I'm looking for insight into the SBCL and CPL summer leagues. I notice that Spartanburg, SC has a team in each league. Can that town really support two collegiate league teams?
Thanks in advance.
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The Southern Collegiate Baseball League, I believe, is more local. There are a few SCBL teams in upstate SC. The Coastal Plain League is more regional and is a step up from SCBL. I don't think fan support through gate receipts figures too much into these summer collegiate leagues. I know that the Anderson, SC entry in the SCBL stayed and ate at Erskine College last year and worked baseball camps in the area.
Depends on what you mean by "support." Neither team draws much in the way of attendance. They manage to coexist in the same historic (run down) stadium. And they've both managed to keep the doors open for about three years.
The Coastal Plains League is supposedly the better league. The Stingers attendance probably averages 200-250 people per game. They run a lot of promotions that sometimes bring in bigger crowds. There is some sort of relationship between them and Wofford College. I've seen the Wofford SID there working. One of the Wofford assistants was the head coach for awhile.
The SCBL team, the Crickets, draws a little less, probably 100-150 per game. The guy who owns the team is a good man. I think he does it because he loves baseball. I believe his son is one of the assistant coaches. He can't be making any money on the deal. Nor, for that matter, can the guy who owns the Stingers.
You see a fair number of SEC and ACC kids on the Stingers, but most of the players are from smaller schools. The Crickets don't tend to get as many players from the bigger schools. The quality of play is pretty good for both leagues. The big difference I see is pitching. You see a lot more heat at Stingers games. And a little more power.
I think both teams work to place players with host families.
The Coastal Plains League is supposedly the better league. The Stingers attendance probably averages 200-250 people per game. They run a lot of promotions that sometimes bring in bigger crowds. There is some sort of relationship between them and Wofford College. I've seen the Wofford SID there working. One of the Wofford assistants was the head coach for awhile.
The SCBL team, the Crickets, draws a little less, probably 100-150 per game. The guy who owns the team is a good man. I think he does it because he loves baseball. I believe his son is one of the assistant coaches. He can't be making any money on the deal. Nor, for that matter, can the guy who owns the Stingers.
You see a fair number of SEC and ACC kids on the Stingers, but most of the players are from smaller schools. The Crickets don't tend to get as many players from the bigger schools. The quality of play is pretty good for both leagues. The big difference I see is pitching. You see a lot more heat at Stingers games. And a little more power.
I think both teams work to place players with host families.
Thanks! Great info.
My son is going down there this summer and he's psyched to play ball there.
It should be a tremendous experience for him. I'm just afraid that once he goes he won't ever want to come back north. And when he does come to visit, he'll be talkin' all funny.
Do you know of any websites that track and/or rank the summer leagues, similar to a Boyd's World or something?
My son is going down there this summer and he's psyched to play ball there.
It should be a tremendous experience for him. I'm just afraid that once he goes he won't ever want to come back north. And when he does come to visit, he'll be talkin' all funny.
Do you know of any websites that track and/or rank the summer leagues, similar to a Boyd's World or something?
Not sure about anything like Boyd's world, but here are links to the Stingers and Crickets websites:
http://www.spartanburgstingers.com/
http://www.scbl.org/viewpage.asp?tf=LM_teamtemplate.asp&key=9456&pi=League
And here is a link to a photographic tour of historic Duncan Park
http://www.digitalballparks.com/Duncan.html
http://www.spartanburgstingers.com/
http://www.scbl.org/viewpage.asp?tf=LM_teamtemplate.asp&key=9456&pi=League
And here is a link to a photographic tour of historic Duncan Park
http://www.digitalballparks.com/Duncan.html
Pioneerdad,
Tell him to bring some good books!
It is very beautiful down there, peaceful, that is what sold my son on CU, 30 miles from Spartanberg. I like Greenville.
Trust me, he won't talk funny when he comes back to visit.
Tell him to bring some good books!
It is very beautiful down there, peaceful, that is what sold my son on CU, 30 miles from Spartanberg. I like Greenville.
Trust me, he won't talk funny when he comes back to visit.