The Texas Collegiate League (TCL) announced a significant expansion yesterday, officially welcoming the Sherman Shadowcats and the Abilene Flying Bison to its roster of teams. This move brings a new market presence for TCL, which is headquartered in Coppell, Texas.
The membership change will immediately impact player recruitment for the Flying Bison and Shadowcats as the season length will be significantly reduced from 64 games to 48 games.
This streamlined schedule requires only seven weeks of commitment, making it more attractive to college athletes. Founded in 2004, TCL completed its 2025 summer campaign with six franchises.
The addition of Sherman and Abilene signals an effort to expand the league’s regional footprint. The league’s 2025 schedule mirrored the Minor League Baseball format, with three two-game series between Tuesday and Sunday, with Monday reserved as a league-wide off day.
The current list of TCL franchises includes the Acadiana Cane Cutters (Lafayette, La.), Brazos Valley Bombers (Bryan-College Station, Texas), Baton Rouge Rougarou (Baton Rouge, La.), Victoria Generals (Victoria, Texas), Seguin River Monsters (Seguin, Texas) and Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators (Lake Charles, La.).
The league has a strong track record in player development. The TCL has selected more than 300 players in the Major League Baseball draft, with nearly two dozen reaching the Majors.
Notable alumni include Jake Arrieta, Clay Bucholz, Matt Carpenter, Paul Goldschmidt, Corey Kluber, Hunter Pence, Taylor Hearn and AJ Minter.
Over the past six seasons, six different teams have won a championship, with the Gumbeaux Gators – who entered the league in 2023 – being the lone exception.
Tim Woodland, owner of the Shadowcats, emphasized the local impact: “We’re not just building a team – we’re building a tradition,” Woodland said. “The Shadowcats are here to represent Sherman with pride, passion and tough baseball. We can’t wait to see this city continue to come alive under the lights.”
The Shadowcats’ first TCL season will kick off in the summer of 2026 at Veterans Field in Sherman. The full schedule and ticket details will be released soon.
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