KCLB 2023 Expansion Update

Wichita, KS: Kansas Collegiate League Baseball acquires a disbanded Sunflower/Jayhawk team and attracts an out of market team to move into our region. 

Mulvane Patriots  and BRVS Baseball (Farmers) to Wichita, KS. 

Kansas Collegiate League Baseball is excited to announce our newly formed partnership with the Mulvane Patriots.  We are excited to partner with the city of Mulvane and bring our system and stability to baseball fans in the city. The KCLB staff worked this off season to create new relationships in cities that are eager for baseball and focused on bringing in quality programs to their communities. These moves aligned with the KCLB's plans of working to create a more sustainable future for the league in regards to travel and eliminating expenses for our non-profit teams that play in our league. 

The Farmers will call Wichita home. Playing in Topeka last season, and moving their sister team to Dallas, the Farmers were super attracted to the way that our league operates. Team representatives wanted the opportunity to grow with us. After months of vetting and a league vote we felt they were worthy of an opportunity to franchise inside of the league umbrella and have begun to move forward. 

Corresponding with these moves, the KCLB has not renewed the affiliation agreement with Dirtbag Baseball Club. The McPherson Pipeliners remain under the league operation, although will not operate a team in 2023 as we look to find new management for the organization that will focus on running a program successfully.  

The KCLB will now operate independently with 8 non-profit teams:  

Kansas Curve (Goddard) 

Park City Rangers (Park City) 

Valley Center Mud Daubers (Valley Center) 

MidWest Moos (Winfield) 

Wellington Heat (Wellington) 

El Dorado Baseball (El Dorado) 

Mulvane Patriots (Mulvane) 

Farmers Baseball (Wichita) 

"I made this quote below last off season and it still holds true. Yearly we will evaluate ourselves and make the tough decisions to better the league to move forward as one league, with one mission, one direction. I look forward to Summer of 23' and seeing our communities reap the benefits of all of the leagues hard off season work." 

“These moves will be two of the most impactful that we have ever made as a league. Our offseason discussions revolved around our leagues future long term. Our affiliated members got together and discussed the viability of our league operations and we knew we had to make some changes. We have witnessed multiple teams around the area outside of our league start and fold over the last couple of years. Collectively, we wanted to make sure we made the necessary changes to not let any of our affiliated teams go down that same path. Together, this is one of the first steps in putting our affiliated teams in positions to become successful. A chance to create a spectator baseball atmosphere for the communities they are planted in. All while holding true to our values and doing what we can to eliminate as much cost for our players who chose to play in our league. We look forward to being able to provide a better experience for each player and give back to the communities that we call home.” 

-Sheldon Howell- KCLB Commissioner