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

Spire City Ghost Hounds of the Atlantic League Announces Hiatus for 2024

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FREDERICK, MD – September 22, 2023 – Attain Sports and Entertainment announced today that its Atlantic League Professional Baseball (ALPB) Club, the Spire City Ghost Hounds, will take a hiatus from the upcoming 2024 season. The decision was the result of a thorough evaluation and extensive discussions with ALPB.

The Atlantic League, which requires an even number of teams for scheduling purposes, requested a volunteer from its 2024 roster of 11 teams to sit out one year until expansion to 12 teams is completed. Due to scheduling complexities arising from a shared stadium, it was determined that the Ghost Hounds would be the most logical choice for the team to take a one-year sabbatical in 2024.

“We enjoyed the opportunity to compete in the Atlantic League this season, and with the planned ALBP expansion to 12 teams, we are committed to a full home schedule when we return to play in 2025,” said Attain Sports and Entertainment Founder and CEO Greg Baroni. “While we may not be on the Atlantic League schedule for the upcoming season, our commitment to the Ghost Hounds and the incredible community that has rallied around the team remains unwavering.”

As with all ALPB teams, members of the 2023 Ghost Hounds roster will become free agents at the conclusion of the Championship Season and have the opportunity to sign with any professional baseball team. Those returning to the Atlantic League will be subject to a league reserve rights draft. The roster will not be transferred to any club.

During the 2023 season, the Ghost Hounds delivered a productive performance on the field, establishing numerous offensive records. One remarkable moment occurred on Sunday, September 10, when the Ghost Hounds achieved a historic feat, becoming the first team in professional baseball history to have the first five players at bat each hit a home run. In addition to this single game feat, the Ghost Hounds became the first team in Atlantic League history to have four players hit 25+ home runs in a season (Leobaldo Cabrera: 34, Kole Cottam: 30, Jose Marmolejos: 28, and Craig Dedelow: 26). Cabrera and Cottam become the third set of teammates in ALPB history to hit 30 or more home runs in a season and the first pair since 2008.



The Frederick Keys will continue to play at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium and will honor Spire City by playing as the Ghost Hounds as an alternate team identify at various times during the 2024 season.

Independent Ball

Frontier League Adds New England Team

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The Frontier League adds a 16th permanent team for the 2024 season, ending the two year run of the Empire State Greys travel team.

Official League Statement

The Frontier League announced today that its Board of Directors has issued membership for a new team that will play at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Massachusetts beginning with the upcoming 2024 season. This continued growth of the Frontier League is especially noteworthy as it creates the league’s first team to play in New England. The New England club will play in the Eastern Division of the Frontier League beginning with the upcoming 2024 season and will bring the total number of permanent members of the league to sixteen teams. 

The New England expansion team is owned by Brian Kahn, who also holds ownership of the The Windy City ThunderBolts within the Frontier League. Windy City hosted the 2023 All-Star Game and was recently recognized as the Frontier League’s Organization of the Year.  Under Mr. Kahn’s leadership, the New England organization will be similarly steadfast in its mission to offer baseball as an affordable and enriching family entertainment experience. This commitment extends to enhancing community engagement, providing exceptional customer service, fostering innovation, investing in the professional growth of its dedicated team, and continuously improving the game-day experience for fans. 

“We are excited to be adding a tremendous sports market in Brockton and a great facility in Campanelli Stadium to the Frontier League,” said deputy commissioner Steve Tahsler.  “Windy City is one of our best regarded operations, and we are confident that the management and staff in Brockton will provide an amazing atmosphere and service to the Brockton community.”

Mayor Robert F. Sullivan expressed his enthusiasm for the news, “Brockton is a proud sports city and has a particularly long history in baseball as it is the birthplace of the catcher’s mitt. It is fitting that the next era of professional baseball in New England will call Brockton home. We are so excited for the return of pro ball to the City of Champions and look forward to welcoming fans across New England to Campanelli Stadium.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to the City of Brockton for their unwavering support and, of course, to the Frontier League for this exciting opportunity to bring high-quality, independent professional baseball to New England. Our aim is to create a team that unites the entire region and becomes a pivotal force in the Frontier League, enriching the vibrant sports culture of New England,” said Owner, Brian Kahn.  

The addition of Brockton removes the Empire State Greys from the schedule.  “We appreciate the dedication of the Empire League, Eddie Gonzalez, and Jerry Gonzalez over the past two seasons.  They are a quality organization who operated with strong integrity during their time playing in the Frontier League,” added Tahsler. 

Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement revealing the team’s name, as well as the appointment of its manager and coaching staff.

About the Frontier League

The Frontier League, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball, recently completed its 30th season as the largest and longest running independent league.  A league-record of more than 1.6 million fans saw Frontier League action in 2023.  The Frontier League features 16 teams stretching from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Ohio River north to the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada.