Sunbelt Baseball League

Sunbelt Baseball League
SportBaseball
Founded2005[1]
CommissionerTodd Pratt
AdministratorBecky Kelly
Bobby Bennett
MottoGeorgia's Premier Collegiate Summer Baseball League
No. of teams8[2]
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersLawrenceville, Georgia
Most recent
champion(s)		Choccolocco Monsters
(2024)
Most titlesAtlanta 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 websitewww.sunbeltleague.com

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.

Current league teams[4]

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

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

  • 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

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

  1. ^ "Sunbelt wooden-bat league grows in metro area". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "National Alliance of College Summer Baseball". Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "Sunbelt Baseball League Teams". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Atlanta Crackers: A Storied History of Excellence on and Off the Field". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Monsters Champs!". Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "Back to back: Gainesville Gol'Diggers claim Sunbelt Baseball League title at Ivey-Watson". Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Gol'Diggers find gold in the 11th, and win the 2022 SBL". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  9. ^ "Bucks Repeat as Sunbelt Champions; Edmond, Brace Named Co-MVPs | Sunbelt Baseball League". sunbeltbaseball.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  10. ^ "Brookhaven Bucks win first Sunbelt league title". Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "Patriots Dominate Crackers in 13-5 Win to Claim the Sunbelt League Championship". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  12. ^ "Crackers Win Championship in 13-1 Rout of Clippers". Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Crawdads swept by Crackers in Sunbelt Championship series". Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  14. ^ "Crackers win second consecutive Sunbelt title". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  15. ^ "Atlanta Crackers win the Sunbelt League Championship". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  16. ^ "Coach Todd Pratt". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  17. ^ "Bulls Fall Short in Championship". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  18. ^ "Marshall helps Berkeley Lake to title". Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  19. ^ "Monsters out". Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Sunbelt League has 12 in MLB draft". Retrieved April 25, 2018.