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BISBEE — A mixer to get the public going was a success Thursday night at Banditos and Lawmen restaurant.
After the Bisbee Copper Kings finished 16-4 this season, it was announced that there will be 50 games overall this season. The Copper Kings, who were the Kings last season, will start its season on May 26 in a doubleheader at San Luis, 25 miles south of Yuma.
The four-team Centennial League will consist of Bisbee, San Luis, the Tucson Stars and the Arizona Diamondjaxx out of Phoenix.
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“We have some planning going on,” team president Tom Mosier said. “I feel confident going into this season.”
Two things will stand out this summer. One is the Copper Tournament, scheduled for July 20-25 at Warren Ballpark. It will include 23 to 28 teams from California, Arizona and other areas.
“The winner of that tournament goes to Wichita, Kansas, for the National Baseball Congress tournament in the middle of August,” Mosier said. “I feel that this is the quality of A-ball in the minors.”
The second thing is that Bisbee has expanded its schedule. New to the slate will be Palm Springs, San Diego and the Dallas Mustangs. All three of those opponents will be in June. The Phoenix Garden, El Paso and the Arizona Clash are some other opponents. The regular season ends on July 28 with a home double-dip against the Stars. On Aug. 4-5, there will be a best-of-three game championship series.
The top two teams from the Centennial League play in that league, with the third game on Aug. 5 if necessary.
The team is also actively working on holding an Army Day this season, with the 36th Army Band a possible guest.
“In 2009 we’ll have the official 100th birthday of Warren Ballpark,” Mosier said. “It’ll be 100 years old. We’re also having conversations to have the (Arizona) D’backs or Colorado Rockies to play an exhibition game over here ... or we could get the Tucson Sidewinders.”
The Sidewinders are the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to the Copper Kings’ Web site, fans from either side of the border can still buy tickets and concessions in pesos.
Another ambition of the team’s is to film road games and then attempt to broadcast them in Channel 2 in Bisbee. Butch Hammett returns as the Copper Kings’ manager this season. The team has a new hat and logo, with a copper-colored ‘CK’ on it. Hammett and his coaching staff had challenges of players who had family and work obligations.
“The biggest thing is with commitment, that they can be there the whole season,” Hammett said. “You’re going to have guys who have jobs and family commitments going on.”
Hammett said he will carry between 20 and 25 players on the roster. He has already received interest from 28 players, including one from Pennsylvania and a 24-year-old who pitched on the U.S. Army baseball team.
“With pitchers, we can work something out where one can throw on Friday, another on Saturday and so on,” Hammett said. “But we’d like to have 11 to 12 position guys who can play the whole time.”
Cochise College players who could play are Robert Leigh, Buena High graduate Justin Wright and left-handed pitcher Carlos Chavez.
“The key to success is putting local talent together around Cochise County,” Hammett said. “Ninety-five percent are from Cochise County. We have Tyler Wright who played for New Mexico State this season.”
Leonard Suarez wrote on May 1, 2007 9:15 PM: