The Cotton Kings will face Jayhawk league powerhouse Derby Twins in their opener in the 75th Annual NBC World Series

Monday, 8/3/09, 5:00 PM - The Casa Grande Cotton Kings will be put to the test right out the gate as they take on the Derby Twins in their opening game of the NBC World Series. The Twins are one of the most successful programs in all of summer college baseball having won the Jayhawk league title in 2007, were runners-up in 2008, and were NBC World Series runners-up in 2006. Former Cotton King Collin Murphy played for the Twins last summer after two seasons with Casa Grande. The Twins are 16 - 15 on the season, but will be fully loaded and well-prepared for their opener Monday. Expect a huge crowd at Lawrence Dumont stadium as Derby has a huge following. 

Click here for the 2009 NBC World Series tournament bracket

The Cotton Kings are headed to the NBC World Series in Wichita, KS for the 3rd straight season!

The Pacific Southwest League regional tournament yielded the league representative for the 75th Annual NBC World Series in Wichita, KS. The Cotton Kings beat the Bisbee Copper Kings in their opener on Friday and made their way to the championship by defeating the regular season champion Garden of Gears on Saturday. The Gears battled back to beat the Tucson Nationals and forced the if necessary game by beating the Cotton Kings 4 - 3 in the first of two on championship Sunday. Thankfully, the Gears needed to beat the Cotton Kings twice and Casa Grande came back in the if necessary game to beat the Gears 10 - 0.

Tucson Nationals GM, Manny Romo, did an excellent job of promoting the tournament and ensuring all Pacific Southwest League affiliates were taken care of. Tucson Electric Park was the perfect venue for this event. For details, please check out the link to a video clip of the news story on Tucson KGUN 9 News.

http://www.kgun9.com/Global/category.asp?C=129845&nav=menu1456_5

Also, photos were taken throughout the tournament by Fuego Fotos. To preview and purchase, visit their site at www.fuegofotos.smugmug.com .

Congratulations to the Garden of Gears, Tucson Nationals, and Bisbee Copper Kings on another great season of summer collegiate baseball. 

Pacific Southwest League Tournament to be held at Tucson Electric Park

The double-elimination tournament will consist of the Bisbee Copper Kings, Casa Grande Cotton Kings, Garden of Gears, and Tucson Nationals. The Garden of Gears are the #1 seed and will face the Tucson Nationals (#4) in the 7 pm game. The Bisbee Copper Kings (#2) will host the Casa Grande Cotton Kings (#3) in the opener at 4 pm.

Click here for the tournament flyer

Click here for the tournament bracket

Six current and former Cotton Kings selected in the 2009 draft!

Cotton Kings take home post season honors for the Spring of 2009

Cotton King Marcus Bradley takes home two prestigious post-season honors after a successful spring at Central Arizona. Marcus was named first-team all Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC), 3rd Team NJCAA Div. I All-American, and Rawlings Big Stick Winner (West District). The freshman outfielder from San Diego, CA stole 22 bases in 26 attempts, with 40 RBI, and a .420 average.

Peter Gehle was a member of the 2008 Cotton Kings NBC World Series team. After completing his first two years at Bellevue (NAIA) Peter transferred to Azusa Pacific University for his Junior year. As a Cougar he went 6 - 4 with a 3.54 earned run average, striking out 70 in 96 2/3 innings pitched, earning first-team All-Golden State Athletic Conference team.

Nico Rosthenhausler played for the Cotton Kings in 2008 and played corner infield. Nico got to work in the fall and made a physical transformation losing over 50 pounds, which enabled him to move to the outfield. Nico earned first-team All-ACCAC honors for the South Mountain Cougars in the spring of 2009 hitting a team-leading 6 homeruns, a .419 batting average, driving in 31 runs, and stealing 15 bases. He also earned the ACCAC Gold Glove in the outfield. The Detroit Tigers selected Nico in the 50th round of the 2009 MLB Draft and signed with the Oklahoma State Cowboys for 2010.

Thomas Brendel, Sophomore of the Glendale Gauchos, took home the second team All-ACCAC Utility honor. On the mound he had a 5 - 5 record, 2.73 earned run average, and struck out 56 batters in 79 innings. At the plate, Thomas hit .349 with 35 RBI. Thomas signed with the New Mexico State Aggies for 2010. 

Two Cotton Kings receive NAIA All-American honors!

Brett Cook was named First Team NAIA All-American after a senior year at Wayland Baptist Pioneers that included a .473 batting average, 14 homers, and 17 doubles. Cook was an instrumental part of the Cotton Kings in the summers of 2007 and 2008. In the spring of 2008, after his first summer with the Cotton Kings, Cook belted a then school record 20 homers. He finished his career as a Pioneer with the career batting average leader with a .426 average.

Franky Busani also earned national recognition with Honorable Mention NAIA All-American honors. A year after belting 16 homers with a .324 batting average while driving in 60 runs for the New Mexico State Aggies in 2008 Franky decided to transfer to Wayland for his senior season. Things could not have worked out any better as he became a force in the Pioneer lineup and helped them get within a game of reaching the NAIA World Series, losing to eventual NAIA champion Lubbock Christian in the regional tournament. Franky hit a school- record 23 home runs with 84 RBI and a .380 batting average.