GRAND ISLAND, NE – The summer college baseball team coming to Ryder Park this summer, has opened an office on the second floor of the Yancey Building in downtown Grand Island.  People are encouraged to stop by Monday through Friday to learn more about the team, the Diamond Baseball League, and to meet John Costa, the team’s Director of Ticket Sales & Operations.

John recently relocated to Grand Island from Washington State.  He worked previously for the Wilmington (NC) Sharks of the Coastal Plain League, where he successfully managed financial reporting, oversaw point of sale systems and streamlined operational tasks.

Also joining Grand Island’s new team is Scott Galusha as Director of Community Relations.  Scott has been a teacher at Grand Island High School and has been a high school coach since 1991.  For the past six years he was Co-Owner and President of the Hastings Sodbusters.  The Hastings team is being acquired by the Diamond Baseball League and is moving to the DBL.

The Grand Island team is currently in the final days of a name the team contest.  More than 50 different names were submitted by local residents for the name of the new team.  Based on fan votes and creativity, the final possible team names are –

• Hoppers
• Hot Shots
• Thunder Cows
• Fighting Cranes
• Spikers
• Mammoths

To cast your vote for one of these finalists, visit www.grandislandbaseball.com. Everyone who submits a name for the team or votes in this ‘final round’ will receive a complimentary ticket for a game during the 2026 season.  Voting concludes at midnight on October 31.

The Diamond Baseball League (DBL) is a professional-grade collegiate summer baseball league which will begin play in 2026. The League will focus on providing an atmosphere that mirrors the minor league baseball experience for fans, sponsors, and players with a heavy emphasis on promotions,  events to benefit the community and affordable, family entertainment.

The League has secured its six inaugural markets in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, which include first class facilities and multi-year stadium leases.  In addition to Grand Island, team locations have been announced for Hastings, Nebraska and Jefferson City, Missouri.  The final three markets will be announced over the course of the next few weeks. The league will own and operate each of the six inaugural teams to ensure operational consistency and efficiency and the long-term financial security and growth of the League.

To learn more about the Diamond Baseball League visit www.thedbl.com.

GRAND ISLAND, NE – More than 50 different names were submitted by local residents for the name of Grand Island’s new baseball team slated to begin play in May 2026 at Ryder Park. Based on fan votes and creativity, the final potential team names are –

• Hoppers
• Hot Shots
• Thunder Cows
• Fighting Cranes
• Spikers
• Mammoth

Hoppers is a reference to grasshoppers, which are plentiful on the plains.

Hot Shots are high priority trains that carry important freight.

Thunder Cows is a fun play on the popular farm animal.

Fighting Cranes is a nod to the migratory sandhill cranes.

Spikers is a reference to railroad spikes, a critical element in building railroads.

Mammoth roamed the grasslands of Nebraska in prehistoric times.  

To cast your vote for one of these finalists, visit https://grandislandbaseball.com/name-grand-islands-team/. Everyone who submits a name for the team or votes in this ‘final round’ will receive a complimentary ticket for a game during the 2026 season.

The Grand Island team is a member of the Diamond Baseball League (DBL) which is a professional-grade collegiate summer baseball league to begin its first season in 2026. The League will focus on providing a minor league baseball experience for fans, sponsors, and players with a heavy emphasis on promotions and events which benefit the community and offer affordable, family entertainment. 

The League has secured its six inaugural markets in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, which include first class facilities and multi-year stadium leases. In addition to Grand Island, the DBL has announced teams in Hastings, Nebraska and Jefferson City, Missouri. The remaining markets will be announced over the next few weeks. The league will own and operate all the teams to ensure operational consistency and efficiency and the long-term financial security and growth of the League. 

The DBL management team has over 100 years of combined professional sports experience, including ownership and operation of collegiate summer, independent professional and minor league teams, and leadership positions in Major League Baseball. The leadership team includes Bill Davidson and Matt Perry of National Sports Services (www.nsssports.com), Ralph Nelson, a former Major League Baseball executive, and Dan Roman, a CPA with extensive financial experience in the sports industry. 

To learn more about the Diamond Baseball League visit www.thedbl.com.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Jefferson City Renegades are excited to announce a new ownership group and that the team will join the Diamond Baseball League next season.  

The Diamond Baseball League (DBL) is a professional-grade collegiate summer baseball league which will begin play in the summer of 2026.  The League will focus on providing a baseball experience akin to the minor leagues for fans, sponsors, and players with a heavy emphasis on promotions, events and affordable, family entertainment.

The DBL management team has over 100 years of combined sports experience, including ownership and operation of collegiate summer, independent professional and minor league teams, and leadership positions in Major League Baseball. The leadership team includes Bill Davidson and Matt Perry of National Sports Services (www.nsssports.com), Ralph Nelson, a former Major League Baseball executive, and Dan Roman, a CPA with extensive financial experience in the sports industry.

The DBL will own the Jefferson City franchise and is finalizing a multi-year lease agreement with the City of Jefferson City to secure the team’s long-term future in the community.  The franchise will continue to play at Ernie Vivion Field and the League plans to invest in upgrades to include a new group area, ticket booth and concessions to enhance the fan experience.

During the inaugural 2026 season, the Jefferson City franchise is slated to play a minimum of 30 home games from May 28 through August 1, followed by playoffs. The League will hire a full-time staff that will reside in Jefferson City and a coaching staff that will secure and manage the team’s roster. 

The DBL will own and operate each of the six inaugural teams to ensure operational consistency and efficiency and the long-term financial security and growth of the League.  The League previously announced teams in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska and will announce the remaining franchises over the next two weeks. 

DeWayne Cartee, current President of the non-profit entity which has owned and operated the team since 2017, commented, “Our board determined the timing was right to pass the baton to the Diamond Baseball League to take the franchise forward.   They have extensive experience in the industry and will invest in growing the franchise and enhancing the benefits to the fans, players and the community.  The board is excited to remain engaged to support a smooth transition and keep collegiate summer baseball growing in Jefferson City.”  

Matt Perry added, “We’re grateful to the team’s volunteer board for working closely with us to make this happen, and for their tremendous efforts in prior years in providing their time and effort to provide family entertainment for Jefferson City.”  

With new ownership and a new League, residents of Jefferson City can help select a new name for the team. Each person who submits a name for the new team at www.jeffcitybaseball.com, receives a complimentary ticket to a game during the 2026 season. 

To learn more about the Diamond Baseball League visit www.thedbl.com.  Contact Matt Perry for additional information or interviews at 785-221-5302 or matt@nsssports.com.  

The Hastings Sodbusters are the second franchise to be announced in the new Diamond Baseball League. The Sodbusters were recently purchased by the League.

The Diamond Baseball League (DBL) is a professional-grade collegiate summer baseball league which will begin play in 2026. The League will focus on providing a minor league baseball experience for fans, sponsors, and players with a heavy emphasis on promotions and events to benefit the community and affordable, family entertainment.

The League will be entering into a multi-year lease agreement with the City of Hastings for the Sodbusters continue to play at Duncan Field.

During the inaugural 2026 season, DBL teams will play a 50-game schedule from May 28 through August 1, followed by playoffs. The Sodbusters will hire a full-time staff that will reside in the market, and a coaching staff that will secure and manage the team’s roster.  Former Sodbusters President Scott Galusha will continue in a management role with the Sodbusters.

The League has secured its six inaugural markets in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, which include first class facilities and multi-year stadium leases.  Grand Island was previously announced as a Diamond Baseball League location for 2026.  Additional markets will be announced over the course of the next few weeks. The league will own and operate each of the six inaugural teams to ensure operational consistency and efficiency and the long-term financial security and growth of the League.

The DBL management team has over 100 years of combined professional sports experience, including ownership and operation of collegiate summer, independent professional and minor league teams, and leadership positions in Major League Baseball. The leadership team includes Bill Davidson and Matt Perry of National Sports Services (www.nsssports.com), Ralph Nelson, a former Major League Baseball executive, and Dan Roman, a CPA with extensive financial experience in the sports industry.

To learn more about the Diamond Baseball League visit www.thedbl.com.