BC BASEBALL LEAGUE HISTORY
1994-2000

As the BC Baseball League begins its seventh season with 23 teams in three age groups, it is interesting to take a look back and see the growth and evolution of the organization.  In the past, the league has organized games in five different age divisions and has had a membership as large as 33 teams (in 1997).

The BC Baseball League started in the Spring of 1994 and was known as the BC PONY Baseball League.  Ironically for those involved today, the BC in the league’s original name was an abbreviation for Boone/Callaway PONY Baseball League.  Today, many of our coaches, parents and players think the BC in BC Baseball League stands for Boone County.  However, there are no words for which the BC is an abbreviation; it just stands for BC, nothing more.

The first few seasons of the BC Baseball League, the organization followed the rules and regulations of PONY baseball.  Over the years, the league has affiliated with PONY baseball and AABC baseball prior to its present affiliation with USSSA baseball.  PONY baseball is one of the national franchises that provides local leagues with a set of playing guidelines which lead to qualification for post-season play.  Similar to AABC and USSSA, PONY baseball used National League playing rules with adjustments for field size and safety.

Doug Reece, the Boone County representative, and Roy Fowles, the Callaway County representative, combined efforts to provide local athletes with this new baseball opportunity in Mid-Missouri.  The league stressed fun while promoting proper baseball mechanics through training, practice and game situations.  The first season offered 10 games for the eight teams that participated.  The 9-10 year old division had four teams (two from Columbia, one from Ashland, one from Fulton) and games were played in each of the towns represented.  All-Star teams, composed primarily of Fulton players, represented the league at post-season sectional competition in Blue Springs.

In 1995, the league expanded to 15 teams that played an 18-game schedule at The American Sportsplex fields, located east of Columbia.  A 13-14 year old division was included.  Also, tournament play was added with a mid-season and season-ending tournament.  During this same year, Roy Fowles helped organize a PONY league program in Fulton and stopped his involvement with the administrative part of the BC league.  Doug Reece remained in charge of the league.  All-Star teams from Columbia (9-10), Fulton (11-12) and Columbia (13-14) participated in the sectional competition.  The 9-10 year old team won its sectional tournament and advanced to Regional play in Illinois, where it was eliminated from its quest to the PONY World Series.  A Fall baseball program also was started during 1995 with four teams in one age group (11-12) and a six-game schedule.

The league grew to 28 teams in four age groups in 1996.  A 15-16 year old league was added that serviced three teams from Columbia and two from Fulton.  Games were played at Hensley Field in Fulton and at Rock Bridge High School and Hickman High School fields in Columbia.  The other age groups played at Twin Oaks Complex or Elm Tree Field, located north of Columbia.  A 26-game schedule was planned for the three younger age groups (9-10, 11-12 and 13-14) and a 16-game schedule was set for the 15-16 year old group.  One mid-season tournament was held.

Leading up to the 1996 season, an attempt was made to form a Board of Directors to run the league.  Doug Reece was named President, Mark Mueller was named Vice President and Dan Davis was named Player Agent.  However, those three people served as the league’s administrative team when there was a lack of volunteers to form committees that would help operate the league.  All-Star teams from Columbia represented all age groups in the PONY sectional play.  Once again, the 9-10 year old team was tournament champion but was eliminated in the regional play round.  The Fall baseball program expanded to two age groups with four teams each.

Facing a financial shortfall of approximately $1,000 from the previous year, an official Board of Directors was formed in September of 1996.  In December of that same year, a set of By-Laws was adopted and an application for tax-exempt status was initiated.  The 1997 season saw the league grow to 33 teams with the addition of a 7-8 year old program as its fifth age group.  The league also hosted open tournaments in the     9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 divisions.  BC Baseball affiliated with AABC Baseball, which offered team qualification for post-season play instead of All-Star team qualification. Nine different teams represented BC Baseball in post-season play.  With the changes implemented for the 1997 season, the league fundraisers netted nearly $5,000, leaving the league with a positive cash balance of approximately $4,000, after all previous debts were paid.

In 1998, BC Baseball affiliated with both the AABC and USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association), another organization offering team qualification for post-season play.  This was voted on by the league to enhance the opportunity for additional post-season play.  The league sent 14 teams to represented BC Baseball in both the AABC and USSSA state tournament play.  One team won a state championship, another finished second and yet another finished third in the league’s most successful post-season.

The BC Baseball League teams affiliated only with the USSSA for the 1999 season.  The league had a membership of 29 teams in three age groups (9-10, 11-12, 13-14).  The league qualified 13 teams for post-season play and, in an awesome display representing the BC Baseball League, two teams won championships, one team finish second and two teams finished third in different levels of state tournament play.

It has become apparent to everyone involved in youth baseball in the state of Missouri that the level of play of youth baseball in Mid-Missouri continues to improve as a direct result of the efforts of the coaches and parents involved with the players of the BC Baseball League