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NBC Feature: Dian Overaker

While Hap Dumont may have dreamt up the National Baseball Congress and the idea of a national tournament, one Wichita woman is credited in part with keeping the tournament going for so many years. 

Dian Overaker worked as an administrator for the tournament, hired by Dumont himself after the two, as well as Dumont’s wife, Ann, and Overaker’s husband, Bob, became close friends. 

“She had a personal relationship with the Dumonts, and she started working down there, and I think it just started as a part-time job and it turned into a full-time job, and she ended up staying there for 30 years,” Overaker’s son, Kent, said. 

Overaker started working with the NBC World Series in 1970, just one year later Dumont passed away, leaving a lot of uncertainty around the tournament. Many credit Overaker for keeping the tournament alive, through her personal relationships with affiliated teams, her resiliency and her willingness to share her opinion.  

“What I thought was a real unique thing that [Dian] did, and maybe a real important part of continuing the tournament, it wasn’t just a business thing, where you come here and we make money off your team, she had a personal relationship with these men and women,” Kent said. “She cared about people, it was just part of her.” 

During the tournament Overaker would be in her office at the stadium from early morning until midnight or later, on standby, just in case. 

“A lot of times she wouldn’t go out and watch any ballgames, she was in the office until midnight doing stuff. She was just real dedicated,” Kent said. “I spent a lot of time down there, and believe me, a lot of good memories.” 

Overaker was drawn to baseball long before she met the Dumonts. Overaker earned a degree in journalism from the University of Indiana, and covered sports for the University’s newspaper, where she became the first female sports editor in the state. It’s how she crossed paths with Bob, as he was a sportswriter for the South Bend Tribune a few hours away – home of rivals Notre Dame. The two went back and forth over the AP wire about the respective universities until Bob took the trip to Bloomington, and as Kent puts it, the rest is history. Bob eventually became a sportswriter and eventual sports editor of the then Eagle and Beacon newspaper, bringing the Overakers to Wichita. 

“It was a big thrill,” Overaker said in a Wichita Eagle piece from 2000, the year she was inducted into the NBC World Series Hall of Fame, “Baseball is a man’s world. It felt like I belonged.”

February is National Girls & Women in Sports Month, and this month we are featuring a few of the women who have made an impact on the NBC World Series. Overaker is one of three women who has been inducted into the NBC World Series Hall of Fame, along with Melinda Rich (2007) and Betty Abbott (2009).

NBC Feature: Betty Abbott

The NBC World Series is celebrating 90 years this summer, and one woman greeted fans for more than half of those tournaments. Betty Abbott is a familiar face for fans, organizers and teams, as she spent more than four decades working and volunteering for the tournament in Wichita.

Abbott was inducted into the National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame in 2009, one of three women to be a member of the NBC Hall of Fame, after a long career with the tournament and former Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, and many years of volunteering after that.

“I worked at the ballpark and the guys that worked at the ballpark ran [the NBC World Series] too, so whatever they said to do, I did,” Abbott said. “I just wanted to help whenever I could.”

Abbott is serious when she says she did whatever was needed. She vended chairback seats, packed umpire kits with fellow NBC Hall of Famer Dian Overaker, took tickets and a lot more. She started working at the stadium around 1958. At the time she also worked for the City of Wichita Parks Department, when she’d finish her day of work, there’s only one place she’d want to be.

“She was always there, everyone knew her,” said Brian Turner, NBC World Series director of community partnerships and former Wichita Wingnuts GM. “Fans looked for her when they came to the games, and when it came to the tournament you always heard people talking about Betty. Generations of fans.”

After Abbott retired from working at the stadium in 1994, she continued volunteering at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and the NBC World Series. She would clean skyboxes and stadium offices, and she continued taking tickets and greeting fans. Abbott credits determination and a love for sports, baseball and meeting people for keeping her around the tournament for so many years.

“I loved being at the stadium and sharing my experiences with people and greeting them with a smile,” Abbott said.

In the more than six decades since Abbott started working with the NBC World Series, she’s made countless memories, but few compare to watching her son, David, as a bat boy during the tournament. Abbott says she loved her job, and above all, she loved sharing baseball with her family. She attended the tournament in 2023, and hopes to do so for the 90th anniversary of the NBC in 2024 as well.

February is National Girls & Women in Sports Month, and this month we are featuring a few of the women who have made an impact on the NBC World Series. Abbott is one of three women who has been inducted into the NBC World Series Hall of Fame, along with Melinda Rich and Dian Overaker.

NBC Foundation Pickleball Tournament Presented by Aetna

Grab your pickleball partner and help us kick off the 90th anniversary of the NBC World Series at Chicken N Pickle this March!

On Sunday, March 3rd, the NBC Baseball Foundation will be hosting  our first pickleball fundraiser tournament from 10am-1pm at Chicken N Pickle- Wichita! Help us continue to be “the future of a baseball tradition!”

Click HERE to register

Details

Location: Chicken n Pickle, 1240 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, KS 67206
Date: Sunday, March 3, 2024
Time: 10am-1pm

Included with tournament entry:

  • 3 guaranteed pickleball games (and more if you progress in the tournament)
  • Tournament T-shirt
  • Food & non-alcoholic drinks
  • Plus prizes for our first place teams in both the recreational and competitive divisions.

Teams

  • A team consists of two players
  • Team members must sign up together
  • Each team must come up with a team name

Tournament

  • Every team is guaranteed at least 3 games
  • If you keep winning after your 3 games, you get to keep playing
  • All equipment will be provided
  • 1st place winners in both divisions will receive a prize
  • A pickle-ball pro from Chicken n Pickle will run the tournament

Tournament Ticket

  • Tickets are $150 for a team (team consists of 2 people)
  • Tickets are non-refundable

Sign up today!

We have limited spots and lots of interest in this tournament, so don’t wait to sign up! Grab a partner and join the NBC for our first-ever pickleball tournament benefitting the NBC Baseball Foundation and the NBC World Series! Teams can register as any configuration of doubles pairs: men’s, women’s or mixed, but both teammates must be 12 years of age or older.

Sponsorships Available

  • Food Sponsor: $1500
  • Drink Sponsor: $1000
  • Court Sponsor: $500

For more info on sponsorships, contact Tyler Racy via email: wsc1@wichitasports.com

Click HERE to register!

90th Anniversary Tournament Announced

Wichita, Kansas – The NBC Baseball Foundation announced today that the 90th National Baseball Congress World Series, powered by Evergy, will be held July 25-August 3rd at Eck Stadium at Wichita State University. The NBC World Series has been held in Wichita every year since 1935, making it one of the longest continuously running sporting events in the nation. 

“Tens of thousands of players have played in the NBC Tournament since its inception, including more than 900 who went on to play Major League Baseball,” said NBC Tournament Director Katie Woods, “We can’t wait for the opportunity to celebrate all of the tournament’s rich history, as well as showcase the next generation of baseball stars, at the 90th Anniversary tournament in 2024 with fans of all ages.” 

The NBC World Series is the country’s premier summer collegiate baseball tournament, and features teams from across the United States. Founded in 1935 by Hap Dumont in Wichita, the NBC was played at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium through 2018. Many baseball innovations have roots in the NBC, including the pitch clock, the designated hitter and the batting helmet. Known for its unique promotions and high-quality baseball, the National Baseball Congress has had more than 900 former players go on to play Major League Baseball, including Roger Clemens, Satchel Paige, Ozzie Smith, and modern stars like the Texas Rangers’ Josh Jung. 

As part of the 90th anniversary, the NBC teamed up with Old Fort Baseball Co., based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to design a 90th logo. Paying homage to elements of prior NBC logos throughout the decades, the anniversary logo will be seen on merchandise and promotional items throughout 2024.  

“Old Fort Baseball Co. is a company founded on a deep love for local baseball, and baseball history,” said Woods, “The Fort Wayne Voltmen have a special place in NBC history as the first team to win three consecutive championships, and are one of the reasons that Old Fort was created. Partnering with a company as passionate about the success of community teams and the history of the tournament as we are was a natural fit for the logo design.” 

Sixteen teams are slated to participate in the 2024 NBC World Series, with bids being announced over the summer, prior to the tournament. Defending champion Hutchinson Monarchs (KS), as well as the runner up Santa Barbara Foresters (CA), receive guaranteed bids for their finishes in the 2023 NBC World Series. 

Tickets to the 90th NBC World Series will go on sale in May. Learn more about the tournament, and the NBC Baseball Foundation, year-round at NBCBaseball.com or on social media at @NBCBaseball. 

### 

NBC Baseball Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization supporting amateur baseball across the country, and has been part of the fabric of America’s Pastime since the NBC World Series began in 1935. The NBC’s goal is to be the Future of a Baseball Tradition by preserving and celebrating baseball history, while providing opportunities for the next generation of baseball talent. Tax ID: 46-3773723 

Old Fort Baseball Co. is passionate about the game of baseball and the incredible sense of community it fosters. Born out of a deep love and passion for Fort Wayne and America’s Pastime, Old Fort Baseball started as a simple outlet for creativity. Telling the stories of Fort Wayne, Indiana’s rich baseball history through the creation of logos and apparel has transformed into an opportunity to become a part of not only the amazing small business community in their hometown but also the larger national baseball community as a whole. Learn more at oldfortbaseballco.com. 

NBC Baseball Foundation Internship & Practicum Information

NBC Baseball Foundation Internships & Practicum Opportunities

The NBC Baseball Foundation (National Baseball Congress World Series) is looking for spring and summer interns to assist in the operations of the NBC Baseball Foundation, as well as the 90th Anniversary NBC World Series (July 25-August 3, 2024) in Wichita, Kansas.

The internship & practicum program may include nights and weekends. These internships are paid a $500/month stipend, with the opportunity for commission on sales, and they will be able to network with individuals, organizations, and businesses in the community.

Spring Session: February through May

Summer Session: May through Mid-August

 

Sales & Sponsorship Internship

  • Actively make sales calls for groups & fundraisers for the NBC World Series (commission paid on sales made)
  • Learn to create partnership proposals
  • Assist with sponsorship execution and fulfillment
  • Assist with ticketing operations, including ticket printing and distribution
  • Work with local business and community partners on trade partnerships
  • Create and execute sales-focused theme nights

 

Baseball Operations & Communications Internship

  • Communicate with teams, leagues & players about the NBC World Series
  • Work with official scorer to update website, record book, and create content & features about teams & players
  • Update summer collegiate database and research best practices in amateur baseball
  • Make sure NBC continues to innovate and integrate technology in to the tournament
  • Baseball knowledge required

 

Marketing & Promotions Internship        

  • Assist in creating a marketing plan for upcoming events
  • Create social media and marketing content, including Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
  • Email marketing
  • Website updating and content creation
  • Work with local media partners and marketing partners to promote events
  • Create a fun fan experience for events, including elements such as between innings promotions, stadium entertainment, promotional events etc.
  • On event day, execute in-game promotions and assist with giveaways, promotions and entertainment as needed

 

Content/Video Production Internship

  • Organize shoots and coordinate logistics with coaches and front office
  • Quickly edit content for social media distribution
  • Research and create videos for all NBCWS/WSC social media profiles and YouTube channel
  • Oversee/coordinate NBC World Series livestream
  • Shoot videos at events as needed
  • Help maintain the department’s video and replay database
  • Take ownership and lead design and creative projects as assigned
  • Contribute creativity to planning and executing in-game promotions
  • All other duties as assigned

 

Operations Internship

  • Assist in planning and organization of events, including organizing and executing event timelines, and assisting with all aspects of event operations
  • Assist in set up and tear down of all events
  • Areas of involvement may include (but not limited to): ticketing system, venue operations, equipment and gear, volunteer organization, merchandise, hospitality etc.
  • Opportunity to work across departments and learn overall operations of sporting events
  • Must be detail oriented and organized
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds

All interns will work with other internal departments on various special projects throughout the season, and perform other duties as assigned.

For additional information about the internship program, please submit your resume to katie@nbcbaseball.com or call 316-265-6236 with questions.

2023 NBC Official Scorer’s Report

Pool play tweak
The 89th National Baseball Congress World Series (NBCWS) continued the pool play format with one tweak: the
top three teams qualified for the knockout rounds, which was done in the 2019 tournament.

Improved offense
Offensive stats in the 89th NBCWS showed a modest improvement, as the tournament batting average was .265,
up 10 points from last year. Runs per game gained a run from last year (11.74 compared to 10.67), and hits per game
increased slightly (16.63 compared to 16.10). RBIs averaged 10.46, only the third time that it reached double digits. While
extra-base hit averages continued to fall (the 0.63 home runs per game was the lowest since the nadir of 0.28 in 2019),
additional baserunners were gained by a tournament-high 9.69 walks per game (edging out the previous high of 9.65 in 2018).
Winning teams topped 10 runs 15 times compared to twice for defeated teams. Losing teams scored two or fewer
runs 17 times, including seven shutouts.
Three teams, led by champion Hutchinson (Kan.), batted over .300. OKC D-BAT was second at .323, but failed to
advance out of pool play.
Only one team failed to reach .200, the SC (Kan.) Blues. The Blues became the third team to fail to score a run in
pool play, and set records for lowest batting and slugging average at .054.
Grant Nottlemann (Great Bend) set a Modern Wood Era (MWE) record by going 12-for-16 for a .750 average,
eclipsing the .714 of the San Diego (Calif.) Waves’ Bryan Rosario in 2018 over four games. Nottlemann also set a MWE
record with an .850 on base percentage, surpassing Rosario’s .765.
Tournament MVP Max Buettenback (Hutchinson) batted .524 with seven extra-base hits, 10 runs scored, 10 RBIs
and a 1.063 slugging percentage. Three players (Josh Livingston, Five Tool Kraken; Sam Wiese, Monarchs; and Miguel
Santos, Santa Barbara) shared the home run lead with two, while Buettenback and teammate Jaden Gustafson each had
10 RBIs.
At least three Hutchinson players were found among the top five in seven of the eight tabulated offensive
categories; Buettenback was among the top five in six of them.
Of the 22 home runs that were hit (down from 27), Hutchinson, Santa Barbara and the Five Tool Kraken each had five.
Stolen bases were up by nearly 1.00 (3.40 in 2023 against 2.47 in 2022), with Lonestar (Texas) stealing 22 bags
and Santa Barbara 19.
Winning teams batted .320, hit 17 home runs, and stole 82 bases, while defeated teams had .205, 5 and 37
respectively. The average margin of victory fell just shy of 6.00 at 5.91 (8.80 to 2.89)

Call to arms went into voicemail?
Pitching in the 89th NBCWS seemed to be either very good or very bad. The tournament ERA was 5.48, up from
last year’s 4.81.
ERA champion Kansas Cannons was the lone team under 2.00 with a 1.85 ERA. Santa Barbara had a chance to
overtake the Cannons, but allowed four earned runs in the title game to finish third with a 2.12 mark (Champion
Hutchinson was fourth with a 2.39 ERA)
At the other extreme, newcomers Arlington (Texas) Baptist University and Seattle (Wash.) finished with the
highest ERAs at 11.87 and 15.92 respectively. The Five Tool Kraken would have joined that group, but had enough low
earned run games allowed to finish at 9.53. Sandlot Tulsa (Okla.) also had a 9.00 ERA.
Strikeouts were down at 14.51/game from last year’s 15.77, and walks set a record with 9.69/game, up from
2022’s 8.07. Hit batters were up a little at 2.23 compared to 2.07 last year.
Santa Barbara’s Zane Petty took home leading pitcher honors, winning two games, allowing no runs in 13 innings
with two walks and 15 strikeouts. The Monarchs’ Brady Pacha was almost as dominant, allowing one run in 11 innings,
winning two games, walking one and striking out 16. Six starters had an 0.00 ERA (with a minimum of 5 innings pitched),
and two others had an ERA under 1.00.
Lonestar’s EJ Garcia pitched 7.1 innings of shutout baseball in relief, while Hutch’s Reed Scott had a win and two
saves in 3.2 innings. Robert Cranz of the Foresters struck out 14 over seven innings.
Winning teams had a 2.40 ERA, walked 3.57 batters and struck out 8.20 per game. Defeated teams had an 8.78
ERA and nearly walked as many batters per game (6.11) as they struck out (6.31)

No-hitter notes
1955 and 1964 were the year of three no-hitters.
2021 was the last time two no-hitters were thrown. Other years were 1939, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964,
and 2001.
Denver Cougars have been at both ends of no-hitters, defeating the SC Blues in a five-inning perfect game and
losing to Santa Barbara in a nine-inning no-no..
The Foresters (2020 and 2023) joins Greensboro, N.C. (1962 and 1964), Sinton, Texas (1950 and 1951) as clubs
that have thrown two no-hitters.
Grand Rapids Slagboom is the only team to be no-hit twice.

Fielding took a step back
The tournament field had a .955 average, down six points from 2022’s 9.61. Errors topped three per game at
3.06, and double plays were up to 1.43/game.
Hays had the best fielding at .985. Santa Barbara had an opportunity to better that, but committed two error in the
championship game to finish at .979, along with the Seattle Studs.
No team finished with sub-.900 fielding despite three teams (Great Bend, Kraken and Lonestar) committing over
10 errors.
The tournament opened with an errorless game (Arlington Baptist-D-BAT), but never saw another one thereafter.
Hutchinson-GPS had the most combined errors with seven; the Monarchs prevailed despite committing five of them. Two
other teams (Great Bend, SC Blues) were also charged with five miscues.
Winning teams fielded .970, committed 1.03 errors per game, turned .74 DPs and caught seven of 34 base
stealers. Defeated teams had averages of .941, 2.03, .69 and caught 17 of 85 steal attempts and picked off seven
runners.

Game times were slightly longer
With all games played at Eck Stadium, game times averaged 2:22, just higher than last year’s 2:20. Six games
were completed in under two hours, with Denver’s perfect game over the SC Blues (#9, Aug. 5) the quickest at 1:12. That
marked the first time since 2016 that a game finished under 75 minutes.

                                            Four games lasted over three hours, with Hutchinson-Hays (#7, Aug. 4) the longest at 3:17. Two of the four three-hour games                                                           occurred on Aug. 8 and a third fell just shy at 2:52.  Fourteen games lasted between 2:15-2:29.
Rain delayed the start of the semifinals 1:24 on Aug. 11.

The margin of victory was (not quite as big)
The average margin of victory almost reached 6.00 again, but finished just shy at 5.91. There were some close
games (10 decided by one or two runs), but nine were had at least 10-run margin. Seven games were settled by the 10-
run lead rule, and three others by the 8-run rule.
Winning teams topped 10 runs 15 times, while defeated teams did so twice. Two of the highest-scoring games
both occurred on Aug. 8: Great Bend 17, Kraken 11 (28 runs, #23) and Hutchinson 12, GPS 10 (22 runs, #21). Lonestar
posted a tournament-high 19 runs against Arlington Baptist (#25, Aug. 9).
Winning teams averaged 8.80 runs/game against 2.89 for defeated teams.

Miscellany
Winning teams had a five-game stretch of scoring at least 10 runs (games 21-25, Aug. 8-first game of Aug. 9).
Two of the four debutants (Seattle Blackfins and Arlington Baptist) reached the knockout rounds, but their last two
game did not end well: The Blackfins fell to Hays 16-3 and 17-6 to Great Bend, while the Patriots lost 13-3 to Liberal and
19-3 to Lonestar. The other two (SC Blues and Sandlot Tulsa) wen 0-3 in pool play.
Double-digit innings are generally rare, but there was a rash of them: Great Bend scored 11 in the ninth inning to
turn an 8-6 deficit into a 17-8 win (#23, Aug. 8); Hays scored 11 in the fourth to run-rule the Blackfins 16-3 (#24); Lonestar
topped that with a 12-run ninth in a 19-3 win over Arlington Baptist (#25, Aug. 9). Hutchinson scored 10 in the third to run rule the Kraken 17-0 in a five-inning semifinal on Aug. 11 (#33).
The Kraken had a rather mercurial tournament: In their six games, they allowed nine or more runs in four of them
(including 17 to Great Bend and Hutchinson). But they yielded less than three runs in two of their wins.
Lonestar Baseball Club had an interesting tournament. They scored nine runs in pool play, allowing three to reach
the knockout rounds. Then, in the first round of elimination play, they scored more runs in the ninth (12) than they did in
pool play in a 19-3 win over Arlington Baptist. Lastly, the team allowed as many runs (six) in the eighth inning as they did
in their first four games in an 11-1 loss to Hutchinson. As part of the implosion (or to cap it off), two players and a coach
were ejected.
Speaking about ejections, Santa Barbara saw Robert Cranz and head coach Bill Pintard were ejected in the
eighth against Great Bend. The Foresters came back to win 5-4 in 10 innings.
Doppleganger: Conner Woods, Santa Barbara and Kansas Cannons (yes, they are different)
Been around a while: Great Bend is the first team this writer has seen that has the year established (1871) on the backs
of their jerseys.

Knockout round finals
The first time knockout rounds were used was in 2016. In that tournament, Hays and Santa Barbara reached the
championship round undefeated. Hutchinson-Santa Barbara was the second time that two undefeated teams reached the
finals.
Both Santa Barbara and the NJCAA National Team had one loss in the 2018 championship game.
The Seattle Studs are the only two-loss champion, defeating an undefeated Cheney (Kan.) Diamond Dawgs in
the 2019 title game.
Knockout round play was not used in 2020 (Covid) and 2021 (the only time the NBCWS played games at
Riverfront Stadium)

MULTI-STATE LEAGUE REPORT
Kansas fielded the most teams with six, with the Jayhawk Collegiate (neé Sunflower) accounting for three of
them. Texas had four teams, Washington two, Oklahoma two, leaving as singletons California and Colorado. Seattle sent
two teams, and the Rocky Mountain Baseball League also had three clubs.

     

League play
The 89th NBCWS saw three teams each from the (new) Jayhawk and Rocky Mountain baseball leagues. Led by
tournament champion Hutchinson, Jayhawk 2.0 decisively won the contest of the leagues with an 11-4 record, placing all
three entrants in the quarterfinals (Hutchinson, 6-0; Great Bend, 3-2, fifth; and the Cannons, 2-2, eighth). The Denver
Cougars led the way for the RMBL with a fifth-place finish at 3-2, while former Jayhawk members Hays and Liberal
finished tied for ninth for a 7-6 cumulative mark.
In head-to-head meetings, the Jayhawk held a 2-0 edge:
Aug 3 Kansas Cannons 8 Denver CO Cougars 1
Aug 4 Hutchinson KS Monarchs 6 Hays KS Larks 4
Intraurban play
The 16-team format usually doesn’t allow for two teams from the same city to compete in the tournament, but the
Pacific International League did that as the Seattle Blackfins qualified as league champions and the Seattle Studs gained
an at-large berth. (Would there be a Circle of Love without the Studs??) The two clubs would have met in the
quarterfinals, but it was not to be, as Great Bend eliminated the Blackfins in the first round of knockout play 17-6.
San Diego (Calif.) has had the most recent of the intraurban contests when the Stars edged the Force 2-1 on
8/5/2013. San Diego has sent four teams to the tournament during the Modern Wood Era, three in 2009: Force, Stars and
Waves. Despite all of those appearances, the 2013 tournament was the only time two San Diego clubs met.
Host city Wichita has had the following: Braves 14, NABA Stars 1, 8/4/2000; Braves 5, Gators 2, 8/2/2005; Titans
7, Gators 4, 8/5/2005; Gators 7, Titans 1, 8/4/2006; Sluggers 7, Titans 4, 8/2/2003.
Two teams from the same city have never met in the championship game, and the last time two teams from the
same state met in the finals was in 2002, when Fairbanks (Alaska) defeated Anchorage 8-3. Other all-Alaska finals were
Anchorage 9, Kenai 4, 1991; Kenai 6, Fairbanks 5, 1977; Fairbanks 3, Anchorage 0, 1976; Fairbanks 3, Anchorage 2,
1972; Anchorage 2, Fairbanks 1, 1971. The Goldpanners-Glacier Pilots are the most frequent matchup with four; the
Pilots won the first one, but the ‘Panners took the next three.
All-Kansas finals occurred in 2000 (Liberal 3, Hays 2) and 1965 (Wichita Dreamliners 11, Liberal 6).
Evolution of the Modern Wood Era
The Modern Wood Era (defined as the return of wood bats to the NBCWS and the prohibition of metal bats) has
seen three distinct stages: The “Wild West” era, 2000-2008 with 40+ teams; the “More Normal” era, 2009-2019 with
between 26-36 teams; and the current 16-team era, 2020-2023 (which includes the 2020 Covid year of 13 teams).
Per-game averages are really the only way to compare seasons, but it was interesting to note that the at bats per
game was a MWE low at 62.80. 2020 and 2021 are the only years that saw an average of more than one home run per
game, and twice there were fewer than eight runs scored per game (7.43 in 2012 and 7.69 the year following).
2016 was the last year there were double digits in complete games with 10; since then, the most complete games
in the tournament was five, done in 2019 and 2021 (2020 saw the fewest with two).
There has been at least one extra-inning game in the NBCWS (done four times; the most recent was 2021). The
2012 tournament was the last one to have at least 10 of them, and holds the highest percentage at 15.87%.
The 2021 tournament saw winning teams average over 10 runs a game at 10.03; the last time that happened the final year of metal bats in 1999 at 10.59. This year’s tournament fell just shy of nine runs at 8.91, which is the second highest average in the MWE. Last year’s tournament saw defeated teams average a low of 2.10 runs/game; the most
losing teams averaged was 3.54 in 2018. The past three years saw the widest average margin of victory, with the 2023
tournament the third highest at 5.914/game (the 2016 edition averaged 5.912). Only once did the average margin fall
below 3.00 as the 2012 competition saw an average margin of 2.92. 2013 had an average of 3.53 and the 2001
tournament average was 3.63.
Five-year players
Players who appeared in more than four tournaments are a rarity, but three players reached the five-year mark in
2022 and another in 2023. Two of them (Anthony Brady and Landon Riker) are Seattle Cheney Studs players. Wyatt Divis
appeared in six tournaments, five with Hays. Austin Eggleston played in five tournament with five different teams.

And thank you again to:
Rachelle Miller and Rick Potlock, managing the Pointstreak software; and doing the associate scoring.
Rick did the work on Pointstreak from his home in Tallahassee, Fla. Overall, it went well.
And, the writer also thanks Kevin Jenks, Katie Woods and Andrew Burgos for helping this writer complete his 40th
tournament.

 

Mike Dean

Official scorer and lead statistician

National Baseball Congress

“All the Way Mae in Wichita”

All The Way Mae in Wichita

In the 1940s, baseball took on a very different role in America. Companies often had their own company teams that played across the country, with many of them making their way to Wichita to play in the National Baseball Congress. As the United States joined World War II, a new professional baseball league with female players was formed to keep baseball in front of fans while so many men were away. Known as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and made famous by the 1992 film ‘A League of Their Own’, the Midwest-based league existed until 1954 with more than 600 women playing in the league.

In the mix was Maybelle Blair, who played for the Peoria Redwings in 1948. Growing up with her brother Tommy, who was seven years older, in California, Maybelle couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t play baseball.

“At first I didn’t get to go play baseball with all the other kids,” Maybelle recalls, “I was the little sister so my job was to sit and listen to the professional games on the radio and keep score, so they could come back in and find out what had happened in the game. But once that was over, I would go out and shag balls, and play catch… I just worshipped Tommy.”

Tommy played for Northrop Aircraft’s company team in the 1940s, and Maybelle rarely missed a game. In 1941 the Northrop Bombers of Hawthorne headed to Wichita for the National Baseball Congress national championships, ending up tied for fourth, and then knotted with Camp Wheeler (GA) Spokes for fifth in the 1942 nationwide ratings. Their third baseman – Tommy Blair.

We all know that there’s no crying in baseball thanks to the 1992 film ‘A League of Their Own,’ and this summer one of the inspirations behind the film will celebrate women’s history in baseball at Wichita’s prolific NBC World Series. The film depicts the emergence of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in the 1940’s, when Major League Baseball teams feared the collapse of the league due to many young men being drafted into the war. Madonna’s character nicknamed ‘All the Way Mae’ is partially based on the legendary Maybelle Blair, a former pitcher for the 1948 Peoria Redwings. Blair, now 96 years old, still travels the country inspiring the next generation of girls and women in baseball.

Blair is an integral part of USA Baseball and MLB’s Trailblazer Series – a baseball tournament for girls – she is tied in with the USA Women’s National Baseball Team, and she makes appearances at girls’ baseball events across the country, and on August 10th Blair made a stop at Eck Stadium on Wichita State University’s campus for the NBC World Series.

 

Promoting women in baseball isn’t Blair’s only connection to the NBC World Series; in 1942 Blair’s brother, Tommy, played third base for the Northrop Bombers at the longstanding tournament. Growing up, Blair often followed her brother to baseball practice and sometimes played outfield with his team in California, and still remembers him going to play in Wichita.

Aside from her contributions to the game of baseball, Blair is also a trailblazer for women in aviation. Following her professional baseball career and a successful professional softball career, Blair began what would become a 37-year career at Northrop Corporation in California, where she became one of only three female managers early in her career, and the first in transportation. Joining her during the celebration on August 10th at the NBC World Series is one of Wichita’s own Rosie the Riveters, Connie Palacioz, 98, who worked on B-29s at Boeing during World War II.

The journey of women in baseball started more than 150 years ago, but growth has quickened over the last decade, with major accomplishments including the first female general manager in the MLB (Kim Ng, Miami Marlins), the first female MLB minor league coach (Rachel Balkovec, New York Yankees), the first woman to appear in the starting lineup of an Atlantic League game (Kelsie Whitmore, Staten Island Ferry Hawks), the first woman to make an NCAA Division I baseball roster (Olivia Pichardo, Brown University), and many more accomplishments.

Now, at 96, Maybelle’s goal is to raise funds for an International Women’s Baseball Center in Rockford, Illinois, home of the Rockford Peaches made famous by “A League of Their Own”, that would house a museum, an umpire school, a Hall of Fame and more – all to continue to promote the game of baseball for the next generation of girls. To learn more about her vision, and learn how you can get involved, visit http://www.internationalwomensbaseballcenter.org/.

2023 All-American Class Announced

WICHITA, Kan. – The 2023 National Baseball Congress All-Americans all played key roles in advancing their respective teams through the 89th NBC World Series, powered by Evergy. The Hutchinson Monarchs claimed their first National Championship in franchise history. Each NBC All-American will receive a customized commemorative bat from Hook Bats, www.hookbats.com.

 

2023 NBC World Series All-American Team

Pitchers

Zane Petty                             Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)                      0.00 ERA, 2-0 Record, 1 CG, 13 Innings, 15 Ks, 2 BB

Brady Pacha                          Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)                          0.82 ERA, 2-0 Record, 1 CG, 11 Innings, 16 Ks, 1 BB

Caleb Heuertz                       Five Tool Kraken (TX)                                    0.93 ERA, 1-0 Record, 2 APP, 9 2/3 Innings, 12 Ks

Chayse Gruber                     Great Bend Bat Cats (KS)                              0.00 ERA, 2-0 Record, 2 APP, 6 Innings, 7 Ks, 1 BB

 

Catchers

Grant Nottlemann                Great Bend Bat Cats (KS)                              .750 BA, 12 Hits, 1 2B, 1 3B, 9 R, .938 SLG%, 1 SB

 

Infielders

1B – Sam Wiese                   Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)                          .391 BA, 9 Hits, 9 RBI, 3 2B, 2 HR, .783 SLG%, 1.000 FLD%

2B – Case Pettis                    Five Tool Kraken (TX)                                    .368 BA, 7 Hits, 2B, HR, 4R, 7 RBI, .579 SLG%

SS – Jalin Flores                    Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)                      .318 BA, 7 Hits, 3 RBI, 5 R, .500 SLG%, 2 SB, 1.000 FLD%

3B – Rodric Black                 Lonestar Baseball Club (TX)                         .450 BA, 9 Hits, 2 3B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 3 SB, .700 SLG%

 

Outfielders

Preston Curtis                       Five Tool Kraken (TX)                                    .625 BA, 10 Hits, 1 HR, 4 2B, 1.063 SLG%, .700 OB%

Max Belyeu                           Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)                      .440 BA, 11 Hits, 2 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, .520 SLG%

Will Edmunson                     Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)                          .440 BA, 11 Hits, 11 R, 4 2B, 7 RBI, .600 SLG%, 4 SB

 

Utility

Jaden Gustafson of/dh       Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)                          .417 BA, 10 Hits, 9 R, 10 RBI, HR, 5 2B, 1 SB

Tyler Cowan 2b/3b/ss         Great Bend Bat Cats (KS)                              .313 BA, 5 R, 8 RBI, 3B, 2 SB, 1.000 FLD%

 

Designated Hitter

Max Buettenback                Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)                          .524 BA, 4 2B, 2 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 4 R, 1.048 SLG%

 

Manager – Casey Lippoldt, Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

MVP – Max Buettenback, Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

Home Run Trophy – Sam Wiese, Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

Leading Prospect to the Majors – Zane Petty, Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)

Eric Pintard Most Inspirational Player – Tristin Crusenberry, Liberal Bee Jays (KS)

Best Team Offensive – Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

Best Team Defensive – Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)

Best Team Pitching – Kansas Cannons (KS)

Leading Pitcher – Zane Petty, Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)

Leading Hitter – Grant Nottleman, Great Bend Bat Cats (KS)

Michael Dean RBI Award – Max Buettenback, Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

Outstanding Local Player – Brady Pacha, Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

Just Block It Catcher Award – Zeke Minic, Denver Cougars (CO)

Hap Dumont Award – Ray Baty

Sportsmanship Award – Five Tool Kraken

Umpire of the Year – Jeff Spisak

Download 2023 NBC All-American-Awards PDF

2023 Hall of Fame Class Inducted

(L-R) Roy Smalley III, Josh Robertson, Dick Martin (son of Joe Martin)

 

The National Baseball Congress inducted four new members into the National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame on Saturday night as part of their Championship Night festivities.

On hand at Eck Stadium in Wichita to collect their awards were Josh Robertson, Roy Smalley III, and Dick Martin, son inductee Joe Martin. Mike Harkey, currently a bench coach for the New York Yankees, was not able to attend in person and accepted his induction virtually.

The National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame was started in 1991 to recognize the men and women who have made a lasting impact or contribution to the NBC. The NBC Hall of Fame includes ten members that are also in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Satchel Paige, Tony Gwynn, Ozzie Smith, Tom Seaver, Whitey Herzog, Don Sutton, Bob Boone, Pat Gillick, Buck O’Neil and Dave Winfield.

 

About the 2023 Inductees:

Mike Harkey

Mike Harkey was a two-time NBC World Series All-American in 1985 and 1986, playing both for the Eureka Humboldt Crabs and the Fairbanks Goldpanners. In 1985 with the Humboldt Crabs he pitched 17 innings and gave up only one earned run, with 16 strikeouts and three walks, and was the NBC World Series Leading Pitcher. In 1986 with the Goldpanners he pitched 15 innings and gave up six earned runs and struck out 12. He was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Cubs in 1987, and played eight seasons in the Majors.

Joe Martin

In 1942, Joe Martin became manager of the Bellingham (WA) Bells, and in 35 years as manager of the team led the Bells to 20 National Baseball Congress state championships, participating in the National tournament more than a dozen times and finishing third in 1940 and 1964. The National Baseball Congress named him “Sportsman of the Decade” for the 1950s, and he served as the Washington State NBC Commissioner in the 1950s, as well, before being named National NBC Manager of the Year in 1970. Joe also brought pro baseball to Bellingham, WA in the 1970’s with the Los Angeles Dodgers farm team, and then the Bellingham Mariners. The City of Bellingham, Washington named the baseball complex Joe Martin Field before he died in 1981, and Joe Martin Field is the current home of the Bellingham Bells, who play in the West Coast College League.

Josh Robertson

Josh Robertson played in eight NBC World Series throughout his career: for the Wichita Jets, Wichita-Derby Twins, Wichita Sluggers, Park City Cowboys, Wichita Titans, Haysville Angels, and the San Diego Stars. He went on to coach the Wichita Twins to three consecutive appearances in the NBC World Series before moving over to the management side. From 1999 – 2018, he served as Operations Manager, Stadium and Baseball Operations Manager, Tournament Director, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, President, and Consultant for the National Baseball Congress World Series. In addition, he served on the Boards for Hap Dumont Youth Baseball and USA Baseball. During that same period, he served as the Assistant GM and Co-GM for the Wichita Wranglers and President/GM for the Wichita Wingnuts.

Roy Smalley III

Roy Smalley played in the NBC from 1971 to 1973. Roy was a two-time All-American at shortstop with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in 1972, and the Boulder Collegians in 1973. In 1971, he was named to the National Tournament Honor Roll and appeared in 6 games to help the Boulder Collegians finish 4th. In 1972, he played in 8 games, going 11-for-25 with 8 runs scored and was again named to the National Tournament Honor Roll as the Glacier Pilots finished second overall. Smalley returned to the World Series in 1973 with Boulder, leading the tournament in both extra base hits and homeruns. The Collegians were the best offensive team in 73’ as they finished 4th led by Smalley’s bat. After his NBC career, he went on to play for 13 seasons in the Major Leagues, with the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and retired with the Minnesota Twins. He was selected as a shortstop for the American League All-Stars in 1979.

As a part of their induction the Hall of Famers were presented with custom ring boxes made by local Wichita-based Ten Work Fabrication, made out of handcrafted black walnut with custom engraved brass with the original NBC logo and their name and year of induction.

A complete list of NBC Hall of Fame members can be found at: https://nbcbaseball.com/nbc-hall-of-fame/.

Bracket Play Schedule

Pool play has officially concluded for the 89th NBC World Series, powered by Evergy. You can see pool play results here. Bracket play  starts Wednesday, August 9th. 12 teams remain alive with a chance to be crowned champions. The top team from each pool receives a bye. The first round between teams who finished second and third in their pools will be played on August 9th.  Quarterfinals at 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm, and 8:30pm will be played on August 10th, Semi-Finals at 6:00pm and 8:30pm on August 11th, and first pitch on August 12th’s Championship Night will be at 7:00pm.

Download Bracket Here

Wednesday, August 9th

12:00pm:  Lonestar Baseball Club 19  vs. Arlington Baptist 3

3:00pm –  Liberal Bee Jays 5  vs. Denver Cougars 6

6:00pm – Hays Larks 2 vs. Five Tool Kraken 9

8:30pm – Seattle Blackfins 3  vs. Great Bend Bat Cats 19

Thursday, august 10th

12:00pm: Hutchinson Monarchs 11  vs. Lonestar Baseball Club 1

3:00pm: Santa Barbara Foresters 3  vs. Denver Cougars 0

6:00pm: Kansas Cannons 3  vs. Five Tool Kraken 6

8:30pm: Seattle Studs 6  vs. Great Bend Bat Cats 1

Friday, August 11th

7:15pm: Hutchinson Monarchs 17  vs. Five Tool Kraken 0

8:30pm: Santa Barbara Foresters 5 vs. Seattle Studs 0

Saturday, August 12th

7:00pm: Hutchinson Monarchs 6 vs. Santa Barbara  Foresters 3

Tickets start at $10 for general admission, or $15 for reserved seating, and tickets are good for the full day’s slate of games. They can be purchased online at nbcbaseball.com or at the Eck Stadium Box Office on game days.

Can’t make it out to the games:

  • Live Stream – https://bit.ly/WatchNBC
  • App – Search “NBC World Series” on the Apple Store or Google Play Store
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