From BR Bullpen
The Continental Baseball League, based in Dallas, Texas, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the U.S. state of Texas. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either. The league's players primarily come from the college ranks, although some former professional players fill the team rosters. It formed in 2006 and began play as a four team circuit on May 27, 2007.
The league's championship trophy is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins. The Tarrant County Blue Thunder captured title in the inaugural season of 2007 and the Bay Area Toros won the crown the next year.
In 2009, the CBL will play a 60 game schedule, with each team playing 30 home and 30 road games.
Led by former major leaguer Curtis Wilkerson, the Tarrant County Blue Thunder posted the best record in the regular season and then won a double elimination championship series that involved the league's top three clubs. Texas Heat first baseman Robby Winn hit .341 and led the league with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs en route to being named the circuit's MVP. Tarrant County's Zach Duncan won five games, struck out 57, led the league with a 3.14 ERA, and was named Pitcher of the Year, while Wilkerson took home the Manager of the Year award.
In 2008, only one club returned with the same name as the previous year, as the Blue Thunder moved to a new stadium in McKinney, Texas and were renamed after that city and the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs and the Texarkana Gunslingers replaced the Lizards and the Heat.
[edit] Playoffs
- Semifinals (Best of Three) Texarkana 1, Corpus Christi 0 (Texarkana won the series after Game 2 and Game 3 were rained out)
- Championship Series (Best of Three) Bay Area 2, Texarkana 0
In 2009, only the Bay Area Toros and Texarkana Gunslingers returned. The Alexandria Aces and Big Bend Cowboys joined the league, and the Coastal Kingfish and South Louisiana Pipeliners played as traveling teams.
[edit] Playoffs
- Semifinals (Best of Three) Alexandria 2, Texarkana 0; Bay Area 2, Big Bend 1 (Big Bend advanced to the championship after Bay Area refused to let Alexandria host the championship series)
- Championship Series (Best of Three) Alexandria 2, Big Bend 0
United States
