The Sunbelt Baseball League (SBL) is a non-profit collegiate summer baseball league with teams located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia and Oxford, Alabama. 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.
 | |
| 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) | Choccolocco Monsters (2024) |
| 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 | www.sunbeltleague.com |
| 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 | Suwanee, GA | Peachtree Ridge High School | 2009 (1983[5]) |
| Brookhaven Bucks | Corey Patterson | Brookhaven, GA | Hermance Stadium at Oglethorpe University | 2011 |
| Cartersville Cannons | Kyle Wilkie | Cartersville, GA | Georgia Highlands College (Cartersville campus) | 2024 |
| Choccolocco Monsters | Ricky Clayton | Oxford, AL | Choccolocco Park | 2022 |
| Gainesville Gol’Diggers | Blake Davis | Gainesville, GA | Riverside Military Academy | 2009 |
| Waleska Wild Things | Jonathan Burton | Waleska, GA | Ken White Field at Reinhardt University | 2021 |
Past champions and runners-up
edit| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024[6] | Choccolocco Monsters | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2023[7] | Gainesville Gol'Diggers | Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots |
| 2022[8] | Gainesville Gol'Diggers | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2021 | Alpharetta Aviators | Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots |
| 2019[9] | Brookhaven Bucks | Norcross Astros |
| 2018[10] | Brookhaven Bucks | Marietta Patriots |
| 2017[11] | Sunbelt Patriots | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2016[12] | Atlanta Crackers | Carrollton Clippers |
| 2015[13] | Atlanta Crackers | Phenix City Crawdads |
| 2014[14] | Atlanta Crackers | Phenix City Crawdads |
| 2013[15] | Atlanta Crackers | 6-4-3 DP Cougars |
| 2012[16] | Douglasville Bulls | Windward Braves |
| 2011[17] | Berkeley Lake Tides | Douglasville Bulls |
| 2010[18] | Berkeley Lake Tides | Douglasville Bulls |
| 2009 | Rockdale A's | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2008 | ||
| 2007 | ||
| 2006 | Rockdale A's | |
| 2005 | Atlanta Astros |
Former league teams
edit- Chattahoochee Monsters (2023) returned to Choccolocco Monsters
- Columbus Chatt-A-Hoots (2021-2023)
- Choccolocco (Oxford, AL) Monsters (2022) became Chattahoochee (Columbus, GA) Monsters [19]
- 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
edit| Player | MLB team(s) | MLB debut | SBL team (year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xzavion Curry | Cleveland Guardians | August 15, 2022 | Brookhaven Bucks (2017) |
| Sean Guenther | Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers | 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[20] | 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
edit- ^ "Sunbelt wooden-bat league grows in metro area". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- ^ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Monsters Champs!". Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "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.