Professional baseball is coming to Iola this summer after the Kansas City Hormigas announced plans to play a majority of their games at Allen Community College.
ACC Athletic Director Doug Desmarteau announced ACC officials and Hormigas representatives will host a press conference Tuesday morning to outline the details of the move. According to a post on the Hormigas’ website, the Hormigas will remain at Satchel Paige Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Sundays and move all other home games and operations to Iola.
With 90% of the games and practices being played in Iola, the team will be rebranded to include Iola in its name, said Andrew Dunn, Pecos League commissioner.
With the college’s school colors being black and red, “this will fit perfectly,” said Dunn.
The Pecos League is an independent baseball league composed of teams with minor league affiliations. The Hormigas are the minor league affiliate of Bravos de Leon and are part of the Mexican League, also known as the Liga de Beisbol, which is Mexico’s oldest active league and celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
The Hormigas players come from Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela. They hope of breaking into the majors, but their professional journey begins in Iola. The Hormigas open the season on the road against the Blackwell Flycatchers May 28, then host the Garden City Wind for their home opener June 2.
