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Independent Ball

Indy Ball Shake Up Announced

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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In addition, the Atlantic League has announced that the Gastonia Ghost Peppers have withdrawn from the league.

Frontier League (NAPB) Press Release:

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.

Atlantic League Press Release:

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.

Independent Ball

A Love Letter to the Frontier League

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Dear Frontier League,

For 20 seasons, you have filled my summer nights.

We have had a crazy relationship… a real roller coaster of emotions.

You are some of my fondest memories… And also some of my most heartbreaking ones.

I’ve cried over you and a trophy that seems to always allude the ones that I love.

I’ve celebrated triumphs.

Taken some pretty awesome road trips.

Made life long friends.

I’ve seen boys start their careers and men finish theirs.

And all the bullpen bags, and I really do mean ALLLLL the bags, that were carefully picked and packed. I wouldn’t trade those shopping trips or days of baking cookies for anything.

My loyalty to my home team will always be there, but if you taught me one thing, it’s that the name on the front of the jersey doesn’t matter in the end.

The relationships I’ve made because of you go much deeper than if someone is a WildThing, a Y’All, or even a Miner… hell they might end up being all three at some point in their careers.

You’ve taught me to always take care of the people who take care of you.

This website was built on that statement, and I will always stand by that.

To the people and ballparks that feel like home, thank you.

You’ve helped this once shy girl turn into the confident woman who created something pretty special with Indy Ball Island.

You’ve given me a love for baseball that I now pass on to the ones that I coach.

You’ve given me a place in this world.

The end of the regular season has arrived, and this post season will definitely be one that will toy with my emotions yet again.

20 years later… let’s see how this one plays out.

With love,

Ms. Indy Ball Island

P.S. To every player and coach that has ever put on a Frontier League jersey… I just want to say thank you.

P.P.S. To all the boys who have played their final game… congratulations.