All posts by IndyBallIsland

31. Baseball fan. I prefer indy ball and the minors over the majors. If it's summer, you can find me at a ballpark. The Washington Wild Things and the Pittsburgh Pirates are my "hometown" teams, but I'm always up for taking a baseball road trip! Follow me on Twitter: @kmthomp29
Independent Ball

FloSports to Broadcast Three MLB Partner Leagues in 2023

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Last year, the Frontier League announced their partnership with the sports streaming service, FloSports. At that time, the Frontier League was the first and only professional baseball league to be featured on the streaming platform.

“The Frontier League is fully committed to offering our fans exceptional experiences in our ballparks, in their homes, and on their devices”, said Jon Danos, CEO and commissioner of the Frontier League.  With FloSports as a partner, our League content is even more accessible, and we take additional steps toward offering a go-to league preferred by players whose talents can be further enjoyed on a big stage along their journey to the big leagues”.  Last year alone, seventeen MLB teams purchased the contracts of 47 Frontier League players.

“The addition of the Frontier League games to FloSports represents our continued commitment to delivering the highest quality baseball competition to our subscribers,” said Chris Keldorf, Senior Director, Global Rights Acquisition, FloSports. “We’re excited to bring this programming to our platform to showcase the level of athletic talent that is part of the Frontier League.”

FRONTIER LEAGUE AND FLOSPORTS ANNOUNCE LANDMARK STREAMING RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This season, two more MLB partner leagues have joined the FloSports family: the Atlantic League and the Pioneer League.

This marks the first league-wide broadcasting agreement for the Atlantic League.

“This is a landmark opportunity for the Atlantic League to continue to grow our brand,” said ALPB President Rick White. “Our FloBaseball partnership will expand the reach of each club, serve existing and new markets, plus grow viewership and fan engagement. For the first time ever, fans can watch their favorite club’s home and road games, plus any other ALPB games they want to see.”

Beginning with Opening Day on Friday, April 28, all Atlantic League broadcasts will deliver high quality digital productions of home and road ALPB contests, along with FloBaseball new and original content. The partnership will maximize the exposure of every ALPB team and make all 630 league regular and post-season championship games available in home and away markets and anywhere there is an internet connection. The exclusive arrangement replaces past streaming efforts on a club-by-club basis. 

Atlantic League, FloSports Partner To Stream Games

Earlier this week, the Pioneer League became the third partner league to come to an agreement with FloSports.

The partnership will provide viewers with high-quality, comprehensive streaming coverage of each of the PBL’s 10 teams throughout their full regular season schedules, beginning on Tuesday, May 23rd, and continuing through postseason play.

“The Pioneer League is all about providing our baseball fans with entertaining, unique and quality experiences whether in person at our charming ballparks or, now, anywhere else on FloSports’ streaming platform,” said PBL President Mike Shapiro.  “This is a significant step forward for our fans, MLB scouts and the friends and families of our players who can now access our streamed games in one location.”

“Baseball is in the midst of a renaissance and FloSports is proud to support The Pioneer League and provide all PBL games and original content under our FloBaseball platform,” said Chris Keldorf, Senior Director of Rights Acquisition at FloSports. “PBL fans will have access to coverage of all games throughout the season, and we are excited to showcase the next wave of the sport’s talent.”

Pioneer League to Stream Games on FloSports

About FloSports:

Founded in 2006, FloSports is a venture-backed subscription video streaming service dedicated to sports, offering live and on-demand access to hundreds of thousands of competition events across 25+ vertical sport categories in the US and abroad. With a growing library of more than 300,000 hours of premium content including news, expert commentary, films, documentaries and more, FloSports has established itself as an innovator and leader in sports streaming. Finally, your sport has a home. 

Check out FloBaseball HERE for more information

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Independent Ball

The Adelaide Giants Win The Claxton Shield

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After a 43 year drought, the Adelaide Giants have brought the Claxton Shield to South Australia. Their Australian Baseball League championship is Adelaide’s first in the modern ABL era.

The Adelaide Giants with the Claxton Shield

Earlier this season, Indy Ball Island reported on their record-setting 12 game win streak which featured current and former indy ball players… many of whom I have personally gotten to know and see play over the years.

For the last two years, I’ve had what I consider the best post I’ve ever written saved in drafts never to see the light of day. That post is ready to go whenever the Washington WildThings win their first Frontier League championship.

It highlights players such as Quincy Latimore, Luke Wilkins and Nick Ward… players who were all integral parts of both the Washington WildThings and Indy Ball Island.

The 2022-23 Adelaide Giants have three former (and one current) Washington WildThings on their roster Latimore, Wilkins, Ward and current player Ian Walters who joined the Giants after the Christmas break.

The Giants had six current or former Frontier League players and 14 total players with American indy ball experience on their roster at some point this season.

2022-23 Adelaide Giants with Indy Ball Experience

  • Adam McKillican – Quebec (Frontier League)
  • Bubby Rossman – Sioux City and Cleburne (American Association), York (Atlantic League)
  • Josh Tols – Trinidad (Pecos League), Kansas City and Kane County (American Association)
  • Luke Wilkins – WildThings (Frontier League), Fargo-Moorehead, Sioux Falls and Chicago (American Association)
  • Miguel Cienfuegos – Quebec (Frontier League)
  • Quintin Torres-Costa – Gastonia (Atlantic League)
  • Todd Van Steensel – St Paul Saints (American Association)
  • Luis Aviles Jr. – Sugar Land (Constellation Energy League – COVID Season)
  • Nick Ward – WildThings (Frontier League)
  • Quincy Latimore – WildThings (Frontier League) High Point (Atlantic League)
  • Ian Walters – Southern Illinois and WildThings (Frontier League)
  • Michael Martinez – Lancaster and High Point (Atlantic League)
  • Joe Johnson – High Point (Atlantic League)
  • Sam Street – Kansas City (American Association)

During the season, it was announced Mitch Neunborn would be joining them as he signed a contract with the Quebec Capitales in the Frontier League.

Also during the season, two Adelaide players left “Indy Ball Island” and signed affiliated contracts: Nick Ward (Phillies) and Miguel Cienfuegos (Padres).

Nick Ward

Along with the signings, there were some career milestones and highlights reached.

Latimore hit his 250th professional homerun. He is currently 71 games away from 2,000 career professional games played.

Quincy Latimore

Van Steensel and Wilkins, both native Australians, have been playing in the ABL together for 13 years. This championship is the first for both of them. Additionally, Tols and Street hail from Australia.

Todd Van Steensel and Luke Wilkins
13 years in the making

And even though this website is based around independent baseball players, it would be a shame not to recognize some of the other players who had such an impact for the Adelaide Giants this season.

Jordan McArdle, a former Diamondbacks prospect, is South Australian through and through. “The Captain” has been called the “heart and soul of the Giants” and it is extremely evident when you watch him play. McArdle was named the MVP of the championship series with some clutch hitting including multiple homeruns in the three game series.

Championship Series MVP
Jordan McArdle

Since the Giants are lead by manager Chris “Tank” Adamson, a coach for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws in the Phillies organization, the team is a winter (Australian summer) destination for many Philadelphia Phillies prospects.

Pitchers: Starlyn Castillo, Jordan Fowler, Austin Ross, Bubby Rossman
Catchers: Arturo De Freitas, Anthony Quirion
Infielders: Nikau Pouaka-Grego, Rixon Wingrove
Outfielder: Jared Carr

6 additional players are in other affiliated organizations:
Adam McKillican (Colorado), Jack O’Loughlin (Detriot), Riley Yeatman (San Diego), Luis Aviles Jr. (Miami), Ryan January (Los Angeles), and Liam Spence (Chicago Cubs)

This team was something special to watch. The guys played with heart and passion. They had FUN, and it was a blast getting to watch them play. They absolutely left it all out on the field night after night.

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Australian Baseball League Claxton Shield championship winners, The Adelaide Giants! Hell of a ride!