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Gurus making pitch for college players By Greg Stiles Want to see college-level baseball at Miles Field next summer? If you�ve got a few extra bucks, you can help make it happen. Retired North Medford baseball coach Jim McAbee and Rogue Valley Baseball/Softball Academy proprietor John White have laid the groundwork for the summer team but need sponsors to make their dream a reality. After the Southern Oregon Timberjacks moved to British Columbia prior to the 2000 season, the primary ballpark tenants were American Legion and Babe Ruth baseball teams. McAbee has long been a fan of the college game and began doing his homework when the Timberjacks announced they were leaving. McAbee expects to draw players from Roseburg to Klamath Falls as well as the Rogue Valley. The team would play similar teams already established in Oregon, Idaho and Northern California. "From last year�s graduating class, there are at least 15 to 20 players playing their first year in college baseball," McAbee says. "There is no place for them to play when they come home in the summer. They have to go away to play." McAbee hopes to one day hook up with the Pacific International League, but will go independent until a major sponsor comes along. The Pacific International League has teams in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. One of its franchises, the Aloha Knights, are backed by none other than Nike chairman Phil Knight. McAbee has lined up several games already and hopes to put together a 50- to 60-game schedule beginning the second week of June. His budget for uniforms, equipment, umpires and travel runs about $26,000. He hopes to raise about $20,000 in sponsorship money. McAbee went to a couple of local businesses looking for support without success, but he figures there are plenty of people willing to pitch in. Eventually, he hopes to establish a non-profit umbrella organization for the club. "College level summer baseball is the missing link to the outstanding summer baseball programs we have in the Southern Oregon area," McAbee says. "This would complete the amateur programs from Little League through college." White says local players would get more exposure to pro scouts with the proposed team. "Right now, if you�re playing in the Portland area, you�ll get five or six scouts if there are two good teams playing," White says. "We�re far away from a population center, so if you�re lucky to get a scout or two, they�ll only watch part of one game and then go on to another game." Playing against existing teams from Bend, Boise, Idaho; Chico, Calif.; Eugene, Eureka, Calif.; Ontario, Portland, Redding, Calif.; Salem and Weed, Calif., the hope is that a local team would provide entertaining baseball for fans who were used to watching Northwest League games. "It would be great if someone or some business would be able to step up and sponsor the team," McAbee says. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.