Today, the American Association and Frontier League (now known as the National Association of Professional Baseball – NAPB) officially announced the Kane County Cougars and Cleburne Railroaders are moving between the MLB Partner Leagues.
In addition, the Atlantic League has announced that the Gastonia Ghost Peppers have withdrawn from the league.
AVON, OH – The Cleburne Railroaders and Kane County Cougars, owned by REV Entertainment, announced today their intention to join the Frontier League — to be known as the National Association of Professional Baseball (NAPB) — for the 2027 season.
The Railroaders and Cougars have previously been members of the American Association of Professional Baseball. The Railroaders play at Cleburne, Texas’s La Moderna Field, while the Cougars play in Geneva, Illinois, at Northwestern Medicine Field.
Cleburne would represent the League’s first-ever team located in Texas, while Kane County would be the fifth team currently located in Illinois and fourth in the Chicagoland area.
The addition of the two teams would be the League’s first expansion since 2025, when the Mississippi Mud Monsters and Down East Bird Dawgs joined the Frontier League.
REV Entertainment owns both the Railroaders and Cougars, as well as the League’s Schaumburg Boomers. “We are honored to welcome Cleburne and Kane County as our newest members,” said Steve Tahsler, Commissioner of the Frontier League (NAPB). “Cleburne adds another MLB metropolitan market to our lineup in a location with a tremendous baseball history, while Kane County has been one of the top performing operations in professional baseball for more than 30 years.”
Changes to divisional alignment and the League’s schedule will be announced at a later date.
The Atlantic League learned earlier today that Zawyer Sports & Entertainment has decided to withdraw its Gastonia team from the ALPB. As mentioned in the Zawyer statement, the league will work closely with them and the City of Gastonia to identify new opportunities for the community.
These changes will necessitate changes in both leagues. As the NAPB release states, there will be a divisional realignment with the addition of the two teams. The news I have been hearing is that the Washington WildThings will be the team that moves to the Atlantic Division from the Midwest.
As for the Atlantic League, they will need a complete schedule change as they have previously released a calendar with Gastonia. The league will either need to pick up a team, have a road team, or ultimately see another team leave the league. The league, which was once considered the best independent league in the country, is down to nine teams and in a rough spot with multiple of them.
Stay tuned to Indy Ball Island for any further updates during the off season.
On August 1st, the first game of the newly established Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) will take place in Springfield, IL.
Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield will be the home of every WPBL game during their inaugural season. One location will give the league a chance to build up their presence while providing the women with accommodations and meals along with an even share of revenue in addition to their regular salaries.
A regular season schedule with postseason playoffs will run from August through mid-September. Each team will play two to three games a week with those games being played from Wednesday through Sunday.
While there was talk of the league trying to strike a national broadcasting deal, as of now it appears as though every single game of the 2026 regular season will stream live and free on the WPBL YouTube Channel.
Backstory
The league, which has no ties to Major League Baseball, has been in the works for the last several years. Co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein in 2024, the league aims to elevate visibility and expand women’s baseball in the United States and beyond by offering a professional pathway to the sport.
Siegal previously founded Baseball for All, an organization focused on promoting girls’ participation in baseball. She was also the first female coach of a professional men’s baseball team back in 2009 when she coached for the Broxton Rox in the Can-Am League. Since then, she has left her mark on professional baseball in many facets, including throwing BP for MLB teams and holding various coaching roles both nationally and internationally.
Teams
For the 2026 season, the WPBL will consist of four teams that are all named after an important woman in history.
The Hunters are inspired by Harriot Hunt who had set her mind on a goal and made it happen. A trailblazing physician, she was one of the first women to practice medicine professionally in the USA, despite being denied admission to Harvard twice because of her gender.
Los Angeles Queens
The Queens are inspired by Lizzie Murphy – nicknamed the “Queen of the diamond.” Lizzie broke barriers at a time when opportunities for women in pro sports were extremely limited, showing the world how true talent rises to the top.
New York Heights
The Heights are inspired by Dorothy Height. One of the most influential leaders of the civil and women’s rights movements, Dorothy dedicated her life to advancing equality for all.
San Francisco Fireballs
The Fireballs are inspired by Firebelle Lil. As a teenager, Lillie “Firebelle Lil” Hitchcock Coit famously leapt into action to help San Francisco volunteer firefighters. She became an icon for the firefighters, known for her rebellious attitude and open defiance of the gender norms.
Rules
Since this is a baseball league, the WPBL will have much more in common with the MLB than softball when it comes to rules and regulations.
Similarities
The baseball is… baseball.
The dimensions of the field are the same as any baseball field.
The base paths are 90 feet. The mound is 60 feet 6 inches away from home plate.
There is a pitcher’s mound, and pitchers will use an overhand pitching motion.
Defensive positions are the same.
There are 3 strikes, 4 balls, 3 outs. Stolen bases, pickoffs, bunting, balks, force plays, tag plays, double plays and sacrifice flies are all fair game.
Key Differences
There will be a few key differences that will impact how the overall gameplay will transpire.
There will only be 7 innings.
A big part of the 7-inning rule will be based on the fact that each roster will only consist of 15 to 25 players.
With only 15 players, that means there will be a lot of two-way and versatile players. The league is being built around the expectation that the players can do more than one thing on the baseball diamond.
The DH is an option, but more than likely a two-way player will pitch and also still hit in the lineup unlike in the MLB.
Another huge difference is that the WPBL will be using aluminum bats. This should lead to a lot of hard-hit balls.
In general, the WPBL will be using more of an international-style rulebook, but the core of the game will be baseball.
All four teams will be in action for their first weekend.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Los Angeles Queens at New York Heights, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 2
San Francisco Firebells at Boston Hunters, 6:30 p.m.
While you wait… Here is a look at the Rosters for each team. (Rosters courtesy of The State Journal-Register)
Boston Hunters Roster
(Manager Keith Foulke)
Emily Baxter
Age: 26
Position: OF
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Allie Bebbere
Age: 31
Position: RHP
Hometown: Montmorency, Australia
Paloma Benach
Age: 23
Position: LHP
Hometown: Washington, District of Columbia
Braidy Birdsall
Age: 20
Position: 2B
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Kate Blunt
Age: 23
Position: SS
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California
Olivia Bricker
Age: 25
Position: LHP
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Denver Bryant
Age: 23
Position: 2B
Hometown: Albany, Georgia
Edith De Leija
Age: 22
Position: 3B
Hometown: Aldama, Mexico
Nadia Diaz
Age: 26
Position: 3B
Hometown: Cicero, New York
Maïka Dumais
Age: 18
Position: RHP
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
Stephanie Everett
Age: 29
Position: LF
Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
Ticara Geldenhuis
Age: 24
Position: OF
Hometown: Waterfall, Australia
Beth Greenwood
Age: 26
Position: C
Hometown: Amherst, New Hampshire
Gabrielle Haas
Age: 24
Position: SS
Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Lexi Hastings
Age: 23
Position: LF
Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Laura Hirai
Age: 26
Position: RHP
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
Meaghan Houk
Age: 23
Position: IF
Hometown: Ravena, New York
Hyeonah Kim
Age: 26
Position: C
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Luciana Moreno
Age: Not listed
Position: IF
Hometown: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Mary Grace O’Neill
Age: 22
Position: CF
Hometown: Pleasantville, New York
Molly Paddison
Age: 19
Position: CF
Hometown: Pullenvale, Australia
Raine Padgham
Age: 21
Position: RHP
Hometown: Abbotsford, British Columbia
Nylah Ramirez
Age: 29
Position: RHP
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Clara Rice
Age: 21
Position: C
Hometown: USA
Sabrina Robinson
Age: 23
Position: 1B
Hometown: Morristown, New Jersey
Gigi Schiano
Age: 19
Position: RHP
Hometown: Berrysburg, Pennsylvania
Alli Schroder
Age: 24
Position: RHP
Hometown: Fruitvale, British Columbia
Maria José Valenzuela
Age: 28
Position: IF
Hometown: Hermosillo, Mexico
Suzuka Yamamoto
Age: 27
Position: SS
Hometown: Setouchi City, Japan
Sadie Zion
Age: 20
Position: 1B
Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut
San Francisco Firebells Roster
(Manager Matt Williams)
Jill Albayati
Age: 22
Position: RHP, UTL
Hometown: Anaheim, California
Kaija Bazzano
Age: 24
Position: SS
Hometown: Sebastopol, California
Kailyn Bearpaw
Age: 23
Position: 1B
Hometown: Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Hinano Beppu
Age: 30
Position: 2B
Hometown: Nakagawa City, Japan
Peyton Coria
Age: 19
Position: RHP
Hometown: Perris, California
Rosi del Castillo
Age: 28
Position: CF
Hometown: Puebla, Mexico
Ela Day-Bédard
Age: 21
Position: IF
Hometown: Gatineau, Quebec
Niki Eckert
Age: 23
Position: LHP
Hometown: Englewood, New Jersey
Bella Espinoza-Molina
Age: 23
Position: RF
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California
Jordan Eyster
Age: 21
Position: CF
Hometown: Royal Oak, Michigan
Amanda Gianelloni
Age: 29
Position: 2B
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Liz Gilder
Age: 25
Position: LHP
Hometown: Port Moody, British Columbia
Samantha Gutierrez
Age: 23
Position: C
Hometown: San Diego, California
Scrappy Hopkins
Age: 27
Position: C
Hometown: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Kiley Ingram
Age: 19
Position: RHP
Hometown: Ontario, California
Alexia Jorge
Age: 22
Position: C
Hometown: Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Kaelei Kajitani
Age: 22
Position: 1B
Hometown: Madera, California
Skylar Kaplan
Age: 24
Position: LF
Hometown: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Allie Lacey
Age: 32
Position: 2B
Hometown: La Crescenta, California
Andréanne Leblanc
Age: 24
Position: 1B
Hometown: Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
Joely Leguizamon
Age: 27
Position: SS
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Arwen McCullough
Age: 22
Position: RHP
Hometown: Livermore, California
Micaela Minner
Age: 40
Position: 1B
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Jua Park
Age: 21
Position: SS
Hometown: Hadong, South Korea
Katie Reynolds
Age: 24
Position: RHP
Hometown: Watertown, Massachusetts
Estheoa Segovia
Age: 32
Position: C
Hometown: Tijuana, Mexico
Flor Elena Valerio Montoya
Age: 24
Position: RHP
Hometown: Tijuana, Mexico
Kelsie Whitmore
Age: 28
Position: RHP
Hometown: San Diego, California
Ayaka Yamamoto
Age: 22
Position: 3B
Hometown: Fukuyama, Japan
Los Angeles Queens Roster
(Manager Eric Young Sr)
Brittany Apgar
Age: 22
Position: CF
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Addisyn Baird
Age: 18
Position: SS
Hometown: Granger, Indiana
Sydney Barry
Age: 19
Position: RHP
Hometown: Fort Mcmurray, Alberta
Samaria Benítez
Age: 23
Position: SS
Hometown: Nayarit, Mexico
Leah Cornish
Age: 19
Position: C
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Trinity Curtis
Age: 25
Position: RHP
Hometown: Oakhurst, California
Mo’ne Davis
Age: 25
Position: CF
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sarah Edwards
Age: 30
Position: 1B
Hometown: Bay Shore, New York
Caitlin Eynon
Age: 23
Position: SS
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Adelaide Frank
Age: 18
Position: 1B
Hometown: Oakville, Missouri
Maggie Foxx
Age: 20
Position: C
Hometown: Bedford, New Hampshire
Genevieve Hastings
Age: 20
Position: SS
Hometown: Billings, Montana
Luisa Hernandez
Age: 35
Position: 1B
Hometown: Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico
Amira Hondras
Age: 18
Position: 2B
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Juliette Kladko
Age: 22
Position: LHP
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Ashton Lansdell
Age: 25
Position: 3B
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Jamie Mackay
Age: 23
Position: C
Hometown: Laguna Beach, California
Thaima Maximiliana
Age: 19
Position: SS
Hometown: Curacao
Meggie Meidlinger
Age: 38
Position: RHP
Hometown: Sterling, Virginia
Suzu Narasaki
Age: 27
Position: CF
Hometown: Setouchi City, Japan
Rio Obitsu
Age: 24
Position: 2B
Hometown: Saitama City, Japan
Elodie O’Sullivan
Age: 32
Position: OF
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Michelle Roche
Age: 20
Position: RHP
Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia
Emi Saiki
Age: 24
Position: SS
Hometown: Kagawa, Japan
Ayami Sato
Age: 36
Position: RHP
Hometown: Tokorozawa, Japan
Ayuri Shimano
Age: 22
Position: RHP
Hometown: Osaka, Japan
Isabella Villarreal
Age: 19
Position: 2B
Hometown: Newport, Michigan
Celicia Wilken
Age: 34
Position: 1B
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Brittany Womack
Age: 38
Position: RF
Hometown: San Diego, California
New York Heights Roster
(Manager Rachelle “Rocky” Henley)
Chloe Atkinson
Age: 19
Position: Not listed
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Rocio Barajas
Age: 28
Position: RHP
Hometown: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Sarah Beaulieu
Age: 22
Position: RHP
Hometown: Rivière-Du-Loup, Québec
Denae Benites
Age: 24
Position: C
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Elodie Ciamarro
Age: 19
Position: C
Hometown: Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
Milanyela Cortez
Age: 28
Position: RHP
Hometown: Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Claire Eccles
Age: 28
Position: CF
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Maddison Erwin
Age: 24
Position: RHP
Hometown: Canberra, Australia
Zoe Falardeau
Age: 18
Position: RHP
Hometown: Welland, Ontario
McKenna Huff
Age: 20
Position: SS
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Diana Ibarra
Age: 26
Position: CF
Hometown: Tepatitlan, Mexico
Keira Izumi
Age: 19
Position: SS
Hometown: San Diego, California
Rakyung Kim
Age: 26
Position: RHP
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Kylee Lahners
Age: 33
Position: 3B
Hometown: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Jaida Lee
Age: 20
Position: RHP
Hometown: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Melissa Mayeux
Age: 27
Position: SS
Hometown: Louviers, France
Abigail Moore
Age: 18
Position: C
Hometown: Arglington, Texas
Katherine Murphy
Age: 19
Position: LF
Hometown: Belmont, Massachusetts
Claire O’Sullivan
Age: 31
Position: RHP
Hometown: Maroubra, Australia
Minseo Park
Age: Not listed
Position: Not listed
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Valerie Perez
Age: 34
Position: SS
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
Jacqui Reynolds
Age: 31
Position: RHP
Hometown: Woburn, Massachusetts
Angelis Rivera
Age: 26
Position: RHP
Hometown: Juncos, Puerto Rico
Nicole Rivera-Moats
Age: 37
Position: 2B
Hometown: USA
London Studer
Age: 19
Position: 1B
Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio
Angela Valenzuela
Age: 19
Position: RHP
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Madison Willan
Age: 25
Position: IF
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Natsuki Yonetani
Age: 24
Position: LF
Hometown: Saitama, Japan
Alyssa Zettlemoyer
Age: 19
Position: C
Hometown: Murrieta, California
Adelaide Ziebart
Age: 22
Position: RF
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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