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June 23, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Backus as manager of the Wichita Woodpeckers, one of the league's founding clubs for the inaugural Fall 2026 season.

Backus attended the league's inaugural organizational meeting on June 20 and immediately expressed his enthusiasm for help

June 23, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Backus as manager of the Wichita Woodpeckers, one of the league's founding clubs for the inaugural Fall 2026 season.

Backus attended the league's inaugural organizational meeting on June 20 and immediately expressed his enthusiasm for helping build the Woodpeckers into one of the WIBL's premier ballclubs. His passion for baseball, attention to detail, and willingness to serve the league made him a natural choice to lead one of its founding clubs.

In addition to managing the Wichita Woodpeckers, Backus has accepted the responsibility of overseeing league scoring and statistical compilation. Working with GameChanger and other digital scoring platforms, he will help establish official league statistics, batting and pitching leaders, standings, game summaries, and season records. Accurate statistical reporting has been one of the WIBL's priorities from the beginning, ensuring players, clubs, and fans can follow the league throughout the season.

"Statistics are part of baseball's history," league officials said. "From batting averages and earned run averages to league leaders and box scores, keeping accurate records is essential to preserving each season for future generations."

The Wichita Woodpeckers are one of the six founding clubs selected for the Wichita Independent Baseball League and proudly represent Kansas' rich baseball tradition. Under Backus' leadership, the club will begin assembling its inaugural roster as preparations continue for the Fall 2026 season.

With managers now being named for multiple founding clubs, the Wichita Independent Baseball League continues to build a solid organizational foundation. Additional club announcements, organizational meetings, and player registration updates are expected throughout the coming weeks as

June 23, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League is pleased to announce that Stephen Booth has been named the first manager of the Wichita Linemen, one of the league's founding clubs for the inaugural Fall 2026 season.

Booth attended the WIBL's inaugural organizational meeting on June 20, where he expressed his enthusiasm for helpin

June 23, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League is pleased to announce that Stephen Booth has been named the first manager of the Wichita Linemen, one of the league's founding clubs for the inaugural Fall 2026 season.

Booth attended the WIBL's inaugural organizational meeting on June 20, where he expressed his enthusiasm for helping establish the league and build a competitive Linemen ballclub. Having previously coached youth and travel baseball, Booth brings valuable experience, leadership, and a genuine passion for the game.

The Wichita Linemen draw their identity from Kansas' rich western heritage and the hardworking spirit that helped shape the region. As manager, Booth will begin working to assemble the club's inaugural roster while helping guide player evaluations, club development, and preparations for the Fall 2026 season.

Booth also plans to assist the league with facility coordination as the WIBL continues securing fields and organizing league operations. His willingness to contribute both on and off the field reflects the collaborative effort that has characterized the league since its first organizational meeting.

The appointment of Booth marks another important step in the continued growth of the Wichita Independent Baseball League. With founding clubs taking shape and leadership positions being filled, preparations continue to move forward for the league's inaugural season.

League officials expect additional club announcements, manager appointments, and organizational updates in the coming weeks as excitement continues to build across south-central Kansas.

For the latest Wichita Independent Baseball League news, visit WIBLBaseball.com.

June 21, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League reached a significant milestone on Saturday, June 20, 2026, as coaches, prospective club representatives, players, and baseball supporters gathered for the league's inaugural organizational meeting.

The meeting brought together baseball enthusiasts from Wichita, Conway Springs, Dougla

June 21, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League reached a significant milestone on Saturday, June 20, 2026, as coaches, prospective club representatives, players, and baseball supporters gathered for the league's inaugural organizational meeting.

The meeting brought together baseball enthusiasts from Wichita, Conway Springs, Douglass, and Junction City, reflecting growing regional interest in establishing a competitive and professionally organized adult men's baseball league for south-central Kansas.

Representatives of the ICT Avengers and Conway Springs Cardinals attended the meeting to discuss league membership and club development. The Whitewater Rapids, who had been in regular discussions about joining the WIBL, were unable to attend because of a previously scheduled youth baseball tournament. Despite their absence, the organization remained in constant communication with league officials before and after the meeting and continues to be viewed as one of the league's leading prospective member clubs. 

The Wichita Senderz were also invited to attend and had previously expressed interest in joining the league but were unable to be present for the inaugural meeting.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees discussed virtually every aspect of building a successful baseball league from the ground up. Topics included league organization, scheduling, field availability, insurance, uniforms, equipment, officiating, player registration, sponsorship opportunities, social media, statistics, and long-term league growth.

A major emphasis of the meeting centered on creating a league that offers competitive baseball while remaining affordable, well organized, and enjoyable for players and their families. Participants exchanged ideas regarding official league baseballs, GameChanger live scoring, player statistics, newspaper game recaps, live streaming, photography, and creating an exciting game-day atmosphere that would showcase the league in a professional manner.

The discussion also focused on preserving Wichita's rich baseball heritage while creating new traditions for future generations. Historic club identities, community involvement, and strong local leadership were viewed as important building blocks for establishing a league that players and fans could support for years to come.

Attendees shared valuable experiences from men's baseball leagues throughout Kansas and around the country, discussing everything from league bylaws and player drafts to umpire associations, roster sizes, practice schedules, and field maintenance. The exchange of ideas provided a solid foundation as planning continues for the proposed Fall 2026 inaugural season.

One point of agreement throughout the meeting was that the league should first establish a strong local foundation before pursuing exhibition games, regional partnerships, and future All-Star competition with organizations in neighboring states. Building a stable, competitive league that serves Wichita and surrounding communities remains the league's highest priority.

The enthusiasm displayed during the inaugural meeting confirmed what many have believed for some time—there is a place once again for organized adult men's baseball in Wichita. Coaches, players, and supporters left the meeting optimistic about the future and committed to continuing the work necessary to make the league a success.

League planning will continue immediately as organizers work with prospective clubs, recruit additional players, and finalize league operations in preparation for the proposed Fall 2026 season. Another organizational meeting is expected to take place the following weekend as discussions continue regarding team formation, league rules, scheduling, and other operational details. Additional founding club announcements and league news will continue to be published on WIBLBaseball.com.

The June 20, 2026 meeting will forever be remembered as the day the Wichita Independent Baseball League officially began its journey toward restoring organized adult men's baseball to Wichita and south-central Kansas.

June 10, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League reached its first major milestone on June 10 as the Wichita Woodpeckers officially became the league's first founding club.

The announcement marked the beginning of what league officials hope will become a new era for adult men's baseball in Wichita and south-central Kansas. As the fi

June 10, 2026 - The Wichita Independent Baseball League reached its first major milestone on June 10 as the Wichita Woodpeckers officially became the league's first founding club.

The announcement marked the beginning of what league officials hope will become a new era for adult men's baseball in Wichita and south-central Kansas. As the first club to commit to the league, the Woodpeckers immediately established themselves as one of the organizations that will help shape the WIBL's identity from its very first season.

Inspired by one of Kansas' most recognizable native birds, the Wichita Woodpeckers combine a unique baseball identity with hometown pride. The club's colorful logo and traditional baseball look reflect the league's vision of creating memorable brands while honoring Wichita's rich baseball history.

The Woodpeckers' commitment also demonstrated that interest in the league was quickly becoming reality. What began as an idea to provide organized adult baseball opportunities was now taking shape with its first official club. In the days that followed, additional organizations and prospective managers began expressing interest in joining the WIBL, setting the stage for rapid league growth.

Since the Woodpeckers' announcement, the league has held its inaugural organizational meeting, welcomed additional founding clubs, and continued building toward its inaugural Fall 2026 season.

As the first club to join the Wichita Independent Baseball League, the Woodpeckers will always hold a special place in league history as the organization that helped turn a vision into reality.

Follow WIBLBaseball.com for the latest league news, club announcements, player registration information, and updates as the inaugural season continues to take shape.