Excitement is building as summertime is just around the corner. For the Twins organization, it is full steam ahead as the 2010 season opens June 2nd. As we go into our 5th season at Panther Field in Derby, summer college baseball is back. What can be better than bringing your family to the ballpark , meeting your neighbors, making new friends and reacquainting with old, and enjoying some of the best college baseball in the country, played right here in Derby. It is a tremendous honor to once again represent the friendliest city in Kansas.
The Twins will be looking to recapture the Jayhawk League championship after finishing the 2009 season on a strong note. We played in the NBC World Series and finished ninth out of the 36 teams that qualified. It marked the 10th time in 11 years the Twins have been in the World Series. Our goal this year is one which we can achieve, to win the NBC Championship. Our roster will be filled with some of the best players in the nation. The team will consist of NCAA Div. I, Div.II, NAIA, and top Junior College programs. Returning from last year’s team will be Derby natives Cole Waddell-INF (Western Illinois), Drew Rainey-LHP (Cowley Co. C.C.). Mike Kelly-RHP (Loyola-New Orleans) is also returning from last year. Head Coach Jason Santangelo returns for his second season, and pitching coach Kellen Mitts is back again this summer.
The Twins will be strong in pitching, will hit well, and have some blazing speed. These young men will represent our community with respect and class. The Twins will broadcast all of our home and away games over our website with Jake Brooner again doing the play-by-play in 2010. This year, it has been announced the KGSO, Sports Radio 1410-AM, will be broadcasting 2-3 Jayhawk League games a week live. These games will be originating from Derby, El Dorado, and Haysville. They will try to cover all of the teams in the league. In addition, they anticipate broadcasting games in the NBC Regional and World Series that involve Jayhawk League Teams.
The Twins will play 21 home games this summer. Among the teams coming into Derby are the traditional league rivals El Dorado Broncos (2010 NBC World Series Champions), Liberal Beejays, Hays Larks, Dodge City A’s, and new league member Haysville Heat (formerly Havasu AZ. Heat). Non-league opponents include Hutchinson Monarchs, Team Elite (Wichita), and Valley Center. There are now over 30 former Twins players now playing professional baseball. You could be watching some of the future stars of Major League Baseball, right here in Derby. Join us at Panther Field for exciting evenings of quality family entertainment. Thanks to our generous sponsors, Derby Twins baseball games are always free to attend.