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Thursday, July 27 Recap

July 28, 2017

Westchase Express 4, Fresno A’s 3

Westchase rode the Eric Gonzalez Express to their second victory. Gonzalez went the distance allowing three runs while striking out six. Eric Thomas led the way at the plate. with an RBI for the Express while Ivan Silva and Jonas Garcia added to the triple craze at the 83rd NBCWS. Westchase held on late as Gonzalez only allowed one run in the final seven innings.

Hattiesburg Black Sox 11, Dallas Dirtbags 0

The Black Sox knew they would have work to do in order to put themselves in position to advance to Friday, and they busted out the sticks. Kedrick Martin got plenty of support but kept the shutout the run-rule shortened game going five innings and allowing just three baserunner. Kreg Garner drove in three runs and had a double in the win.

Great Bend Bat Cats 8, Inland Empire Golden Bears 4

Despite some pressure placed on them with a Black Sox win, the Bat Cats continued to dust off opponents. Benjamen Sims went 3-4 and scored three runs while Corrigan Bartlett drove in three runs. Mitch McIntyre went seven strong innings on the bump without allowing an earned run. Great Bend seals up a perfect pool play record and will meet up with Cheney on Friday Night.

Cheney Diamond Dawgs 12, Jasper Reds 2

Grant Devore and Travis Young were in the middle of a nine run fourth that helped Cheney run away from Jasper for Pool B. Devore was 3-4 with 3 runs scored and two driven in. Young was 2-3 with two runs scored and two driven in. Cheney will matchup with the Great Bend Bat Cats on Friday night.

SEE FINAL POOL STANDINGS FOR FIRST WEEK

Cheney Diamond Dawgs (KS)

The Diamond Dawgs raced through Pool B with a pair of run rules and a third victory by three runs. Overall, the offense was explosive averaging over 11 runs per game. Tresten Kennard has been going 5-10 with 10 RBI. The top six hitters in the Diamond Dawg lineup are all over .400 in the first three games. Six pitchers for the Diamond Dawgs have combined to work 13 scoreless innings

Dallas Dirtbags (TX)

The Dirtbags had some tough luck on the trip north but Dallas dealt with a swarm of tough teams. Mark Peterson stood out at First Base as he drove in five runs at the plate with a pair of 2 RBI games. Luke Cullum and Nico Garza both finished over .400.

Fresno A’s (CA)

The A’s represented the Western Association for their first NBCWS appearance. Anthony Ward paced the A’s at the plate going 5-10 in three games. Alec DeMaria went 4.2 for the longest A’s outing while Marco Gonzalez and Ubaldo Romo both made scoreless, inning-long appearances.

Great Bend Bat Cats (KS)

The Bat Cats certainly made their prescence known in their first NBCWS appearance. After disptaching the Dallas Dirtbags in game one, they pulled away from the Black Sox late. They’ll advance to Friday night’s win and in ball game against the Cheney Diamond Dawgs. Great Bend has been at the front of the Triple surge as Brennan Fontenot has three and Benjamin Sems has two.

Hattiesburg Black Sox (MS)

The Black Sox may have generated the most buzz in town of any team oustide of the state of Kansas in First Week. On the field Hattiesburg played with grit, battling back on the opening night to win game one 5-4 after being no-hit for the first six innings. aylyn Williams was a standout at the plate, helping to deliver the winning runs in the come from behind victory over the Golden Bears. After a night two loss to Great Bend, Hattiesburg woke up the bats for an 11-0 victory over Dallas in their final game. The win put them into position to advance with a Great Bend loss, which could have made run differential a factor. Exciting all the way to the end. Off the field, the Black Sox were very giving of their time to a community they had never been to in their 80 plus years of existence. Hattiesburg visited the Wesley Children’s Hospital, taking signed NBC Baseball’s to the kids.

Inland Empire Golden Bears (CA)

Every year of the three years for the Inland Empire Golden Bears has been a step forward. IE was created in 2015, made their first appearance in 2016 and in 2017 began consecutive appearances. This year they ran into a very tough Pool D but held tight against the top two teams from the Pool. A late inning loss on Sunday put pressure on the Bears to bounce back on Tuesday, which they grabbed a needed victory. Coming into Thursday’s feature game, a win by four runs over Great Bend would have advanced them to Friday. A long way in a short time for a scrappy team.

Jasper Reds (IN)

Perhaps no team in the NBC has been operating longer, dating back to the 1890’s. And while the Reds NBC experience started in 1993, their last win came in that World Series debut. The Reds pulled their first victory in 24 years defeating the Fresno A’s 8-5 and snapping an 11 game losing streak in Wichita during July and August dating back to 1993.

WestChase Express (TX)

The NBCWS debut of the WestChase Expres certainly had plenty of excitement. While Cheney created a large run differential in two run-ruled wins, WestChase hung tight in the pool with a blend of speed and timely hitting. Eric Thomas stole a pair of bags while Allan Hooker finished 4-10 with 5 RBI and three runs scored.

Crazy 8’s:

There have been 32 triples in the 24 Pool Play Games while just 8 home runs.

Wednesday, July 26th Recap

July 27, 2017

Day 5 in the 83rd NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy brought a little rain, but not enough to slow down the pool winners in Pool A and Pool C. And while rain can often cool down the offenses, this rain was just enough to get the ball flying for a trio of home runs. The Feature Game was preceded by the Armed Forces Tribute in which multiple veterans through out ceremonial first pitches thanks to QuikTrip and KAKE-TV.

Northwest Boom 8, Sterling Xpress 4

Shortstop Nick Gonzalez and Designated Hitter Marcus Catalano formed a chemical reaction to make the Boom go. The duo eight of the team’s twelve hits and drove in seven of the teams eight runs. Catalano added a big fly in the onslaught. Gerardo Lerma qualified for the win with five innings of work on the hill and only one earned run allowed.

Austin Shockers 10, Valley Center Mud Daubers 2

Koby Kelton ignited the offense from the leadoff spot, going 4-4 as Austin made it a clean sweep of Pool A after an hour rain delay before the game. Mateo Carranza added three more RBI as he upped his tournament average to .556. Shea Edmonds went four scoreless on the bump to start the game before a trio of Shocker relievers closed it out with an inning a piece. Austin clinched the game with the 8 run rule after seven innings.

Mulvane Patriots 8, Round Rock Express 0

The Patriots sealed Pool A behind Noah Draper’s excellent start. Draper through six scorless innings allowing just three hits, three walks, while striking out 8. The starter was backed by multi-hit games from Javis Larson, Channing WIlliams, Easton Herring and Dalton Dinkle. Hunter Aguirre and Aaron Brown both had two RBI, Brown’s coming on a two-run homer.

Ft. Collins Bandits 11, 316 Elite 0

The Bandits had lost two games by a combined three runs coming into Wednesday night and did not leave it to chance again. Kyle Reisman drove in five runs with a four hit ball game. A combination of Garrett Hammond, Hunter Porterfield, Tanner Schoeninger, and Cameron Speath combined to shutout 316.

TEAM SYNOPSIS

316 Elite (KS) 1-2, POOL C

The youngsters shook out the nerves in the opener. A team comprised entirely of high school athletes from the greater Wichita Area, 316 battled back against an older and gritty Round Rock Express team in the opener. Brody Hanna was at the front of the line, literally-the leadoff man, and figuratively-in sparking the 316 Elite offense with a pair of triples in a come from behind win. The young guys showed they could hit and brought a loyal and loud group of fans with them throughout all three games. Game 2 matched them up against a very hot Mulvane Patriots squad. After Hanna, Andrew Brautman and Luke Royle also hit over .300 for the World Series. Kreighton Rogers had a fantastic outing, going 3.1 for the save against Round Rock. Elite finished up against the Ft. Collins Bandits on Wednesday night.

Austin Shockers (TX) 3-0, POOL A

The team that’s named after Wichita’s most well-known sports teams certainly made themselves at home. Half the lineup has combined to generate 23 of the team’s 31 runs. Henry Hausman, Drew Helberg and Mateo Carranza each lead the team with five RBI. While Carranza, Patrick Castillo, and Colton Barrington are all hitting over .500. Logan Garza, Shea Edmonds, and Colton Bailey have all thrown multiple innings, allowing just one earned run between them. Austin won Pool A outright, with a clean sweep over all three opponents. They will take on the Mulvane Patriots on Friday for the right to move onto Championship Week.

Fort Collins Bandits (CO) 1-2, POOL C

The Bandits got off to a rough start with matchups first with Pool Winner Mulvane and then a rough loss to Round Rock. But the Bandits put it together in their final game against 316 Elite. Quinn Tomasino upped his World Series numbers with the short legs of the cycle. The Bandits lost their first two games by a combined three runs but unloaded for 11 runs in the win on Wednesday night.

Mulvane Patriots (KS) 3-0, POOL C

The Sunflower League Champions in the regular season, the Mulvane Patriots kept it rolling up the road. Javis Lawson and Aaron Brown both homered from the bottom of a stacked lineup that won more comfortably with each game it played. Braden Minor and Noah Draper were silencers on the hill in their starts, allowing the Mulvane offense to settle in and swing freely. The Patriots swept through Pool C to setup a matchup with the Austin Shockers on Friday night’s Win & In chance at a Championship Week birth.

Northwest Boom (AZ) 2-1, POOL A

An exhilarating offensive team to watch, the Boom certainly could hit. Paced by the current World Series lead in average, Marcus Catalano hit .692 in the Boom’s three games with a pair of homers, 5 RBI, and nine total hits (13 ab’s). Catalano had each leg of the cylce, albeit not in the same game, throughout the tournament. Shortstop Nick Gonzalez said goodbye to Wichita with a four hit showing of his own and finishes NBCWS17 with seven total hits in 13 at bats. The Boom had control of their destiny until halfway through game two, against the Austin Shockers, when Austin scored 12 times after the fourth inning to take a barn-burner away from Northwest and prevent them from advancing.

Round Rock Express (TX) 1-2, POOL C

Round Rock established themselves with a five run lead early in the World Series but never quite found solid ground against the 316 Elite. They bounced back in game two with a comeback of their own. A 5 run fifth against the Ft. Collins Bandits pulled them to 1-1 before they ran into a buzzsaw in the Mulvane Patriots. Kelton Caldwell found himself in the middle of the action while Tim Bechtold finishes the tournament 4-10 to lead the Express. All told the Express just couldn’t find enough total offense, scoring nine runs over the three games.

Sterling Xpress (CO) 1-2, POOL A

Sterling’s second consecutive year in the World Series. JT Patterson collected four hits, three of which came in the Xpress’ Monday win. Sterling was trailing Valley Center 4-3 heading into the eighth inning before an 8 run outburst opened up the ball game. Kyle Robbins added two hits in the win as well with a pair of doubles. Nathanial Fornwood provided a couple of scoreless innings out of the pen.

Valley Center Mud Daubers (KS) 0-3, POOL A

Zach Baxley and Logan Brown were a major part of the Mud Daubers offensive attack. Baxley was 5-10 while Brown finished 5-12. Valley Center just struggled to find shut down pitching in key situations. Brad McBride gave the Daubers a quality start over seven innings, but bullpen woes saw the Xpress run away with an 8-run 8th inning and the ballgame. But Valley Center’s success in their first season in the KCBL and their ability to be in all contests until the final innings certainly showcased their potential for growth in future NBCWS appearances.

Monday, July 24 Recap

July 25, 2017

5th Inning Rolls Round Rock Past Fort Collins

Trailing 3-2 heading into the fifth, the Round Rock Express tallied five runs in the fifth. Kelton Caldwell notched three hits and scored twice. Jack Engelmann settled things on the mound for Round Rock, sealing the game with three scoreless innings. Round Rock could make things interesting in Pool C, should they knock off undefeated Mulvane on Wednesday.

Xpress explode in eighth with eight to beat Valley Center 11-4

Kelton Robbins had a pair of doubles for the Sterling Xpress but it was an eight spot in the eighth inning that tilted the game towards the Sterling Xpress. Spenser Dexter, Nate Forwood, and Mark Galloday combined to slow the Mud Daubers bats. Forwood and Galloday combined for three scoreless innings. Sterling will meet up with the Northwest Boom on Wednesday.

Patriots shake free from 316 Elite 10-5

Mulvane scored in each of the first five innings and added some insurance in the seventh to knock off 316 Elite 10-5.Hunter Aguirre drove in a pair of runs while collecting three hits and scoring twice. Braden Minor had firm command for the Patriots on the mound dealing for seven strong innings without allowing an earned run and striking out eight. Mulvane is in the drivers seat in Pool C, needing a win to clinch a spot in Friday’s Win & In matchups.

Austin Shockers sting, then stifle Northwest Boom 14-9

Down 8-2 in the fifth, the Shockers settled on the mound and woke up the bats. Garrett Prosner hit a ball to the Metropolitan Baptist Church that tied the game at nine. Logan Garza stiffled the Boom in the final four innings to seal the win.

Sunday Recap

July 24, 2017

Westchase (TX) Express Chase Off Reds 8-0

A make-up game not, withstanding, the Express from Westchase, Texas were running right on time and right past the Jasper Reds 8-0. Allan Hooker was the primary catalyst driving in four runs for the Express. Joseph Lyall and Aaron Gonzalez split the duties on the mound to combine for an eight-inning shutout. Lyall threw the first five to qualify for the win, while Gonzalez picked up a three innings save.

Great Bend fends off Dallas Dirtbags 9-5

Brennan Fontenot was a tough out, going 3-4, scoring 3 runs, and driving in 2 as the Bat Cats swatted down the Dallas Dirtbags 9-5. Even one of the few times Fontenot made an out, he drove in a run with a late sacrifice fly. It wasn’t all Fontenot in this one, as the two teams combined for 24 hits. Alex Ruxlow’s three innings of relief were enough to earn the win for the Great Bend Bat Cats.

Diamond Dawgs bite Fresno A’s 10-0

Tresten Kennard drove in four runs as the Cheney Diamond Dawgs jumped out quickly on the Fresno A’s. Albertus Barber went 4.1 scoreless innings in a run-rule shortened game to pick up the win.

Black Sox hold on to win over Golden Bears 5-4

Jaylyn Williams picked up two late hits and scored the game winning run as the Hattiesburg Black Sox knocked off the Inland Empire Golden Bears 5-4. Hattiesburg was held without a hit for the first six innings before a four run outburst in the seventh. Nathan Stewart locked down the save in the ninth.

Day 1 Recap

July 23, 2017

Contact: tim@nbcbaseball.com

Shockers Stall Express, 9-3

With a game time temperature in the triple digits, the Austin Shockers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in securing a 9-3 win in the opener of the 83rd NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy. Zach Compton had a pair of hits and scored three times to spark the Shockers. Four other Shockers had multiple hits to back starter Colton Bailey. Bailey allowed just one run in 6 strong innings of work.

316 Elite rises late, upends Round Rock 12-5

After shaking off some early jitters and withstanding five early runs from the Round Rock Express, 316 Elite started swinging the bats. Sparked by a pair of triples from Brody Hanna, 316 Elite put up crooked numbers with a five-run fourth inning and a six-run fifth inning. Nathan Hungate settled down on the mound after allowing some early runs. Kreighton Rogers took it the rest of the way with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Mulvane holds off Ft. Collins 6-5

The featured game was full of drama after the local Mulvane Patriots saw an early 5-0 lead dissapear. Mulvane got to the Bandits’ starter, Wichita State pitcher, Preston Snavely for five runs before he locked in and gave the Bandits time to respond. The Bandits response included the first home run of the World Series off the bat of Isaac Bracken. But the Patriots bullpen, led by Jared Price’s three innings of scoreless relief, held tight. Aaron Brown drove in the game winner in the top of the ninth. Ryan Bailey secured the final three outs, and the win for the Mulvane Patriots.

Boom bop Mud Daubers 5-3 (played Sunday Morning)

Marcus Catalano completed three legs of the cycle, just missing a home run, and teammate Gilbert Valenzuela added three hits of his own as the Northwest Boom (AZ) pounded out 13 total hits in a 5-3 victory over the Valley Center Mud Daubers. Cesar Dominguez was a magician working around eight hits and a walk in 6.2 innings of work, only allowing one earned run. Zach Bailey was 3-4 in the loss for the Mud Daubers.

NBC continues to Evolve

July 21, 2017

BY JEFFREY LUTZ

This article can be seen in its entirety on The Wichita Eagle:

http://www.kansas.com/sports/other-sports/nbc-baseball/article162940508.html

Kevin Jenks is playing the long game.

Some of the changes to the National Baseball Congress World Series made by Jenks, its tournament director, have been implemented in the last couple years. One difference this year is the elimination of Baseball ’Round the Clock, an NBC staple for nearly 30 years.

Other changes are still to come. Jenks works consistently at giving the tournament, which begins Saturday with four games at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, a national flavor and ending the regionalization that has dominated recent years.

More than 10 new teams – those who have never played in the World Series – and three new leagues are represented in the 30-team field, a number that Jenks wants to reduce in the future.

“We need to look at the idea of going to a smaller World Series, fewer teams,” Jenks said. “There’s a lot of things to look at of how we look at the qualifying for it. We’re not looking at sweeping, major changes and a whole new format for the thing, we just need to look at tweaking some things.”

Jenks’ most difficult obstacle has been replacing teams that drop out just before the tournament. Usually those replacement teams come from Kansas, where there are now three collegiate summer leagues after the addition of the Sunflower League this year.

“I miss baseball, I like being around it,” Sunflower commissioner Casey Walkup said. “With my experience, spending five years with the NBC (including as tournament director), I felt like there were some things that you could do to run a summer collegiate team in this area and not have to have a huge budget, but make it successful.”

The Sunflower is sending the Mulvane Patriots, a first-year team, to the World Series. Kansas has more than 20 summer teams and can be an easy fallback for Jenks when he is filling the field.

But Jenks looks in different directions first. The tournament added the University of Iowa, which is representing the United States similar to the way Kansas’ basketball team did in the World University Games last summer.

The San Antonio Angels, participating in next week’s championship week, and the Hattiesburg (Miss.) Black Sox are additional new participants. The NBC added a donation program to help teams with travel, food, lodging and incidental expenses

“But we need to get back to east of the Mississippi (River) more,” Jenks said. “That’s easier said than done, but that’s one reason why we introduced the Ambassador program, for us to build traction not only for our current participants, but for the future to be more attractive to other leagues we’re trying to recruit to come to Wichita.”

Jenks has a model for a 26-team tournament that would last two weeks instead of 16 days. A slight reformatting is particularly urgent because the World Series may have to move to Wichita State’s Eck Stadium or another location while a new downtown stadium is being built.

All options, Jenks said, are on the table.

“It’s just a model, it’s a draft,” Jenks said. “That’s why I want to lock ourselves in a room with a big whiteboard and some people I want to make sure are a part of that conversation. Like, ‘Hey guys, what do you think we could be doing here?’ ”

Baseball ’Round the Clock is gone because games are no longer played into the middle of the night. Umpiring, Jenks said, improved last year when new crew chief Jon Browar hired umpires with significant Division I experience.

It’s all part of a plan that may give the tournament a different look but represents the same goals – to attract the best teams and players to Wichita every summer.

“At the end of the day, do you want to come in and face a team that’s not very good competitively?” Jenks said. “Or do you want your guys to line up and say, ‘We’ve got to bring it tonight, because this is a good team.’ ”

Saturday’s Games

Austin Shockers vs. Sterling (Colo.) Xpress, 1:30 p.m.

Round Rock (Texas) Express vs. 316 Elite, 4 p.m.

Ft. Collins (Colo.) Bandits vs. Mulvane Patriots, 7 p.m.

Northwest (Ariz.) Boom vs. Valley Center Mud Daubers, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Westchase (Texas) Express vs. Jasper (Ind.) Reds, 1:30 p.m.

Dallas Dirtbags vs. TBA (Jayhawk), 4 p.m.

Cheney Diamond Dawgs vs. Fresno A’s, 7 p.m.

Hattiesburg (Miss.) Black Sox vs. Inland Empire (Calif.) Golden Bears, 9:30 p.m.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/other-sports/nbc-baseball/article162940508.html#storylink=cpy

WBJ: The Business of the NBC

July 21, 2017

This article appears on the Wichita Business Journal website.

By Josh Heck

Kevin Jenks doesn’t sleep much in the days leading up to the National Baseball Congress World Series.

As tournament director and general manager for the National Baseball Congress Foundation, much of the responsibility for ensuring the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States succeeds will fall on him.

But Jenks can rest a little easier knowing interest in the 30-team tournament is increasing, reflected by increases in attendance, corporate sponsorships and community buy-in.

Jenks sat down with the Wichita Business Journal last week to detail the operational components required to make the NBC World Series go, the ongoing push to grow the organization and ensure it remains a viable stand-alone entity for years to come.

All told, the NBC Foundation is about a $1.5 million operation with all of the tournament expenses factored in.

Jenks wants the organization to be a community fixture year-round, not just a few weeks out of every summer, and cross-promote with other events, such as the Wichita River Festival.

“This is a community tradition,” Jenks says. “This is a part of Wichita — been that way for many years — and we need to make sure we don’t lose it.”

The NBC Foundation has grown from being a one-man operation in 2015 to having three other people besides Jenks as full-time staff members. Jenks spent 2013 and 2014 working on the World Series as part of the Wichita Wingnuts staff. He transitioned to full-time oversight of tournament operations in November of 2014.

Now, the foundation has personnel devoted to operations, partnerships and marketing and communications. Three seasonal employees are utilized before and during the World Series. A team of 40 to 50 volunteers also help with the games — typically around 10 people per game — serving as ticket takers, ushers and assisting with team hospitality.

Jenks says the organization is growing by engaging with local businesses and nonprofit organizations, along with more community partnerships.

“It’s relationships,” Jenks said. “To us, that’s what life is all about.”

The emphasis on relationships — new and fostering existing ones — is so significant that the foundation hired a dedicated partnership director last year, Eddie Fahnestock.

With a full year under his belt, Fahnestock is a big reason why the Wichita business community has stepped to the plate, adding 30 new corporate sponsors for the 2017 World Series, pushing the total number of sponsorships over 100.

“We knew in that first year we weren’t giving our sponsors enough attention,” Jenks says.

Jenks says sponsorships range from $250 to $25,000, covering title sponsorships for games, and in-game advertising and promotions.

Hotel and restaurant vendors also partner with the NBC Foundation to provide food and lodging for participating teams, staff and guests.

Jenks says the foundation has 20 restaurant partners and eight to 10 hotel partners that aid those efforts.

Business buy-in

The foundation made news in June with the announcement of longtime sponsor Westar Energy as the title sponsor for the World Series.

Westar officials say the investment is justified.

“More than anything else, it’s doing something for our community,” says Jeff Beasley, Westar’s vice president of customer care based in Wichita. “The NBC tournament is one of the signature events for Wichita. It has a great history to it.”

Other Wichita businesses agree, and they’ve also bought in.

“This tournament has been around a long time and it feels like it is gaining momentum again,” says Rod Young, CEO of Professional Engineering Consultants PA, one of this year’s new corporate sponsors. “I think Kevin has done a great job of getting this event in front of corporate sponsors.”

Young says getting involved with the tournament also is a way to give back to the community and PEC employees. PEC receives an allotment of tickets for its sponsorship as well as access to a Lawrence-Dumont suite one of the nights.

The company is paying $10,000 to sponsor two dates during the World Series, July 24 and the Aug. 4 quarterfinals during Championship Week.

Foley Equipment Co., Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center, Kansas Gas Service and Key Construction Inc. are among the new World Series sponsors this year as well.

Jenks anticipates a 75 percent year-over-year increase in sponsorship revenue this year, not including proceeds from tickets and concessions.

The NBC Foundation, he says, receives all of the ticket revenue from the World Series and a percentage of concession sales.

Kansas Stars appeal

The addition of the Kansas Stars team, comprised of Hall of Famers and former major league players, has increased the tournament’s appeal, supporters say.

Last year, the team helped produce multiple sell-out crowds at Lawrence-Dumont, as tournament attendance continues to grow.

Attendance during the games in which the Stars played drew roughly 6,000 fans apiece, double that of other tournament games.

Jenks says the tournament drew roughly 44,000 people in 2015, the first year under the direction of the nonprofit organization. That was a 9 percent increase over 2014, Jenks says.

Total attendance grew to around 55,000 people in 2016, bolstered by the Kansas Stars playing during Championship Week.

The goal is to increase the tournament attendance total another 10 percent this year.

Helping Delano grow

The NBC World Series creates a financial ripple effect with people from in and out of town staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants and taking in the city’s attractions.

The 2016 tournament created an economic impact of $2.5 million, according to estimates from Visit Wichita and the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.

Businesses in the Delano District are among those that benefit most from the NBC Tournament because of their proximity to Lawrence-Dumont.

Jennifer Ray, owner of the Monarch, says business at the restaurant picks up in the later part of the afternoons during the tournament. Most often, she says, people are getting a meal and some drinks before evening games, but occasionally people will come in between or after games as well.

On Kansas Stars game nights, Ray expects triple the number of people other NBC World Series games bring.

“That is something we really have to plan for,” she says. “All you can really do is focus on how you can get people in and out as quickly as possible. You don’t want people to leave unhappy.”

The Monarch will add staff and offer limited menu items on nights when capacity crowds are expected.

Other Delano businesses also see an increase in foot traffic during the two-week tournament.

Jack Kellogg, owner of Hatman Jack’s, says the World Series helps provide a bump in sales during a slower time of the year, from customers from across the U.S.

“The NBC Tournament is like a big convention,” he says. “It performs for us in a very positive way because of new faces from different places.”

Helping other nonprofits

Jenks and the NBC Foundation have made helping other nonprofits a higher priority over the past couple of years as a way to promote services and causes in the community.

The NBC partners with a local nonprofit organization — the majority providing youth services — on a 50/50 raffle promotion. The beneficiary organization is allowed to recruit its own volunteers to sell raffle tickets during games and provide information about services provided.

Half of the money raised through the raffle goes directly to the featured nonprofit organization on a particular night. The other half goes to the fan whose ticket number is drawn. Jenks says in some cases the winning fan will give the money back to the featured nonprofit organization. Martin Pringle Law Firm sponsors the raffle promotion throughout the tournament.

Nonprofit leaders say that promotion is a way for local organizations to gain some added exposure in the community.

Debbie Kennedy, CEO of the Wichita Children’s Home, says being featured for one night during the tournament will provide a platform for the organization to share its story. The children’s home will be the highlighted nonprofit on Aug. 3.

Kennedy says the added exposure will help her organization connect with ambassadors who are interested in serving as a volunteer, donor or both.

She’s glad the NBC Foundation is making a more concerted effort to work with local nonprofit organizations locally.

“It’s better when we can all work together in a collective fashion because it benefits us all and makes the community better,” Kennedy says.

See the full article here:https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2017/07/21/the-business-of-the-nbc.html

2017 Field Set for 83rd NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy

July 18, 2017

UPDATED: 7/20/17 6:04pm CT

WICHITA, Kan. – With a mixture of perennial contenders, local teams, and fresh faces, the 30 team field for the 83^rd NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy has been set with the final teams qualifying to represent their leagues in 2017 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita.

The Santa Barbara Foresters, the 2016 champions, lead a pack of five California based squads. The Inland Empire Golden Bears and the Fresno A’s will represent the Golden State in the First Week. The San Diego Force and San Diego Waves will join the fray of Championship Week with the Foresters.

The runner-up from 2016, Hays Larks, will also be back leading a competitive pack from the state of Kansas. The Kansas Stars, a collection of former Major League players will be making their second consecutive appearance in Championship Week. Frequent attendees, such as the Liberal Bee Jays, Derby Twins and Wellington Heat have punched their tickets to Championship Week as well. The Mulvane Patriots, 316 Elite and a couple of teams that will be determined will round out the competitors in First Week.

The 2017 field will see eleven, and potentially fourteen total, new teams making their NBC debuts. The Hattiesburg Black Sox (MS) have been in operation since 1941, but will come to the World Series for the first time. The Northwest Boom (AZ) will be coming out of the Sun Belt Collegiate League. Among those making their debuts in Championship week will be the San Antonio Angels (TX).

Also, new to the NBC will be the USA National Team, represented by the University of Iowa, who will be preparing to represent the United States in Tokyo at the World University Games in late August.

For a complete list of the 30 team field at the 83^rd NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy as well as they breakdown of First and Championship Week participants, visit https://nbcbaseball.com/2017-field/

The 83^rd NBC World Series will be played July 22–August 6, with all games being played at Historical Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. To order individual game tickets go to www.selectaseat.com or call 316-977-9400.

About NBC: The NBC World Series is the largest and the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States. This non-profit 501c(3) foundation operates under the supervision of a 16-member volunteer board of directors. To learn more visit www.nbcbaseball.com.

Contact: Tim Slack

tim@nbcbaseball.com

City approves part of Stadium Financial Plan

July 18, 2017

*Photo by Brittany Schowalter/Wichita Business Journal

This article appears online at Wichita Business Journal

Bill Wilson Managing EditorWichita Business Journal

A new downtown ballpark came a step closer to reality Tuesday when the Wichita City Council approved $29.5 million in funding for the project.

The money, including $20 million in bonds retired by tax increment financing, and $9.5 million for parking, would be targeted for a new Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on the west side of the Arkansas River, the initial focal point of the city’s plans to accelerate development along the river downtown.

“Today is good news,” Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell said. “We are going to have so many opportunities in Wichita.”

Also included would be a greenway walking and bike path on the north side of Douglas in Delano.

“Baseball has been a part of the fabric of Wichita for 85 years,” said city council member Pete Meitzner, who was in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the vote but supports the project. “The city needs to provide a destination stadium that can be part of that very fabric, for professional ballplayers and for the National Baseball Congress.”

Plans for the ballpark are based around a destination concept, where fans can walk around the circumference of the park. Also included are a home for Wichita’s National Baseball Congress and a bid for the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

City officials have told the WBJ they are confident that an affiliated baseball team can become the lead tenant for the new ballpark, with a Triple-A club easier to land than a Double-A team, where major league clubs develop most of their young talent.

Wichita is the largest city in the United States without affiliated baseball, Mayor Jeff Longwell told the WBJ this year.

Walk Your Way to Better Rates

July 12, 2017

Fans of the 83rd NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy can visit any Wichita Federal Credit Union (WFCU) location to start saving money each month on high interest rate loans, while also scoring flex tickets to this year’s World Series.

WFCU is the sponsor of all walks during the World Series and is giving away flex tickets to NBC fans who open up a savings account throughout the World Series.

WFCU has been serving the Wichita Area since 1940 and is a full service financial institution with Checking and Savings accounts, Auto, Home and Personal Loans as well as credit cards with fixed rates and no balance transfer fees.

Learn about how WFCU can save you money on rates and win flex tickets by visiting one of their three locations.

3730 W 13th St N, Wichita

9835 E 21st St N, Wichita

455 N Main St Ste 410, Wichita