FORT SMITH, Ark. — Baseball and summer go hand in hand, and on May 23, the Fort Smith Marshals baseball team will kick off their inaugural season against the Texarkana Rhinos at Crowder Field at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.
"I'm excited to be here," Manager Steve Maddock said. "We have a lot of good kids coming in from all over the country, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, from all levels of college, from junior college to D1, so just excited to get here, get them on the field tomorrow, and then get ready for Thursday's home opener."
As a part of the new, 6-team Mid-America League, the Marshals will compete in 68 games (34 home, 34 away) throughout the summer. According to General Manager Greg Kigar, the Marshals' roster is made up of players from five different states and three different countries.
Competing in a summer baseball league gives the players a holistic experience while in their school’s off-season, Kigar said.
"Here, they're going to have an opportunity to talk with the media, to be a part of this community, and go out and sign autographs," Kigar said. "It'll be a much different experience for some guys, and same old, same old for others, but the thing is they can attack all of this as a team."
A team Kigar says is meeting for the first time just three days before Thursday’s first pitch. But according to Maddock, the let introduction shouldn’t be an issue.
"Once they get here, it's still baseball," Maddock said. "In baseball, guys really connect quickly and get a good sense of camaraderie."
In preparation for Thursday’s opening day, Kigar said crews are working to expand seating, extend the fence line, and retouch paint along the diamond. He added that Crowder Field will be the Marshals' home until a new stadium is built.
"The hope is in two years to develop a multipurpose stadium that we can play on the Arkansas River," Kigar said. "But whatever we're doing here, we're leaving it for the college and it'll be a good upgrade for them."
A new team, a new league, but baseball in the Fort Smith area is a familiar sight.
"It's one of the reasons the league picked Fort Smith because there's such a baseball history here," Kigar said. "The college is here, the high school is here, the competitive nature of baseball is one of the things that will drive our ticket sales here. People love their baseball."
According to the Fort Smith Marshals, many MLB players have played in a summer league during their collegiate career. They add that there are more than 40 summer leagues throughout the United States.
The new team will face the Texarkana Rhinos for a four-game series starting with opening day on May 23. The game series schedule includes:
- Thursday, May 23, at 7:05 p.m.
- Friday, May 24, at 7:05 p.m.
- Saturday, May 25, at 7:05 p.m.
- Sunday, May 26, at 1:05 p.m.
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