Mike Hargrove’s abrupt and stunning resignation as manager of the Seattle Mariners midway through the 2007 season caught a lot of baseball observers flat-footed. But it was no more of a head-scratcher than Hargrove’s surprising decision to take a page from his past and assume the reigns of the Jayhawk League’s Liberal BeeJays this summer.
The presence of Hargrove, a big league player for 12 years and a manager for 16 more, brought national attention to the BeeJays, who have been in existence since 1955 and were—until recently, at least—the Jayhawk League’s flagship franchise since becoming a charter member of the league in 1976. The Bee Jays have won four National Baseball Congress World Series championships, finished second six times and appeared in the Wichita-based national tournament 50 times in 54 years, but were pretty much a non-factor (even in their own league) since winning their last NBC title in 2000.
Hargrove, who played briefly in Liberal in 1972 before becoming one of 165 former BeeJays to play in the big leagues, guided a modestly-talented team to a fourth-place in the regular season. But the Jays were nonetheless extended an at-large invitation to play in the NBC tournament and Hargrove’s magic began to rub off on his players in a more pressure-filled environment, and he was able to coax the overachieving BeeJays to a 5-2 record in the 42-team tournament, good for fourth-place.
Hargrove plans to return to Liberal in 2009 and it’s hoped that his continued presence there will help to not only fully re-energize the BeeJays franchise, but possibly provide a shot in the arm for an entire league that in many ways has seen its better days. It will be a challenge, though, as two member clubs, Joplin and Nevada, have bolted to the rival MINK League for 2009, tentatively leaving the Jayhawk League with only five clubs, all based in Kansas.
The league struggled to attract front-line college talent this year and that could become a trend as new, more vibrant summer leagues that have sprung up around the country in recent years have siphoned off much of the quality players who might have been earmarked for the Jayhawk League when it was one of the nation’s premier summer destinations.
The accompanying list of 20 players identifies most of the better prospects who were in the league this summer, but the near-complete lack of consensus among league managers and the few scouts who followed the league this summer, in singling out the best very prospects, was a reflection of the talent drain that has gripped the league.
FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 1976.
States Represented in League: Kansas, Missouri.
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale): 3.
No. of Teams in League: 7.
Regular-Season Champion: Hays Larks.
Post-Season Champion: NONE. Derby Twins, El Dorado Broncos,
Hays Larks, Liberal Bee Jays and Nevada Griffons all represented league in
National Baseball Congress World Series, Wichita, Kan.
Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 16/Final Ranking: No. 15 Hays
Larks.
No. 1 Prospect, 2007 (per PG Crosschecker): Rob Musgrave, lhp,
El Dorado Broncos (Wichita State; Padres ’08, 14th round).
First 2007 Player Selected, 2008 Draft: James Leverton, lhp,
Derby Twins (Texas Tech; Cubs, eighth round).
Most Valuable Player: None selected.
Most Outstanding Pitcher: None selected.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.
BATTING LEADERS (League games
only)
Batting Average: Nick Zaleski, 1b-3b, Liberal Bee Jays (.441).
Home Runs: Alex Martinez, 1b, Derby Twins (6).
RBIs: Travis Meiners, ss-3b, Dodge City A’s (33).
PITCHING LEADERS (League
games only)
Wins: Justin Fleming, lhp, Derby Twins (6).
ERA: Will Skelton, lhp, Liberal Bee Jays (1.65).
Strikeouts: Steve Mazur, lhp, Hays Larks; Michael Ratigan,
rhp, Nevada Griffons (47).
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Steven Tucker, 1b-of, Liberal BeeJays.
Best Power: Alex Martinez, 1b, Derby Twins.
Fastest Base Runner: Cameron Monger, of, Dodge City A’s.
Best Defensive Player: Jeremiah Sammy, ss, Liberal BeeJays.
Best Velocity: Chase Johnson, rhp, Hays Larks.
Best Breaking Ball: Tim Kelley, rhp, Derby Twins.
TOP 20 PROSPECTS
| |
PLAYER |
POS. |
TEAM |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
YR |
2009 SCHOOL |
| 1. |
Tim Kelley |
RHP |
Derby Twins |
R-R |
6-6 |
200 |
So. |
Wichita State |
| SCOUTING REPORT: If bloodlines count for anything, Kelley should be in good standing as his uncles are two former Wichita State All-Americans, catcher Charlie O’Brien, who went on to play 15 years in the big leagues; and lefthander Eric Sonberg, a 1983 first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kelley doesn’t throw hard enough at this point in his development to warrant being included in the same prospect-level status. He’s mainly about touch and feel, but may evolve into more of a power pitcher as he has a smooth, clean, effortless delivery and just needs to add weight to his tall, lanky frame to get stronger and throw harder. His fastball was primarily in the 86-89 mph range this summer, topping at 90, but it has good movement. Kelley has an excellent aptitude for pitching. He keeps hitters off balance, is always around the strike zone and has excellent command of his fastball, slider and changeup. Kelley red-shirted in 2007 as a freshman at Wichita State, then went 4-4, 4.85 with nine walks and 34 strikeouts in 52 innings last spring, working as a mid-week starter but against worthy non-conference opponents like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Long Beach State. He won his team’s only game this summer at the NBC World Series to boost his overall record to 3-3, but pitched much better than a .500 pitcher. His record suffered mainly from a lack of run support. With the departure of Wichita State’s top three starters to the draft, Kelley is the favorite to move into the No. 1 spot in the Shockers rotation in 2009. |
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