Sunbelt Baseball League
Collegiate summer baseball league in the southern US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sunbelt Baseball League (SBL) is a non-profit collegiate summer baseball league with teams located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia and Oxford, Alabama. The SBL is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, which is partially funded by Major League Baseball.[3] Games are played with wooden bats. The season starts in early June and runs through the end of July/early August, with playoffs determining the league champion.
| |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005[1] |
| President | Bobby Bennett |
| General manager | Becky Kelly |
| Administrator | Jake Grier |
| Motto | Georgia's Premier Collegiate Summer Baseball League |
| No. of teams | 8[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Lawrenceville, Georgia |
Most recent champion | Choccolocco Monsters (2024) |
| Most titles | Atlanta Crackers (4) |
| Sponsors | Major League Baseball, Rawlings, Peach State Roofing, Kapp Koncepts, Ignite Business Solutions, CorTech, Wilson Action Photography and Atlanta Rehabilitation & Performance Center |
| Website | www.sunbeltleague.com |
Current league teams
| Team[4] | Manager | Location | Home field | Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpharetta Aviators | Brandon Boggs | Alpharetta, GA | Veterans Field (American Legion Post 201) | 2010 |
| Atlanta Astros | Will Mize | Decatur, GA | Georgia State Baseball Complex | 2025 |
| Atlanta Crackers | Kevin Meistickle | Suwanee, GA | Seckinger High School | 2009 (1983[5]) |
| Brookhaven Bucks | Corey Patterson | Brookhaven, GA | Hermance Stadium at Oglethorpe University | 2011 |
| Cartersville Cannons | Kyle Wilkie | Cartersville, GA | Georgia Highlands College (Cartersville campus) | 2024 |
| Choccolocco Monsters | Ricky Clayton | Oxford, AL | Choccolocco Park | 2022 |
| Gainesville Gol’Diggers | Blake Davis | Gainesville, GA | Riverside Military Academy | 2009 |
| Lake Oconee Wild Things | Tony Matos | Oconee, GA | Lake Oconee Academy | 2021 |
Past champions and runners-up
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Atlanta Crackers | Cartersville Cannons |
| 2024[6] | Choccolocco Monsters | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2023[7] | Gainesville Gol'Diggers | Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots |
| 2022[8] | Gainesville Gol'Diggers | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2021 | Alpharetta Aviators | Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots |
| 2019[9] | Brookhaven Bucks | Norcross Astros |
| 2018[10] | Brookhaven Bucks | Marietta Patriots |
| 2017[11] | Sunbelt Patriots | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2016[12] | Atlanta Crackers | Carrollton Clippers |
| 2015[13] | Atlanta Crackers | Phenix City Crawdads |
| 2014[14] | Atlanta Crackers | Phenix City Crawdads |
| 2013[15] | Atlanta Crackers | 6-4-3 DP Cougars |
| 2012[16] | Douglasville Bulls | Windward Braves |
| 2011[17] | Berkeley Lake Tides | Douglasville Bulls |
| 2010[18] | Berkeley Lake Tides | Douglasville Bulls |
| 2009 | Rockdale A's | Atlanta Crackers |
| 2008 | ||
| 2007 | ||
| 2006 | Rockdale A's | |
| 2005 | Atlanta Astros |
Former league teams
- Atlanta Blues (2022–24)
- Waleska Wild Things (2021–24) became Lake Oconee Wild Things
- Chattahoochee Monsters (2023) returned to Choccolocco Monsters
- Columbus Chatt-A-Hoots (2021–2023)
- Choccolocco (Oxford, AL) Monsters (2022) became Chattahoochee (Columbus, GA) Monsters [19]
- Gwinnett Astros (2020–2022)
- Gainesville Braves (2020–2021) became G'ville Gol'Diggers
- Marietta Patriots (2018–2021) became Atlanta Blues
- Gwinnett Tides (2014–2019) became Gainesville Braves
- Norcross Astros (2016–2019) became Gwinnett Astros
- Phenix City Crawdads (2014–2017)
- Carrollton Clippers (2016–2017)
- Alpharetta Braves (2015–2017) became Alpharetta Aviators
- Sunbelt Patriots (2017) became Marietta Patriots
- Marietta Patriots (2016) became Sunbelt Patriots
- Douglasville Bulls (2009–2015) became Carrollton Clippers
- East Cobb Patriots (2014–2015) became Marietta Patriots
- Home Plate Chukars (2010–2014) became Peachtree City Chukars (2015)
- Windward Braves (2010–2014) became Alpharetta Braves
- Berkeley Lake Tides (2009–2013) became Gwinnett Tides
- 6-4-3 DP Cougars (2011–2013)
- OTC Bearcats (2012–2013)
- Rockdale Roadrunners (2011)
- South Atlanta Bearcats (2011)
- Rockdale A's (2005–2010)
- Signature Park Grizzlies (2010)
- South Atlanta Phillies (2010)
- Atlanta Astros (2005–2010)
- Fulton Grizzlies (2009)
- Alpharetta Phillies (2009)
- Johns Creek Wood Ducks (2005–2009)
Sunbelt Baseball League alumni in Major League Baseball
| Player | MLB team(s) | MLB debut | SBL team (year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler Simpson | Tampa Bay Rays | April 19, 2025 | Brookhaven Bucks (2019) |
| Kyle McCann | Oakland Athletics | September 29, 2024 | Norcross Astros (2017) |
| Graham Pauley | San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins | March 20, 2024 | Alpharetta Aviators (2021) |
| Xzavion Curry | Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins | August 15, 2022 | Brookhaven Bucks (2017) |
| Seth Beer | Arizona Diamondbacks | September 10, 2021 | Norcross Astros (2017) |
| Sean Guenther | Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers | August 4, 2021 | Brookhaven Bucks (2014) |
| Nate Lowe | Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers | April 29, 2019 | East Cobb Patriots (2014) |
| Touki Toussaint | Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox | August 13, 2018 | Brookhaven Bucks (2014) |
| Alan Busenitz | Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds | June 17, 2017 | Berkeley Lake Tides (2011) |
| Drew Steckenrider | Miami Marlins, Seattle Mariners | May 24, 2017 | Windward Braves (2010) |
| Tyler Austin | New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants | August 13, 2016 | Rockdale A's (2010) |
| Buck Farmer | Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds | August 13, 2014 | Rockdale A's (2009) |
| David Hale[20] | Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees | September 13, 2013 | |
| Tyler Flowers | Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves | September 3, 2009 | Rockdale A's (2005) |