There will be some big changes for the Junction City Brigade in their second season of summer collegiate baseball.

Officials have made it clear the team will play ball in 2014, but as part of a new six-team Great Plains League, instead of as an independent.

Brigade spokesman Cecil Aska said other teams in the league will be the Topeka Golden Giants, Rossville Rattlers, Kansas City Blues, Kansas City A’s, and the Golden Giants group is expected to put a second team on the field….probably in Lawrence.

In addition to 15 league home baseball games and some non-league matchups,  there will be an all star game and league tournament….all at Rathert Field. “The league tournament will be held here in Junction City, and the league was pretty insistent that that happen. And that will be days, a double elimination tournament. It will start on a Wednesday and end on a Sunday.”  The tournament will be played in mid-July.

There is a plan to play the all star game July 5. Officials are trying to line up a game matching the All Stars from the Great Plains League against the Military All Stars. That has not yet been finalized.

Shane Sieben, Brigade manager, said 22 players have already committed to play in Junction City next summer including some returners from 2013.  Kansas State University and Emporia State University will continue to send players for the roster. Two other Division I schools will also be represented on the roster…..Wichita State and Arkansas State.