Niner baseball is back! Well, sort of.
Collegiate players typically spend their Summers sharpening their skills in wooden bat leagues all over the country. That looks a little different this year due to…you know why. Well known leagues such as the Cape Cod League have been forced to take this year off. That being said, a handful of leagues, including a couple in our area, have managed to push ahead with plans to play baseball and we have Diamond Niners among the participants. This year more than ever players are looking to knock off as much rust as possible after being on the shelf since March.
The Southern Collegiate Baseball League (@SCBLbaseball) is based in the Charlotte area and has a number of our guys on its rosters. They began play on June 15th. You can find their schedule here.
The Carolina Vipers (@Carolina_Vipers) are fielding two teams in the SCBL this year due to the influx of players looking for spots after league cancellations. You’ll recognize the coaches for the Vipers and Venom as they are led by a pair of former 49ers. Aaron Bray is the program’s all-time hits leader (2006-2009) and B.J. Hagan pitched for the Niners from 2005-2008.
Carolina Vipers
OF Hunter Baker
INF Chandler Riley
Carolina Venom
The Mooresville Spinners (@spinnerbaseball) of the SCBL have a pair of 49ers on the roster:
Mooresville Spinners
The Coastal Plain League (@CPLBaseball) has modified its format and plans to open play on July 1st with its teams located in South Carolina and Georgia. At this time the plan is for the teams located in North Carolina and Virginia to begin play later in July.
UPDATE (6/25/20): Both the Owls and Grizzlies have cancelled their seasons. If Elwood, McKeithan, & Kuechel find new spots we’ll let you know.
Forest City Owls (@ForestCityOwls)
C Aaron McKeithan
Gastonia Grizzlies (@GastoniaGrizz)
Peninsula Pilots (@PeninsulaPilots)
INF Jack Dragum
INF David McCabe is back home in Canada and hoping to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs (@IBLMapleLeafs) of the Intercounty Baseball League (@IBL1919). As of last week, the IBL was still hopeful of playing a limited schedule.
OF Dominic Pilolli is playing for the Astro Falcons of Youngstown Class B baseball back home in Ohio.
LHP Trae Stanes is pitching for the Statesville Owls (@StatesvilleOwls). The Owls are formally of the SCBL, but are playing an independent schedule this year.
You’ll notice a lack of pitchers on the Summer baseball list. The overwhelming majority of the pitching staff is spending at least part of their Summer training at Premier Pitching Performance (@P3_StL) in St. Louis.
We will do our best to keep Niner Nation up-to-date on the guys as the Summer progresses. Look for updates @Diamond9erFans using the hashtag #SummerNiners.
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