 [17] Berkeley Lake TidesDouglasville Bulls
2009Rockdale A'sAtlanta Crackers
2008
2007
2006Rockdale A's
2005Atlanta Astros

Former league teams

Sunbelt Baseball League alumni in Major League Baseball

PlayerMLB team(s)MLB debutSBL team (year)
Xzavion Curry Cleveland Guardians August 15, 2022Brookhaven Bucks (2017)
Sean Guenther Miami Marlins August 4, 2021Brookhaven Bucks (2014)
Nate Lowe Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers April 29, 2019East Cobb Patriots (2014)
Touki Toussaint Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox August 13, 2018Brookhaven Bucks (2014)
Alan Busenitz Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds June 17, 2017Berkeley Lake Tides (2011)
Drew Steckenrider Miami Marlins May 24, 2017Windward Braves
Tyler Austin New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants August 13, 2016Rockdale A's (2010)
Buck Farmer Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds August 13, 2014Rockdale A's (2009)
David Hale [19] Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees September 13, 2013
Tyler Flowers Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves September 3, 2009Rockdale A's (2005)

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References

  1. ↑ "Sunbelt wooden-bat league grows in metro area" . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams" . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ "National Alliance of College Summer Baseball" . Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams" . Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Atlanta Crackers: A Storied History of Excellence on and Off the Field" . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Back to back: Gainesville Gol'Diggers claim Sunbelt Baseball League title at Ivey-Watson" . Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Gol'Diggers find gold in the 11th, and win the 2022 SBL" . Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Bucks Repeat as Sunbelt Champions; Edmond, Brace Named Co-MVPs | Sunbelt Baseball League". sunbeltbaseball.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  9. ↑ "Brookhaven Bucks win first Sunbelt league title" . Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Patriots Dominate Crackers in 13-5 Win to Claim the Sunbelt League Championship" . Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Crackers Win Championship in 13-1 Rout of Clippers" . Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Crawdads swept by Crackers in Sunbelt Championship series" . Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Crackers win second consecutive Sunbelt title" . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Atlanta Crackers win the Sunbelt League Championship" . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Coach Todd Pratt" . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bulls Fall Short in Championship" . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Marshall helps Berkeley Lake to title" . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Monsters out" . Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sunbelt League has 12 in MLB draft" . Retrieved April 25, 2018.
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