The Brazos Valley Bombers are the southernmost team of the Texas Collegiate League no more. The Texas Collegiate League announced today the addition of an expansion franchise in Victoria, Texas. The team will join TCL play in the 2009 season, which begins next June.
Bombers owner Uri Geva joined new Victoria owner Tracy Young at the press conference and expressed his excitement over the announcement. “Expansion is one of our top priorities as a league and we are evaluating a number of future options for the league’s growth. Adding a strong market like Victoria provides a great boost to the league and opens the door for potential future expansion, especially in the south.”
The addition of Victoria will bring more excitement and competition to a league that is already considered one of the premier summer league circuits in the country. The new team will join the Bombers, East Texas Pumpjacks, Coppell Copperheads and reigning champion McKinney Marshals in a 48-games season next summer. The schedule is expected to be released in the middle of December for what looks to be another fantastic summer of baseball.
The first order of business following today’s announcement will be to determine a nickname for the new team. They will be conducting a “Name the Team” contest on the official web site, www.baseballinvictoria.com, to determine the team’s name. Victoria will be playing its 24-game home schedule at the recently renovated Riverside Stadium.
The city of Victoria is no stranger to competitive baseball. The city has been home to minor league affiliates of not only the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, but also the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, and Baltimore Orioles in their storied history.
Season tickets are now available for the 2009 season and can be found online at www.bvbombers.com or by calling 979-779-PLAY.