Now that summer is here, America’s favorite pastime is in full swing. Since the weather has warmed up, baseball fans everywhere are excited to hit the diamond and enjoy a game while eating hot dogs, sipping cold beverages, and cheering on the Colorado Springs Snow Sox.
Major League Baseball is always the first league to start-up in the spring, but the stadiums don’t seem to fill up until it gets closer to summer. Other leagues, however, wait until later in the year to start including the minor leagues. Fans in the Springs don’t have to drive to Denver once the weather gets warmer – Colorado Springs is home to two semi-professional teams.
Baseball has been popular in the Pikes Peak Region for over a century. The city has sported several teams through the years, though many have come and gone.
The Rocky Mountain Vibes is a part of the Pioneer League, an MLB Partnership league. The Colorado Springs Snow Sox belongs to the Pecos League, which started just over 10 years ago after the Continental Baseball League dwindled.
Both teams have young players looking to move up and continue their careers in baseball. But the Vibes tend to get more attention due to their affiliation with the MLB.
The Colorado Springs Snow Sox and the Pecos League
The Pecos League started in 2010 with only one baseball team. Through the years, the league has expanded each season to include 16 teams. The league now has grown to seven teams in California and nine teams in other states, including two in Colorado.
The Trinidad Triggers joined the league in 2012 and play in the league’s Mountain North Division. During the 2013 season, 44 Blue Productions followed the Colorado team. In May 2014, Fox Sports 1 Network launched and one of its first shows was a six-part documentary about life in the Pecos League, mostly based on the Triggers.
The Colorado Springs Snow Sox didn’t join the league until 2021. The team is back out on the diamond this year playing at Spurgeon Field in Memorial Park as the Pecos League started up on June 1. The team is slated to play 50 matches with 16 home games.
Last year, the Snow Sox had just about as good of an inaugural season as anyone could expect. The team finished with a 29-14 record, which earned them the first place spot in the Mountain North Division. But the Snow Sox’s post-season stint ended quickly when they were beaten in the first round by the Garden City Wind.
The Semi-Pro League Recruits Some Star Young Players
According to the Pecos league’s founder and commissioner Andrew Dunn, each team in the league has 16 players that are all under 25 years old. The league recruits players year-round from high schools and colleges and some have moved on to play on other professional teams.
Dunn said that the league has had a lot of good players and a handful have made it to the MLB. “We have had five guys play in the major leagues and we are about to have six,” Dunn said. “Some of these guys have had short stints in the MLB including Eric Yardley, who was a relief pitcher for the Padres. Yermin Mercedes is the most famous player, he played for the White Sox. He took the record for most hits at the beginning of his career. Manny Corpus played in the league and he pitched for the Colorado Rockies.”
The league commissioner also said that local baseball fans have the chance this season to watch some star young players on the Snow Sox team. “Dakota Popham is a local player and he was the MVP of the league last year,” Dunn said. “This year he is back with the Snow Sox and he is from Colorado Springs.”
The Pecos League is shorter than the other pro leagues as games are only played in June and July. Tickets for the limited 16 home games are $10 and there is a concession stand set up offering food and drinks. Learn more about the team and view their full 2022 schedule at http://www.coloradospringssnowsox.com/.
