Sikeston Bulls
Encyclopedia
The Sikeston Bulls are a summer collegiate baseball
team based in Sikeston, Missouri
. The team, which plays in the KIT League
plays its home games in VFW Memorial Stadium, located in Sikeston, Missouri. The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,800 people.
The Bulls were inactive in 2008 http://www.semosportsweb.com/stories/june2009/2.html, but returned to play in the 2009 season, opening with a 6-4 win over the Fulton Railroaders
in the first of a three-game series. The team's home-opener was on June 1 against the Union City Greyhounds
as part of a two-game series (second game on June 2). The Bulls won their home-opener with a score of 3-2 in the first home game for the Bulls since July 31, 2007.http://www.semosportsweb.com/stories/june2009/2.html
in 2004 in Sikeston, Missouri
, which had been the previous home of the ill-fated "Bootheel Bombers", not to be confused with the Dexter, Missouri
boxing club of the same name. The Bootheel Bombers played for one season in Sikeston, but then disappeared. The new team, the Sikeston Bulls, participated in the regular season play of the KIT League
since the team's inception.
Playoff Champions, despite finishing the season with a .308 record and 19 games behind the first-place Farmington Firebirds.
for five years. After departing the Bulls, Compton returned to the Diamond Jaxx, where he is now the Assistant General Manager.
The Manager for the 2007 season was Jamie Puckett, a 2001 graduate of Sikeston High School, which has produced other notable baseball players, such as Blake DeWitt
, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers
and Eric Hurley
, a pitcher for the Texas Rangers (baseball)
. Puckett was an all-star player for the Sikeston Bulldogs, then played four years for Blackburn College and was an assistant coach for the Charleston Bluejays.
team in Missouri for the 2008 season with the new Marion Bobcats
taking the Bulls' place in the league.
In May 2008, an announcement was made that the team was for sale. In August 2008, a new owner was identified. John Crockett, a native of Sikeston expressed an interest in the team. He'd found out the team was for sale while serving as a Navy Reservist mobilized for a year in Iraq.
In November 2008, Crockett finalized the purchase from the previous owner, Will Jones. Also in November 2008, Fred Johnson agreed to return as the General Manager and CJ Zeller was selected as the Manager.http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/1497136.html Fred Johnson had been the Bulls' General Manager for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. CJ Zeller had been the Assistant Manager of the Farmington Firebirds during the 2008 season.
in Fulton. The Bulls replaced the Farmington Firebirds as the only KIT League
team in Missouri when the Firebirds pulled out of the league for the 2009 season. The season was supposed to begin early for the Bulls with an exhibition game against the Charleston Riverdogs of Charleston, Missouri
on May 26, 2009, but the game was cancelled due to rain. In June 2009, Adam Williams joined the team as the Assistant Coach.
On June 5, the Bulls played their first game ever against the Marion Bobcats
in Marion, Kentucky
, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Bulls.
On June 28, the Bulls had a Marine color guard present for the raising of the flag prior to the start of the game. The flag had previously been flown on July 28, 2008 at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq in recognition of the contributions that the city of Sikeston has made for veterans.
In 2009, the Bulls beat their all-time team record for wins in a season (18 in 2007) with a final record of 22 wins and 28 losses (.440).
in 2008. http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=franch_year&team_ID=KCR&year_ID=2008&draft_type=junreg
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team based in Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is geographically situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the...
. The team, which plays in the KIT League
KIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
plays its home games in VFW Memorial Stadium, located in Sikeston, Missouri. The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,800 people.
The Bulls were inactive in 2008 http://www.semosportsweb.com/stories/june2009/2.html, but returned to play in the 2009 season, opening with a 6-4 win over the Fulton Railroaders
Fulton Railroaders
The Fulton Railroaders are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Fulton, Kentucky. The team, a member of the Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games in Lohaus Field, located in Fulton.-History:...
in the first of a three-game series. The team's home-opener was on June 1 against the Union City Greyhounds
Union City Greyhounds
The Union City Greyhounds were a summer collegiate baseball team based in Union City, Tennessee. The team, which played in the KIT League played its home games in Elam Stadium at LH Ladd Field, located in Union City, Tennessee....
as part of a two-game series (second game on June 2). The Bulls won their home-opener with a score of 3-2 in the first home game for the Bulls since July 31, 2007.http://www.semosportsweb.com/stories/june2009/2.html
History
The Sikeston Bulls joined the KIT LeagueKIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
in 2004 in Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is geographically situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the...
, which had been the previous home of the ill-fated "Bootheel Bombers", not to be confused with the Dexter, Missouri
Dexter, Missouri
-Government:* Mayor: Joe Weber* City Administrator: Mark Stidham* Aldermen:* Ward 1: Jerry Corder, Terry Battles* Ward 2: Kent Essner, Rick Hux* Ward 3: Ray Pixley, John "Kirby" Taylor-Notable residents:* George K. Sisler, Medal of Honor recipient...
boxing club of the same name. The Bootheel Bombers played for one season in Sikeston, but then disappeared. The new team, the Sikeston Bulls, participated in the regular season play of the KIT League
KIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
since the team's inception.
2005
In 2005, the Bulls were the KIT LeagueKIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
Playoff Champions, despite finishing the season with a .308 record and 19 games behind the first-place Farmington Firebirds.
2006
The General Manager for the 2006 season was Jason Compton, who had previously worked with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the Southern LeagueSouthern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
for five years. After departing the Bulls, Compton returned to the Diamond Jaxx, where he is now the Assistant General Manager.
2007
The General Manager in 2007 was Fred Johnson. The announcers were Tom and Carla Young. Jiggs Moore took care of the field and grounds.The Manager for the 2007 season was Jamie Puckett, a 2001 graduate of Sikeston High School, which has produced other notable baseball players, such as Blake DeWitt
Blake DeWitt
Blake Robert DeWitt is an American professional baseball utility player with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Eric Hurley
Eric Hurley
Eric William Hurley is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Career:Hurley attended Samuel W...
, a pitcher for the Texas Rangers (baseball)
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Puckett was an all-star player for the Sikeston Bulldogs, then played four years for Blackburn College and was an assistant coach for the Charleston Bluejays.
2008
The team was listed as "inactive" in 2008 when team-owner, Will Jones opted not to play the team in 2008, leaving the Farmington Firebirds as the sole active KIT LeagueKIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
team in Missouri for the 2008 season with the new Marion Bobcats
Marion Bobcats
The Marion Bobcats are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Marion, Kentucky. The team, a member of the , plays its home games at Gordon Blue Guess Field at Marion-Crittenden County Park.-History:...
taking the Bulls' place in the league.
In May 2008, an announcement was made that the team was for sale. In August 2008, a new owner was identified. John Crockett, a native of Sikeston expressed an interest in the team. He'd found out the team was for sale while serving as a Navy Reservist mobilized for a year in Iraq.
In November 2008, Crockett finalized the purchase from the previous owner, Will Jones. Also in November 2008, Fred Johnson agreed to return as the General Manager and CJ Zeller was selected as the Manager.http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/1497136.html Fred Johnson had been the Bulls' General Manager for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. CJ Zeller had been the Assistant Manager of the Farmington Firebirds during the 2008 season.
2009
In 2009, the Bulls returned to KIT League play with a first-game win on May 29 against the Fulton RailroadersFulton Railroaders
The Fulton Railroaders are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Fulton, Kentucky. The team, a member of the Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games in Lohaus Field, located in Fulton.-History:...
in Fulton. The Bulls replaced the Farmington Firebirds as the only KIT League
KIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
team in Missouri when the Firebirds pulled out of the league for the 2009 season. The season was supposed to begin early for the Bulls with an exhibition game against the Charleston Riverdogs of Charleston, Missouri
Charleston, Missouri
Charleston is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mississippi County and it is a home to a local correctional facility.-History:...
on May 26, 2009, but the game was cancelled due to rain. In June 2009, Adam Williams joined the team as the Assistant Coach.
On June 5, the Bulls played their first game ever against the Marion Bobcats
Marion Bobcats
The Marion Bobcats are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Marion, Kentucky. The team, a member of the , plays its home games at Gordon Blue Guess Field at Marion-Crittenden County Park.-History:...
in Marion, Kentucky
Marion, Kentucky
Marion is a city in Crittenden County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,196. It is the county seat of Crittenden County...
, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Bulls.
On June 28, the Bulls had a Marine color guard present for the raising of the flag prior to the start of the game. The flag had previously been flown on July 28, 2008 at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq in recognition of the contributions that the city of Sikeston has made for veterans.
In 2009, the Bulls beat their all-time team record for wins in a season (18 in 2007) with a final record of 22 wins and 28 losses (.440).
All-Stars
During a league meeting, the KIT League's 2009 All-Star Line-Up was selected. Even though the team won't actually play an All-Star game this year, team managers and owners voted to select an All-Star team as a way to recognize many of the players who made significant contributions to their teams this season. Kody Campbell, Logan Lawson, and Zach Secoy were selected as Sikeston's representatives for this team. Lance Young received Honorable Mention.http://www.sikestonbulls.com/2009-all-star.htmTeam Performance
The Bulls have a history of 69 wins and 116 losses out of a total of 186 games (.371). Prior to the 2009 season, the Bulls' record was .346 with a win-loss record of 47-89 in 136 games.- 2009 Season: 22 wins 28 losses (.440). The Bulls finished fifth out of six teams, seven games behind the first-place team (Tradewater PiratesTradewater PiratesThe Tradewater Pirates are a summer collegiate baseball team based in Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The team, a member of the Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games in Riverside Park, a reconstruction of an entirely wooden stadium used by several major league teams in the early...
).http://www.kitleaguebaseball.com http://www.semosportsweb.com/stories/june2009/2.html - 2008 Season: Inactive.http://www.semosportsweb.com/stories/may2009/8.html
- 2007 Season: 18 wins 32 losses (.360). The Bulls finished fifth out of six teams, 13.5 games behind the first-place team (Fulton RailroadersFulton RailroadersThe Fulton Railroaders are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Fulton, Kentucky. The team, a member of the Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games in Lohaus Field, located in Fulton.-History:...
). - 2006 Season: 17 wins 30 losses (.362).
- 2005 Season: 12 wins 27 losses (.308). The Bulls finished third out of four teams, 19 games behind the first-place team (Farmington Firebirds). Despite the unfavorable record, the Bulls were the KIT LeagueKIT LeagueThe Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
Playoff Champions.http://www.kitleaguebaseball.com/teams.htm
Notable players
Ryan Modglin, a right-handed pitcher for the Bulls in 2009, was drafted by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in 2008. http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=franch_year&team_ID=KCR&year_ID=2008&draft_type=junreg