ANNUAL LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING HELD AUGUST 8!

⚾ WIBL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WRAP — THE FOUNDATION IS IN PLACE

August 9, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League took another major step toward Opening Day on Saturday, August 8, as representatives of all ten founding clubs gathered at the Southwest Boys Club in Wichita for the league's organizational meeting.

What began several months ago as an effort to bring organized adult baseball back to the Wichita area is now a ten-club league preparing to put teams on the field. Saturday's meeting lasted approximately two hours and 15 minutes, bringing together club directors, coaches, league staff and guests for an afternoon of baseball discussion, planning and decision-making as the WIBL prepares for its inaugural Fall 2026 season.

Represented at the meeting were the Butler County Outlaws, Enid Flyers, Goodfellas, ICT Avengers, Whitewater Rapids, Wichita Aeros, Wichita Black Sox, Wichita Braves, Wichita Linemen and Wichita Woodpeckers.

Club representatives included Jesse Rider of the Butler County Outlaws, Todd Stingley of the Enid Flyers, Rob Rotola of Goodfellas, Mark Landwehr of the ICT Avengers, Jayson Chapple of the Whitewater Rapids, Bob Lipp of the Wichita Aeros, Chris Pate of the Wichita Black Sox, Tony Snesrud of the Wichita Braves, Stephen Booth of the Wichita Linemen and Thomas Backus of the Wichita Woodpeckers.

Also attending were WIBL League Assistants Jacob Doffing and Alex Maryman, Whitewater Rapids Head Coach Bobby Horne, Rapids Game Day Supervisor Katrina Horne and Whitewater Mayor Timothy Eldredge.

One of the most significant pieces of business Saturday was the adoption of the Wichita Independent Baseball League Constitution and By-Laws. The documents establish the organizational and governing structure of the WIBL as the league moves from its formation stage into actual competition. The founding club directors reviewed the documents and indicated their approval, with the Constitution and By-Laws officially adopted effective August 8, 2026.

A large portion of Saturday's meeting centered on something everyone in the room has been looking forward to discussing — playing baseball.

The directors worked through playing rules and the realities of operating an adult league. Unlike professional, college or high school baseball, adult baseball includes players balancing jobs, families and other responsibilities. The league wants competitive baseball while also recognizing that players are joining the WIBL because they want an opportunity to get on the field and play.

Batting-order flexibility was discussed at length. Managers will have the ability to use a traditional nine-man batting order or expand their lineup to provide additional players an opportunity to participate. The group also discussed how to handle the inevitable occasion when a club finds itself short of players. The overriding philosophy was simple: whenever reasonably possible, find a way to play the baseball game rather than find a reason not to play it.

The WIBL also adopted the pitch clock for league games and established a 3½-hour game time limit. The time limit will be particularly important on dates when several games are scheduled at the same ballpark and will prevent an unusually long game from disrupting an entire day's schedule.

Scheduling was another major topic.

League officials and club representatives reviewed the Fall 2026 schedule, discussed several adjustments and continued working through the challenge of securing quality adult baseball fields throughout the area. Whitewater, Leon and Wichita-area facilities were among the locations discussed, along with several other communities that could become part of the WIBL's future.

Travel was also part of that conversation. With the Enid Flyers extending the league's footprint into Oklahoma and other clubs and communities already expressing interest in the WIBL, the league discussed ways to make travel reasonable for players. Afternoon games, neutral-site possibilities and even the potential for geographic divisions as the league grows were discussed.

The Fall 2026 season will provide the WIBL an opportunity to learn what works best before moving into a larger Spring and Summer 2027 program.

The directors also established August 15 as the deadline for clubs to submit their current player rosters. The league is developing a centralized system for player registration, roster management, additions and drops, statistics and website information. Every player will also be required to complete the league-prescribed waiver before participating in WIBL competition.

Player safety, insurance requirements and ballpark policies were reviewed. The WIBL has established a no-alcohol policy during league games and within team playing areas and dugouts, with every club additionally required to follow the policies of each individual ballpark.

Saturday's meeting wasn't limited to what happens between the foul lines.

There was considerable discussion about sponsorships, marketing, social media and building value for businesses that choose to partner with the WIBL and its clubs. The league has placed a major emphasis on creating a professional digital presence, promoting its teams and players, maintaining statistics and developing photography, baseball cards and other promotional products that help tell the story of the league.

The philosophy is to create partnerships that work both ways. WIBL clubs want to support the businesses that support adult baseball while giving those businesses measurable exposure through league and team platforms.

League finances were also discussed openly. Startup expenses include insurance, ballpark costs, League-prescribed forms and the many other expenses involved in getting a new baseball league onto the field. The founding clubs paid or made arrangements to pay their initial club fee, providing the League with funding necessary to meet its immediate startup obligations.

The discussion also looked beyond simply paying the bills for the inaugural season. As sponsorship and other League revenue develops, the goal is to build a league capable of supporting more of its own operating costs and, over time, reducing the financial burden on its member clubs and players.

And there was room to talk about some of the fun stuff.

A sample championship ring was brought to the meeting, leading to discussion about championship rings or similar awards for the inaugural Fall 2026 champion. No final purchase commitment was made, but there was certainly no shortage of interest around the table.

Opening Day plans were also discussed, including the possibility of a military aircraft flyover at Whitewater. That possibility is being explored as the league continues putting together the details surrounding its first day of competition.

Perhaps the most important thing to come out of Saturday's two-hour-and-15-minute meeting, however, wasn't a rule, a schedule, a dollar amount or a document.

It was having the people who have spent the past several weeks building ten separate baseball clubs sitting together around one table.

There will be adjustments. There will be challenges. There will undoubtedly be things during this first season that the league learns to do differently the next time around. That's part of building something from the ground up.

But Saturday represented a significant transition for the Wichita Independent Baseball League.

The organizational work is being completed. The Constitution and By-Laws have been adopted. Ten founding clubs are at the table. The clubs are building their rosters. Insurance is in place. Fields are being secured. The schedule is being finalized. Playing rules are taking shape.

What existed only as an idea a few months ago is getting very close to becoming baseball games played on baseball fields.

And very soon, all of the meetings, phone calls, messages, paperwork, graphics, schedules and planning give way to the reason the Wichita Independent Baseball League was created in the first place:

Playing baseball.

⚾ OPENING DAY — AUGUST 22, 2026

WICHITA INDEPENDENT BASEBALL LEAGUE

Inaugural Fall Season — 2026

⚾ WIBL LEAGUE UPDATE ⚾

August 7, 2026 - Some of you may have noticed that the Wichita Independent Baseball League has temporarily removed its Fall 2026 schedule from both Facebook and the league website.

The WIBL will hold its annual organizational meeting this Saturday. League representatives will review several important matters, including the possible addition of another member club and the remaining ballpark arrangements for the upcoming season.

One of the facilities the WIBL had been working to secure was Robert Thurman Field in Wichita. Although our initial discussions were encouraging, the final agreement presented to the league contained pricing and operating requirements that differed significantly from what had originally been discussed. With Opening Day approaching quickly, the league decided it was best to continue finalizing other available ballpark options rather than publish a schedule that might require several additional revisions.

The good news is that several surrounding communities and member clubs have stepped forward to help. The Wichita Linemen and Wichita Woodpeckers have secured access to the Mulvane ballpark, while the Wichita Aeros have secured three home dates in Rose Hill. Additional arrangements are still being completed for other member clubs.

Rather than create confusion by repeatedly changing the public schedule, the WIBL will release one updated and finalized schedule after Saturday’s organizational meeting and the remaining facility details have been confirmed.

We appreciate the discussions held with City of Wichita officials and remain open to future opportunities that are workable for everyone involved. Our priority is providing safe, affordable, and dependable facilities for our players, clubs, and fans.

Thank you for your patience and continued support of the Wichita Independent Baseball League. We are excited about the progress being made and look forward to sharing more news following Saturday’s meeting.