By: Stan Maddux
BCR Correspondent
Attorneys are working on the paperwork involved with plans for a high-level baseball league to have an expansion club in New Buffalo with home games at a minor league-type ballpark.
The Northwoods League since established more than 30 years ago had had over 400 players make to the major leagues.
New Buffalo Area Schools Superintendent Adam Bowen said the league has already approved the terms of a 10-year contract to have an expansion team play more than 30 home games at the new high school baseball field.
Bowen said the school system will be paid for use of the field under terms of a lease in the final stages of being negotiated.
He plans to seek final approval from the school board at its April 27 meeting if the attorneys involved in the process are able to give all of the documents behind the proposal a final review and authorize their release for the board to look at prior to the meeting.
“It’s all dependent on the attorneys and how they process all of that paperwork,” he said.
Northwoods League billed as the most talent 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 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.
The field with a diamond covered by artificial turf cost about one million dollars.
“You’re going to see major league level baseball players here playing at our field, which is pretty incredible,” he said.
Bowen said the expansion team belongs to two men from New Buffalo who put up the money required by the league for ownership.
One of the men, Brian Williams, is a scout for the Texas Rangers.
So far, the name of the team is not known but it could be selected in a contest by the community, Bowen said.
Plans call for the new high school baseball field to have grandstand seating and lights added for a full schedule of games during the summer beginning in 2027, said New Buffalo High School Athletic Director Matt Johnson.
Bowen said there would be about 600 grandstand seats consisting of permanent fold away chairs behind home plate and bleachers along the infield fence lines.
There’s room to add more seating depending on future attendance.
Bowen said people will also be welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets and sit beside the fence lines to watch the games or on a hill behind the center field fence.
The additions to the baseball field would be paid for by the owners.
“Any of the extra items is going to be funded by them solely,” Bowne 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.
Bowen said he believes the team could become a major draw especially since New Buffalo has a large number of summer tourists and second homeowners to potentially tap into.
He said ticket prices have not been set but they will be very affordable.
Having the team here reflects the school district’s strategic plan that includes a focus on community involvement.
“I don’t think there’s anything better or screams community involvement more than this,” he said.