BALDWIN CITY BLUES
The Baldwin City Blues are a summer collegiate wood bat baseball team based in Baldwin City, Kansas, in the United States. The Blues are a member of the Mid-Plains League.
The Baldwin City Blues are a summer collegiate wood bat baseball team based in Baldwin City, Kansas, in the United States. The Blues are a member of the Mid-Plains League.
Blues Baseball got its start as a neighborhood coach pitch team playing in the Johnson Country Parks and Recreation League. Preaching fundamentals, team commitment and good sportsmanship, Blues Baseball soon became one of the most well-coached and competitive teams in the area. Coach Faddis saw the potential his players had and developed a baseball program that is arguably the most successful in Johnson County history. With over 50 tournament titles, three State Championships and three World Series crowns to their credit, Blues Baseball set out test the players’ skills in the historic Ban Johnson League in 2012.
The Blues wasted little time in gaining the respect of established Ban Johnson teams. With a roster dominated by recent high school graduates, Blues Baseball became the youngest team in the 85-year history of the league to win the title. The team also became the only first-year team to accomplish this feat. Along the way, Blues Baseball also shattered the single-season winning percentage mark by going 35-1 during the summer. As a result, 10 players were chosen to play in the annual Ban Johnson All Star Game at Kaufman Stadium in July 2012. Four players were also recognized for their outstanding performances by garnering the league’s Defensive Player of the Year (CJ Faddis), Top Relief Pitcher (Nick Kolarik), Wins by a Pitcher (Drew Noble) and Tournament MVP (Jake Wodtke).
Although Coach Faddis experienced a loss of over half his team to other collegiate summer leagues, Blues Baseball re-tooled for the 2013 Ban Johnson Summer season. Again stressing fundamentals, team cohesiveness and personal commitment Coach Faddis motivated the team to “leave it all on the field.” As a result, Blues Baseball put together a second consecutive championship season, winning the Ban Johnson regular season title with a record of 24-5. Along the way, Blues Baseball established yet another Ban Johnson record by being the only team ever to win the League during its first two years of play. Eight Blues players were recognized for their efforts by being selected to the All Star Game at Kauffman Stadium. Coach Faddis and Coach Moore were also selected by league managers and administrators.
In 2014, the Blues moved to Baldwin City, Kansas and helped establish the Mid-Plains League. Michael Moore was named General Manager and Chris Faddis named Team Manager. The team would call Baker University's Sauder Field its initial home in Baldwin City. Overcoming several key injuries, the Blues made the Cowdin Cup Playoffs in its first season in Baldwin City. The season also saw Baldwin City Blues and Kansas State University Catcher Tyler Moore hit a walk off grand slam in the inaugural Mid Plains League All Star Game. With the bases loaded and the Mid Plains All Stars down 4–1 against the visiting Kansas City Men's Amateur Baseball All Stars Moore sent a 1–1 fastball 390 feet over the scoreboard in left field. The theatrical victory helped place the Mid Plains League on the Summer Collegiate Baseball landscape. Moore would go on to lead Kansas State in hitting the following season while winning numerous awards including being named All Big 12 Catcher and nominated for the Johnny Bench Award given to collegiate baseball's top Catcher.
The Blues have seen a number of current and former players either drafted or play professionally. Major League Baseball picks include: Clayton Henning 11th round 2012 (Tampa Bay Rays), Hayden Edwards 31st round (Kansas City Royals), Chase Rader 16th Round 2014 (Detroit Tigers), Matt Hall 6th Round 2015 (Detroit Tigers), Matt Eckelman 21st Round 2016 (Pittsburgh Pirates), Robert Calvano 38th Round 2016 (St. Louis Cardinals) and Ryan Wetzel 33rd Round 2016 (Washington Nationals). Players signing professional contracts include: Aaron Marshall 2016 Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League), Tyler Moore 2016 Kansas City T-Bones (American Association), Grant Arnold 2017 Hollywood Stars (Pecos League) and Jeremy Melvin 2017 Hollywood Stars (Pecos League).