(New Buffalo, MI) - All of the legal steps have now been taken for New Buffalo to become home to a team of high-level college players with dreams of making it to the major leagues.

 

The New Buffalo School Board on April 27 unanimously approved a 10-year lease for the team to play 30 games or more at the new high school baseball field during the summer beginning in late May of next year. 

 

The field will resemble a small minor league baseball park once lights and other amenities such as grandstand seating at affordable prices for about 600 people are added at the expense of the team as required under the lease.  People will also be welcome to stand along the sidelines outside the playing field or bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit in on the grass to watch the games.

 

“I can’t think of a better thing for kids to do in this community in the summer than go see a baseball game.  Right?  Have a hot dog,” said board member Vanessa Thun.

 

The goal is for the summer league team, which doesn’t have a name yet, to start playing games in 2027.  

 

Kevin Ebbeson, a volunteer youth baseball coach with three children in the school system, also reflected excitement in urging the lease be approved.

 

“It’s fun to have a team in our town. This will elevate New Buffalo’s profile and give our kids and families something special to look forward to every summer,” he said.

 

The team founded by New Buffalo residents Brian Williams and Tom Rowland will compete in the Northwoods League, which has had more than 400 players make it to the major leagues since established over 30 years ago.  The league billed as the most talented summer league in the world has 26 teams from Michigan and other states like Indiana, Wisconsin and as far away as North Dakota and Canada.  The other teams in the league from Michigan are in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Traverse City and Royal Oak.

 

The team emerged after Williams, a major league baseball scout for the Texas Rangers, approached school officials about his interest in helping make the new high school baseball field with artificial turf in the infield into a facility capable of hosting games at a higher competitive level.

 

The teams consist of players in college playing league games during the summer to stay sharp and get better to improve their odds of being drafted by major league teams

 

“We really want this to be a treasure for the whole community, really the whole region,” he said.

 

Williams said there should be enough parking at first with more than 360 spots that currently exist at the high school and football field along with nearby Oselka Park.

There’s room to add more seating as word spreads about the team, which could tap into the city’s strong base of tourists and second homeowners primarily from the Chicago area.

 

Police officers will also be present to help ensure a family-friendly atmosphere.

 

“We’re going to have traffic enforcement.  We’re going to have public safety officers at every game,” he said.

 

Williams said the team will operate as a not-for-profit with proceeds going to the school district and local charitable organizations.  He said the team will have full-time and part-time employees doing tasks ranging from working concessions, public relations and operating television cameras for the games, which will be live-streamed.  Williams said some of the jobs will go to students to gain experience in career paths they might choose to further study or pursue in college.

 

The high school team will have rights to the field if their games late in the regular season or post season conflict with league games on the schedule.

 

“That is definitely a priority in the lease and how we’re going to run the operation as well,” he said.

 

The league has also agreed to host youth camps in New Buffalo during the season to teach young players about fundamentals and other aspects of the game.

 

Former players in the league include future Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer, slugger Pete Alonzo and former White Sox all-star pitcher Chris Sale, who now plays for the Atlanta Braves.  Board member Stephen Donnelly abstained from the voting due to him acquiring five-percent ownership of the team.