The Jayhawk League is summer collegiate league that is sanctioned by the NCAA. It was formed in 1976. Teams in the Jayhwak League play by American League rules. One year they played by National League rules and did not have the Designated Hitter rule, in 1993. They have been playing with the wooden bat since 1991. Also in 1991, The Wichita Broncos were the only Jayhawk League team to play in the National Baseball Congress World Sereis. The rest of the teams played in the Amarillo Shootout, a tournament that was played in Amarillo, Texas. The Jayhawk League has been divided into two divisions twice, the most recent being in the early to mid 1990s. It is one of the most prestigious, wll scouted, and competitive leagues in the nation. In the past 10 years, a Jayhawk League has had two National Championship teams (El Dorado Broncos in 1998 and Liberal BeeJays in 2000), five runner-up teams (Hays Larks in 2000, 2001, and 2007, Nevada Griffons in 1998, and Derby Twins in 2006) and countless other teams finish in the Top Ten. This summer will mark the Leagues 33rd season.
There are currently seven teams in the Jayhawk League. The teams are spread throughout two states: Kansas and Missouri. The League consists of the Liberal BeeJays, Hays Larks, Dodge City As, Derby Twins, El Dorado Broncos, Nevada (MO) Griffons, and Southwest Slashers of Joplin, MO. Only Hays and Liberal have been members since 1976. The Slashers and Twins joined in 2005 and Dodge City joined in 2007. Other teams to be a part of the Jayhawk League were the Clarinda (IA) As, Red Oak (IA) Red Sox, Amarillo (TX) Texans, Elkhart (KS) Dusters, Topeka Capitals, and St. Joseph (MO) Cardinals. The Jayhawk League also tried to bring back the atmosphere of the Negro Leagues Kansas City Monarchs (which only lasted two summers only one as a member of the League).
There have been hundreds of players to play on teams in the Jayhawk League, several of which have made it to the Major Leagues. Among them are Lance Berkman (Hays Larks 95), Bud Black (Clarinda), Barry Bonds (Hutchinson Broncos 84), Albert Pujols (Hays Larks 99), Ozzie Smith, Andy Benes (Clarinda As 87), Roger Clemens (Hutchinson Broncos 82), Trevor Hoffman (Nevada Griffons 87), Doug Drabek, Nate Robertson (El Dorado Broncos 96 & 98), Brett Butler (Hutchinson Broncos 78), Rafael Palmeiro (Hutchinson Broncos 84), B.J. Ryan (Hays Larks 96), and Chuck Knoblauch (Clarinda As 87).
|
Season |
Team |
Record |
NBC Finish |
|
1976 |
Liberal |
18-6 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Dodge City |
17-7 |
|
|
|
Hutchinson |
14-10 |
|
|
|
El Dorado |
11-13 |
|
|
|
Hays |
9-15 |
|
|
|
Cowley County |
9-16 |
|
|
|
Topeka |
7-17 |
|
|
1977 |
El Dorado |
21-3 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
15-7 |
3rd |
|
|
Hutchinson |
15-9 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Dodge City |
11-11 |
|
|
|
Cowley County |
6-15 |
|
|
|
Hays |
6-18 |
4th |
|
|
Topeka |
4-15 |
|
|
1978 |
Liberal |
19-3 |
4th |
|
|
El Dorado |
13-9 |
Tie 5th |
|
|
Clarinda |
13-10 |
|
|
|
Dodge City |
12-12 |
|
|
|
Pueblo |
12-13 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hays |
8-14 |
|
|
|
Hutchinson |
7-17 |
Tie 5th |
|
1979 |
Clarinda |
21-9 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
18-10 |
1st |
|
|
Hutchinson |
18-11 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Dodge City |
16-12 |
|
|
|
Beatrice |
11-18 |
|
|
|
Hays |
1-27 |
4th |
|
1980 |
Clarinda |
33-9 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
32-10 |
2nd |
|
|
Dodge City |
32-10 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hutchinson |
22-20 |
|
|
|
Sturgis |
20-22 |
|
|
|
Beatrice |
17-25 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hays |
11-31 |
|
|
|
x-Emporia |
1-31 |
Folded after 7 games |
|
1981 |
West |
|
|
|
|
Liberal |
14-4 |
2nd |
|
|
Dodge City |
12-6 |
|
|
|
Sturgis |
7-11 |
|
|
|
Hays |
3-15 |
|
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
Hutchinson |
7-5 |
3rd |
|
|
Beatrice |
6-6 |
7th |
|
|
Clarinda |
5-7 |
1st |
|
1982 |
Hutchinson |
18-4 |
4th |
|
|
Liberal |
15-8 |
3rd |
|
|
Beatrice |
11-10 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
12-12 |
|
|
|
Hays |
2-12 |
|
|
1983 |
Hutchinson |
19-5 |
4th |
|
|
Clarinda |
14-10 |
5th |
|
|
Liberal |
12-12 |
|
|
|
Beatrice |
9-13 |
|
|
|
Hays |
6-16 |
|
|
1984 |
Hutchinson |
21-7 |
4th |
|
|
Liberal |
21-8 |
2nd |
|
|
Beatrice |
18-10 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
14-16 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
12-16 |
|
|
|
Hays |
3-29 |
|
|
1985 |
Clarinda |
21-8 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
21-8 |
1st |
|
|
Beatrice |
13-6 |
|
|
|
Wichita |
12-16 |
|
|
|
Hays |
12-17 |
5th |
|
|
Nevada |
9-23 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
7-21 |
|
|
1986 |
Liberal |
25-6 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Wichita |
22-10 |
Tie 5th |
|
|
Nevada |
16-15 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Red Oak |
15-17 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
13-16 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hays |
10-23 |
|
|
|
Hutchinson |
10-24 |
|
|
1987 |
Liberal |
26-12 |
Tie 3rd |
|
|
Red Oak |
25-14 |
Tie 3rd |
|
|
Nevada |
21-18 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
22-20 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Wichita |
18-18 |
2nd |
|
|
Hutchinson |
16-19 |
|
|
|
Fort Smith |
17-24 |
|
|
|
Hays |
9-29 |
|
|
1988 |
Wichita |
23-13 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Liberal |
21-14 |
|
|
|
Nevada |
19-15 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
19-17 |
3rd |
|
|
Hays |
14-22 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
14-22 |
|
|
|
Hutchinson |
13-22 |
|
|
1989 |
West |
|
|
|
|
Liberal |
23-12 |
|
|
|
Amarillo |
23-17 |
|
|
|
Hays |
18-21 |
|
|
|
Hutchinson |
18-22 |
|
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
Wichita |
29-10 |
1st |
|
|
Clarinda |
21-17 |
|
|
|
Nevada |
18-19 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
4-36 |
|
|
1990 |
West |
|
|
|
|
Liberal |
18-9 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Amarillo |
14-14 |
|
|
|
Hays |
8-24 |
4th |
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
Nevada |
16-11 |
|
|
|
Wichita |
19-16 |
1st |
|
|
Clarinda |
18-17 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
11-15 |
|
|
|
Note-Nevada won title in playoff game with Liberal |
|
1991 |
Wichita |
33-15 |
3rd |
|
|
Nevada |
31-15 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
27-19 |
|
|
|
Amarillo |
24-20 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
25-23 |
|
|
|
Hays |
24-24 |
|
|
|
St. Joseph |
20-27 |
|
|
|
Elkhart |
14-33 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
12-32 |
|
|
1992 |
Liberal |
30-16 |
2nd |
|
|
Wichita |
26-15 |
3rd |
|
|
Nevada |
25-15 |
|
|
|
Elkhart |
26-21 |
|
|
|
Amarillo |
24-20 |
|
|
|
Clarinda |
20-23 |
|
|
|
Hays |
20-24 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
16-23 |
|
|
|
St. Joseph |
11-36 |
|
|
1993 |
West |
|
|
|
|
Liberal |
32-20 |
|
|
|
Elkhart |
31-20 |
3rd |
|
|
Wichita |
24-17 |
5th |
|
|
Amarillo |
23-17 |
|
|
|
Hays |
13-29 |
|
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
Nevada |
37-15 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Clarinda |
24-26 |
|
|
|
Topeka |
19-22 |
|
|
|
Red Oak |
16-23 |
|
|
|
St. Joseph |
12-29 |
|
|
1994 |
West |
|
|
|
|
Elkhart |
29-18 |
4th |
|
|
Wichita |
27-21 |
2nd |
|
|
Liberal |
25-23 |
|
|
|
Hays |
22-26 |
|
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
Topeka |
30-18 |
3rd |
|
|
Nevada |
28-20 |
5th |
|
|
Red Oak |
22-25 |
|
|
|
St. Joseph |
8-40 |
|
|
|
Note Elkhart won title in playoff with Topeka |
|
1995 |
West |
|
|
|
|
Wichita |
36-8 |
3rd |
|
|
Elkhart |
29-16 |
Tie 11th |
|
|
Liberal |
26-15 |
|
|
|
Hays |
20-27 |
2nd |
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
Nevada |
24-20 |
Tie 17th |
|
|
Topeka |
23-24 |
Tie 11th |
|
|
Red Oak |
13-35 |
|
|
|
St. Joseph |
11-37 |
|
|
|
Note Wichita won title in playoff with Nevada |
|
1996 |
Liberal |
24-12 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Nevada |
23-13 |
11th |
|
|
Topeka |
22-14 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
El Dorado |
20-16 |
1st |
|
|
Hays |
20-16 |
4th |
|
|
Elkhart |
12-24 |
|
|
|
Kansas City |
5-31 |
|
|
|
Note Standings include forfeits on rainouts that couldnt be played |
|
1997 |
Nevada |
28-12 |
2nd |
|
|
Liberal |
22-18 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
El Dorado |
20-20 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hays |
17-23 |
5th |
|
|
Topeka |
17-23 |
|
|
|
Elkhart |
16-24 |
|
|
|
Note Hays forfeited five victories |
|
1998 |
Nevada |
27-12 |
2nd |
|
|
El Dorado |
22-16 |
1st |
|
|
Liberal |
23-17 |
4th |
|
|
Topeka |
18-22 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hays |
15-24 |
Tie 17th |
|
|
Elkhart |
13-27 |
|
|
|
Note El Dorados PCT is .579 while Liberals is .575 |
|
1999 |
Liberal |
27-13 |
Tie 4th |
|
|
Nevada |
24-16 |
Tie 18th |
|
|
El Dorado |
20-17 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Hays |
20-20 |
Tie 18th |
|
|
Elkhart |
14-25 |
|
|
|
Topeka |
12-26 |
Tie 11th |
|
2000 |
Topeka |
25-12 |
Tie 21st |
|
|
Liberal |
22-18 |
1st |
|
|
Elkhart |
21-19 |
Tie 21st |
|
|
Nevada |
20-20 |
Tie 6th |
|
|
Hays |
15-23 |
2nd |
|
|
El Dorado |
13-24 |
Tie 7th |
|
2001 |
Hays |
29-11 |
2nd |
|
|
Elkhart |
23-17 |
Tie 3rd |
|
|
El Dorado |
20-20 |
Tie 17th |
|
|
Liberal |
19-21 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Nevada |
15-25 |
Tie 25th |
|
|
Topeka |
14-26 |
|
|
2002 |
Hays |
21-9 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
El Dorado |
18-9 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
Liberal |
17-11 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Nevada |
14-16 |
Tie 5th |
|
|
Topeka |
10-19 |
|
|
|
Elkhart |
7-23 |
|
|
2003 |
Hays |
23-6 |
Tie 5th |
|
|
El Dorado |
15-11 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Liberal |
13-14 |
Tie 33rd |
|
|
Nevada |
13-16 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
Topeka |
11-18 |
|
|
|
Elkhart |
8-18 |
Tie 33rd |
|
2004 |
El Dorado |
20-12 |
Tie 4th |
|
|
Hays |
19-12 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
Elkhart |
12-16 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
12-17 |
|
|
|
Nevada |
13-19 |
Tie 13th |
|
|
Note Hays and Elkhart have a tie |
|
2005 |
Hays |
27-12 |
Tie 12th |
|
|
El Dorado |
24-14 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Liberal |
19-21 |
|
|
|
Nevada |
17-23 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
Wichita Twins |
15-23 |
Tie 31st |
|
|
Joplin |
15-24 |
Tie 31st |
|
|
Note Elkhart is a member of the league but did not field a team in 2005 |
|
2006 |
Hays |
25-14 |
4th |
|
|
Liberal |
24-16 |
Tie 17th |
|
|
El Dorado |
20-19 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
Derby |
19-19 |
2nd |
|
|
Joplin |
15-25 |
|
|
|
Nevada |
14-25 |
Tie 9th |
|
|
Note Elkhart is a member of the league but did not field a team in 2006 |
|
2007 |
Derby |
33-13 |
3rd |
|
|
Hays |
29-15 |
2nd |
|
|
El Dorado |
27-19 |
Tie 4th |
|
|
Nevada |
25-21 |
Tie 12th |
|
|
Liberal |
22-24 |
|
|
|
Joplin |
12-30 |
|
|
|
Dodge City |
8-34 |
|
|
|
Note Elkhart is a member of the league but did not field a team in 2007 |
|
2008 |
Hays |
27-9 |
Tie 7th |
|
|
Derby |
24-12 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
22-14 |
Tie 4th |
|
|
Nevada |
21-15 |
|
|
|
El Dorado |
17-19 |
|
|
|
Dodge City |
15-21 |
|
|
|
x-Joplin |
0-36 |
|
|
|
x- folded, forced to forfeit all games for not finishing the season |
|
2009 |
El Dorado |
