WICHITA, Kan. – For the first time since 1976, the Hays Larks will play in league other than the Jayhawk League. The Kansas Collegiate League Baseball, based in Wichita, announced the Larks along with the Liberal Bee Jays and Dodge City A’s will be joining the KCBL for the 2019 season.

The move comes nearly a month after the Great Bend Bat Cats, El Dorado Broncos, Derby Twins and Haysville Aviators announced they would be leaving the Jayhawk League to join the Sunflower Collegiate League.

“Since that time, Hays, Liberal and Dodge City have been working hard behind the scenes to find a way to stay together, play each other, and still be able to compete at the National Baseball Congress World Series” the league said in a statement on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.

“After much discussion and exploration, the best option to accomplish those goals was to join the KCLB. The Jayhawk League had a long, storied and successful run, and while we worked hard to try and keep the Jayhawk League independent by adding additional teams, we regret that option did not work out.”

The former Jayhawk League teams join current KCLB members Wellington Heat, Kansas Cannons, Clearwater Outlaws, Park City Rangers, Valley Center Mud Daubers, McPherson Pipeliners, and Kansas Curve.

The league will be divided into two divisions with Hays, Dodge City and Liberal in the west and the seven current members in the east. The top two teams from each division will meet in a championship series at the end of the regular season to determine the league champion.

“This is the most impactful move of this generation for Kansas summer collegiate baseball” said league commissioner Sheldon Howell through a press release.

“Truly, for once in a long time, the strongest organizations from the last decade are playing in one league all summer long. This move will breed the strongest competition and demand
professionalism across the board. Something I believe Kansas baseball was in desperate need of.”