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.Great South League. 11 Dec. 2008. http://www.greatsouthleague.com/index.php
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 Barves 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."GSL Expanding Into Virginia And North Carolina". Great South League. 11 Dec. 2008. http://www.greatsouthleague.com/article/88.php
Championship history Season Champion RecordPitcher of YearPlayer of the Year 2006 Georgia Stars 35-1Joey Merrifield (Georgia Stars)Josh Reddick (Savannah Chain) 2007 Athens Pirates 29-11 2008 North Florida Legends 22-6-1 2009 Thomasville Bombers 18-16-12010Newnan Braves20-14"Championship History". Great South League. 6 Aug. 2008. http://www.greatsouthleague.com/f/Championship_History.php
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
External links Official website