Sunbelt Baseball League

Sunbelt Baseball League
Sport Baseball
Founded 2005[1]
Administrator Becky Kelly
Commissioner Bobby Bennett
Motto Georgia's Premier Collegiate Summer Baseball League
No. of teams 6[2]
Country United States
Headquarters Lawrenceville, Georgia
Most recent
champion(s)		 Brookhaven Bucks (2018)
Most titles Atlanta Crackers (4)
Sponsor(s) Major League Baseball, Rawlings, Peach State Roofing, Kapp Koncepts, Force3 Pro Gear, Dove Tail Bats
Official website SunbeltLeague.com

The Sunbelt Baseball League (SBL) is a non-profit collegiate summer baseball league with teams located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. 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 and showcase some of the top talent in the nation while providing family entertainment to the community. The season starts in early June and runs through the end of July/early August, with playoffs determining the league champion. The mission of the Sunbelt Baseball League is to provide a first-class collegiate summer program dedicated to helping young college athletes achieve their dreams of playing at the professional level. The SBL has a "Prospect Division"[4] comprising six teams that serves as a feeder to the main league.

Current League Teams[5]

Team Head Coach Location Home Field Established
Alpharetta Aviators Brandon Boggs Alpharetta, GA Veterans Field (American Legion Post 201) 2010
Atlanta Crackers Kevin Meistickle Norcross, GA Norcross High School 2009 (1983[6])
Brookhaven Bucks Corey Patterson Brookhaven, GA Oglethorpe University 2011
Gwinnett Tides Dalton Martinez Lawrenceville, GA Georgia Gwinnett College 2009
Marietta Patriots Gil Navarro Marietta, GA Marietta High School 2014
Norcross Astros Nick Hogan Suwanee, GA Peachtree Ridge High School 2016

Past Champions & Runners-Up

Year Champion Runner-Up
2018 Brookhaven Bucks Marietta Patriots
2017[7] Sunbelt Patriots Atlanta Crackers
2016[8] Atlanta Crackers Carrollton Clippers
2015[9] Atlanta Crackers Phenix City Crawdads
2014[10] Atlanta Crackers Phenix City Crawdads
2013[11] Atlanta Crackers 6-4-3 DP Cougars
2012[12] Douglasville Bulls Windward Braves
2011[13] Berkeley Lake Tides Douglasville Bulls
2010[14] Berkeley Lake Tides Douglasville Bulls
2009 Rockdale A's Atlanta Crackers
2008
2007
2006 Rockdale A's
2005 Atlanta Astros

Former League Teams

  • 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
  • Berkley 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)
Touki Toussaint Atlanta Braves August 13, 2018 Brookhaven Bucks (2014)
Alan Busenitz Minnesota Twins June 17, 2017 Berkeley Lake Tides (2011)
Drew Steckenrider Miami Marlins May 24, 2017 Windward Braves
Tyler Austin New York Yankees August 13, 2016 Rockdale A's (2010)
Buck Farmer Detroit Tigers August 13, 2014 Rockdale A's (2009)
David Hale[15] 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

  1. ↑ "Sunbelt wooden-bat league grows in metro area". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ "National Alliance of College Summer Baseball". Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Prospect Division". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Atlanta Crackers: A Storied History of Excellence on and Off the Field". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Patriots Dominate Crackers in 13-5 Win to Claim the Sunbelt League Championship". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Crackers Win Championship in 13-1 Rout of Clippers". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Crawdads swept by Crackers in Sunbelt Championship series". Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Crackers win second consecutive Sunbelt title". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Atlanta Crackers win the Sunbelt League Championship". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Coach Todd Pratt". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Bulls Fall Short in Championship". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Marshall helps Berkeley Lake to title". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sunbelt League has 12 in MLB draft". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
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