Great South League

The Great South League is a collegiate summer baseball league which comprises teams located in the U.S states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Teams consist of current college baseball players from the JUCO, NAIA, and NCAA levels who wish to further their skills by practicing and playing during the summer off-season.

History of the Great South League

In the fall of 2005, the Georgia Collegiate League was founded by the Georgia Dugout Club in order to promote wood-bat summer league baseball within the state of Georgia. After two successful seasons of playing ball, the GCL formally adopted the new name, the Great South League, and expanded to include 12 teams in the states of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama for the 2008 season. Currently, the GSL has four divisions with 24 teams spread across the Southeast. The GSL seeks to allow college baseball players of all intercollegiate levels continue their development and improve their style of play. Bill Park Jr (aka Liam Parke) has served as the Leagues President since 2007 becoming Commissioner in 2010 upon the retirement of founding Commissioner, Harvey Cochran.[1]

Map of current GSL franchises

Past, present, and future teams of the GSL

Current teams of the GSL

At Large Division

Team Name Location Joined GSL Home field
Tennessee Styx Chattanooga, TN 2010 Engel Stadium

North Division

Team Name Location Joined GSL Home Field
Catawba Valley Stars Hickory, North Carolina 2009 L.P. Frans Stadium (Hickory Crawdads) / Lenoir Rhyne College Field
Carolina Hurricanes Charlotte, North Carolina 2009 TBA
Central Virginia Lynchburg, Virginia 2009 TBA
Fuquay-Varina Twins Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina 2009 Harnett Central High School Field
Kernersville Bulldogs Kernersville, North Carolina 2009 Glenn High School Field
West Virginia Wild Bluefield, West Virginia 2010 Bluefield State College
Roanoke Rails Roanoke, Virginia 2009 TBA

East Division

Team Name Location Joined GSL Home Field
Athens Pirates Athens, Georgia 2006 Cedar Shoals High School
Augusta Nationals Augusta, Georgia 2008 Jaguar Field (Augusta State University)
Ty Cobb Reds Franklin Springs, Georgia 2010 Emmanuel College Field
GSA Macon Giants Macon, Georgia 2006 Luther Williams Field
AWBIL Raiders Atlanta, Georgia 2010 Mundy's Mill High School
AWBIL Royals Atlanta, Georgia 2009, 2010 Mundy's Mill High School
  • A^ Inaugural season delayed to 2010.
  • B^ Played as a single team prior to 2009 season.

West Division

Team Name Location Joined GSL Home Field
Cobb Premier Stars Mableton, Georgia 2009 Pebblebrook High School
East Alabama Big Train Oxford, Alabama 2008 Oxford High School Field
Newnan Braves Newnan, Georgia 2009 Joe Pope Field (Newnan High School), Hawks Field (The Heritage School)
Columbus Wood Bats Columbus, Georgia 2009 Charles F. Ragsdale Field (Columbus State University)
Georgia Stars Lagrange, Georgia 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 La Grange College

Defunct and former teams
Team Name Location Seasons Notes
Columbus Chain Columbus, Georgia 2008 Scheduled to compete in the South Division, never played a game due to management team.
Conyers Miracle Conyers, Georgia 2006–2008
Georgia Stars LaGrange, Georgia 2006–2008 Charter Member
Mentium Athletics Conyers, Georgia 2008
Windward Academy Alpharetta, Georgia 2006–2009
Thomasville Bombers 2006–2009
Florida Legends 2008–2009
World of Baseball Angels 2009
NCF Baseball Stars 2009
St Augustine Saints 2008, 2009

Future teams

In a series of press releases, the Great South League announced it would again expand in the 2011 season, to 30 teams in a seven state area. Likewise, the 2010 season will feature three divisions, each with 5-6 teams plus an "At Large" division. The North Division will consist of seven members joining from the Carolina-Virginia League. Meanwhile, the East and West Divisions will consist of both new teams and current members. A new team, the Tennessee Styx, will be in the "At Large" Division. The GSL has announced expansion plans for 2011 with two new Divisions, Northwest including teams from Tennessee: Knoxville, Athens, Cleveland, and Chattanooga TN and a Metro Atlanta Division consisting of 6 teams.[2]

Championship history
Season Champion Record Pitcher of Year Player of the Year
2006 Georgia Stars 35-1 Joey Merrifield (Georgia Stars) Josh Reddick (Savannah Chain)
2007 Athens Pirates 29-11
2008 North Florida Legends 22-6-1
2009 Thomasville Bombers 18-16-1
2010 Newnan Braves 20-14

[3]

2008 final standings

North Division

Team Record
Athens 18-13
Windward Academy 16-13
Augusta 16-17
Mentium 11-21
Conyers 12-23
Georgia Sports Academy 4-17

South Division

Team Record
North Florida 22-6-1
East Alabama 19-8
Georgia 12-9
Thomasville 16-16-1
St. Augustine 9-12

References
  1. Great South League. 11 Dec. 2008. http://www.greatsouthleague.com/index.php
  2. "GSL Expanding Into Virginia And North Carolina". Great South League. 11 Dec. 2008. http://www.greatsouthleague.com/article/88.php
  3. "Championship History". Great South League. 6 Aug. 2008. http://www.greatsouthleague.com/f/Championship_History.php
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