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SOUTHERN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Establised 1999
The Southern Collegiate Baseball League is incorporated as non-profit within the state of South Carolina, with by-laws and a Board of Directors. It is a wooden bat league currently made up of nine teams located in the Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee. The majority of teams in the league enjoy play on home fields in both former and current minor league stadiums, municipal stadiums, and college fields. The teams within the league are located in the following areas: Johnson City (TN), Asheville (NC), Lake Norman (NC), Morganton (NC), Lenoir (NC), Monroe (NC), Rock Hill (SC), Spartanburg (SC), and Clemson (SC). Unlike many other leagues, the SCBL requires overnight accommodations for players when traveling to venues that are deemed by the league to be too far away for a one-day return trip.
The eligibility for players in the SCBL includes college players from Four-Year institutions (both NCAA and NAIA) as well as Junior Colleges and Community Colleges. The SCBL strives to bring in quality coaches to insure proper development and instruction for players on teams in the League. The SCBL by-laws require strict adherences to NCAA standards for Summer League. The SCBL Commissioner is charged with the responsibility of insuring teams comply with the rules set forth by the NCAA.
Although the SCBL is a young league, compared to others, several of the teams in the league have a long history, having played previously as a semi-pro team or with Stan Musial Leagues. By joining together teams of this caliber, the league has a very rich heritage. Many players who have played for these teams are now playing professional baseball. Other League alumni are now coaching at various levels of baseball. An example of a player who played for one of the teams in the League and is now coaching, is Mike Martin, Head Baseball Coach at Florida State University.
The SCBL plays a schedule very different from other summer wooden bat leagues. We realize that many of our players played a long and tough spring season with their college teams. For that reason, we maintain an 85-pitch count for the pitchers in the league. Players require a place to work on their skills and their game, but they also need the time to work, be with family and friends, and take vacations. In short, everyone needs to have a life along with baseball. They also need to rest tired arms and bodies. Our schedule gives the players an opportunity to do just that. The SCBL plays doubleheaders on weekends and usually two games during the week. The players will play at least a 42 game schedule; have an All-Star Break, and then the top six teams in the League will compete in the League Championship Tournament.
The SCBL enjoys the availability of players and coaches from across the country in their league. The League has also had players from Canada, Europe, Japan, and the Caribbean. These players and coaches are able to enjoy the hospitality of the Southeast, from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, to the sandy beaches of the Carolinas. The league also offers players and coaches the opportunity to play closer to home without having to travel hundreds of miles to play in a quality summer league!
For More Information on the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, please visit our website at www.scbl.org, or contact us at:
Southern Collegiate Baseball League,
H. William (Bill) Capps, II, Commissioner
103 Pine Lake Drive
Monroe, NC 28110
Tel: 704.635.7126
Mobile: 704.621.0940
E-mail: ScblCommissoner@aol.com
So far, 2003 has proven to be a good year for both Bill and the SCBL. In February of this year Bill was inducted into the North Carolina American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. During that same month, Bill was able to realize his #1 goal for the SCBL since the League was formed. After making the required presentations to both Major League Baseball and the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the National Coaches Convention in San Diego, CA, the League received the official notification of MLB and NCAA-sanctioning.
The League continues to lead the way when it comes to working with pitchers. The SCBL again will maintain an 85-pitch count during the regular season for its pitchers over a 5-day period. We will also continue to work with coaches who may have a pitcher who needs to rehab over the summer by not exceeding a lower pitch count in order to better prepare him for the fall with his college team. The League will continue to maintain an open communication with a player’s college coach regarding any special instructions they may have for their players.
As the SCBL Commissioner Bill hopes to establish a Coach and Player friendly League that does everything possible to insure the well being of the player as well as work on their game while they are with the League.
The SCBL has come a long way since its beginning four years ago. The number of teams has increased from 7 teams to 12 teams for the 2003 season. There has also been an improvement in the talent level of the players in the League. Over the past year the League had players from 21 States, Belgium and three Canadian provinces. That equates to players from 86 different colleges and universities who played in the League.
If you have a question about the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, please visit our web site at scbl.org, or contact the Commissioner.
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