ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The St. Joseph Mustangs drew record crowds during the 2015 campaign, and they’re hoping for another fun season with promotions scheduled for every home game.

The defending MINK League champions are bringing back their nightly promotions that have become staples of games at Phil Welch Stadium — Ladies Night each Wednesday, Family Night each Thursday, followed by Friday Night Lites and the Mosaic Life Care Fireworks Spectacular on Saturdays.

There will also be giveaways held throughout the season including Magnet Schedules on June 1 courtesy of Brandy Weiderholt State Farm Insurance, limited edition Mustangs t-shirts to the first 500 fans courtesy of Carriage Square Living and Rehab on June 25, and free pregame family portraits on the field during Ultimate Family Night June 7.

Daddy-Daughter Date Night returns June 4 featuring special photo opportunities with Sleeping Beauty and Sofia the First. Mothers and sons get their date night one week later on June 11 with a special appearance by Spiderman.

The Fourth of July weekend will also be a busy one around Phil Welch Stadium. Each game stretching from June 30 through July 4 will feature the Mosaic Life Care Fireworks Spectacular. Veterans and Active Military will receive free admission on July 3, and are entered into a free drawing on July 4.

Fan Appreciation Night will be held July 20 with free general admission to all fans with any size donation to the Noyes Home.

For the entire 2016 promotions schedule, click here.

— Mustangs Press Release —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The St. Joseph Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016 features the city’s only high school baseball state champion, a former Missouri Western power hitter, and the most prolific softball pitcher to come from northwest Missouri.

On June 25, the 2007 Benton baseball team, Dave Lau and Cheri Kempf will officially be inducted into the St. Joseph Baseball Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony scheduled to begin at 6:35pm at Phil Welch Stadium before the Mustangs take on the Branson Nationals.

The two individuals and one team make up the sixth class to be enshrined.

Kempf earned a place as the hall’s first softball inductee after an outstanding career on and off the diamond.

The St. Joe native began building her resume in 1977 as the MVP of the ASA Girls 13-15 National Championship team in Freeport, Texas. She continued that dominance into her college career at Missouri Western. With a stunning 0.54 ERA for the season, Kempf led the Griffons to the 1982 NAIA National Championship, and was named tournament MVP. Ten years later, she earned a gold medal as a member of the U.S. National Team competing in the World Cup in Beijing, China.

Since her playing days, Kempf’s also worked as a softball analyst for ESPN, Fox Sports, MLB Network, Cox Sports, Comcast Sports and the YES Network. She’s also currently the commissioner of National Pro Fastpitch.

She’s also a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, Missouri Western Hall of Fame and the Missouri ASA Hall of Fame.

Dave Lau enters the Hall of Fame after a playing career that took him to the New York Mets organization.

After graduating from Central, Lau played for the University of Missouri baseball team in 1982. He transferred to Missouri Western in 1983 to begin a stellar run for his hometown school.

Lau picked up second team NAIA All-America honors in 1986, and was NAIA All-America Honorable Mention in 1985. In 1985, Lau hit 12 home runs, which still ranks fifth for a single-season in school history. His 23 career home runs are second all-time in Griffon history.

He signed a free agent contract with the New York Mets in August of 1986, and played three seasons for the organization between the Columbia Mets and St. Lucie Mets. During his first season, Lau hit three home runs and 12 RBIs in 49 games.

In 1998, he returned to Central as the St. Joseph School District’s first softball coach.

In 2007, Benton won St. Joseph’s first and only baseball state championship thanks to a 2-0 win over Sullivan in the Class 3 title game.

Led by 2013 hall of fame inductee, Mike Musser, the Cardinals finished with a 24-3 record. During their run through the Class 3 bracket, Benton outscored its four opponents 32-8.

Seniors Kyle Mason and Tim Brown and junior Johnny Coy were First Team All-State Selections, while Musser was named Class 3 Coach of the Year.

For more information on the St. Joseph Baseball Hall of Fame Inductions, or to purchase tickets for the event, call (816) 279-7856.

— Mustangs Press Release —

The defending MINK League champions added another game to an outstanding home slate for the 2016 schedule.

The St. Joseph Mustangs are proud to host the U.S. Military All-Stars on July 11.

General admission to the game is free with a donation to the U.S. Military All-Stars at the gate. This marks the third time the all-stars have played St. Joseph.

“The kindness the people of St. Joseph show year after year with their donations is heartwarming and much-needed,” Tank Stone, vice president of the all-stars, said.

The Military All-Stars will be followed by a film crew as they tour the country. The all-stars are part of a documentary showcasing the baseball team that also serves its country.

Mustangs’ general manager Ky Turner is excited for the support St. Joseph offers to be displayed nationally.

“We’re excited to show the great city of St. Joseph in the documentary with a huge crowd of people who support the Mustangs, but more importantly, our service men and women. The ceremonies and atmosphere before and during this game are unlike any other game we will play,” Turned stated.

The U.S. Military All-Stars are a barnstorming baseball team that was established in 1990. The military squad has played in 45 states and 12 countries over the last 25 years.

The additional game for the Mustangs gives the team 31 home regular season contests for 2016. St. Joe has posted a 46-14 record at Phil Welch Stadium over the past two championship seasons.

— Mustangs Press Release —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — For the second year in a row, the St. Joseph Mustangs will have the chance to meet their fans face to face just before they kick off a new baseball season.

The second annual Mustangs Fan Fest and Media Day will be held Tuesday, May 31 at East Hills Shopping Center from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

“We’re going to make sure this is a trip you’ll want to bring the family to, with all kinds of fun activities, just like a Mustangs game at Phil Welch Stadium,” noted Mustangs general manager Ky Turner.

The free event will give fans the chance to get to know the new crop of players — and see some familiar faces — with a news conference open to the public, and an autograph session featuring the entire team and coaching staff.

Along with games and prize giveaways, fans will also have the chance to showcase their musical talents during National Anthem auditions. Jeremy Eaton, the owner of The Griffey School for the Arts, will lead the group of judges as local singers and musicians can win the chance to perform the Star-Spangled Banner before a Mustangs game this summer.

“They were blown away by the response we had last year at the event, and we’re excited to team up with Jeremy once again,” Turner added.

The Mustangs Fan Fest ramps up excitement into the team’s season opener the next day — a June 1 meeting with the Boulder Collegians at Phil Welch Stadium. It marks the eighth summer of St. Joseph Mustangs baseball at the historic stadium. St. Joe’s won back-to-back MINK League titles, and four in the last five years.

Mustangs merchandise will also be for sale at Fan Fest.

For information on season tickets for 2016, call the front office at (816) 279-7856.

— Mustangs Press Release —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Thirty home contests and a Fourth of July Holiday Weekend full of festivities at Phil Welch Stadium highlight the St. Joseph Mustangs’ 2016 schedule.

The Mustangs will open the summer at home on June 1 with their first ever meeting against the Boulder Collegians of the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.

The non-league slate also includes a matchup against the Carroll Merchants for the second year in a row, St. Joe’s first all-time meeting with the Sioux Falls Pilots, and the annual Mustangs Alumni game on June 11.

The Mustangs – MINK champs each of the last two seasons – will begin their league title defense on June 2 at home against the Sedalia Bombers. That game begins a run of five straight league contests in the first week of the season.

St. Joseph will also see a crucial stretch of games in the third full week of the season with a doubleheader in Sedalia on June 20, then another twinbill on June 21 against the Nevada Griffons – the 2015 MINK League South Division winner.

Phil Welch Stadium will be busy throughout another Independence Day weekend with a six-game home stand beginning June 29 when the Mustangs host the Rossville Rattlers, the defending Mid-Plains League champions. The stretch concludes on July 4 when St. Joseph plays Sedalia. Fireworks will be featured after games on July 2, July 3 and July 4.

“This should be an exciting year. We’re playing host to some great teams from all over the country. We’re excited about the honor of hosting the MINK League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby again. There’s some great baseball to be played this summer, in front of some of the greatest fans,” Mustangs General Manager Ky Turner noted.

The regular season concludes for the Mustangs on July 24 in Clarinda.

The revamped postseason begins on July 26 with the top two teams in each division meeting for the MINK League Wild Card game. The MINK League Championship series begins two days later.

St. Joseph won 35 regular season games in 2015 on the way to its fourth MINK title in the last five years.

Season tickets and group outings are available now by calling (816) 279-7856.

To view the entire 2016 schedule, click here.

— Mustangs Press Release —

CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2016 MUSTANGS’ ROSTER

The St. Joseph Mustangs return 14 players from last year’s MINK League Championship squad as they seek a fifth title in six years this summer.

To go along with a group that led St. Joe to 35 regular season wins, eighth year manager Matt Johnson brings in a range of new players from Massachusetts to California.

“This year’s team will look similar to previous Mustang teams,” Johnson said. “We will have great team speed, a deep bullpen and a very competitive starting rotation. I am excited to see what they can do on the field.”

Pitching anchored the 2015 Mustangs, and their top two starting pitchers are back again this summer.

Preston Felgate (4-2, 1.49 ERA in 2015) and Dixon Marble (5-1, 2.38 ERA in 2015) return for one more season in St. Joe as frontline starting pitchers in the rotation.

The bullpen will also feature familiar faces in closer Steve D’Amico (five saves, 21 strikeouts in 14.2 innings in 2015), lefty reliever/utility player Trent Hill and right-handed pitcher Humberto Medina.

The 2015 Mustangs Most Valuable Player will be patrolling the outfield at Phil Welch Stadium once again. Jacob Richardson batted .299 with six doubles, five triples and 20 RBIs last summer.

Bishop LeBlond graduate Patrick Dillon will also join Richardson in the outfield, and Jeremiah Figueroa returns to the Mustangs after one year away from the team.

St. Joseph’s speedy lead-off hitter, Orencio Fisher, will also be back at Phil Welch for a second year in a row. Fisher led the MINK with 34 stolen bases.

Platte City native Evan McDonald will play for the Mustangs once he completes his first year playing for Division I Georgia Southern.

Francisco Alvarez leads an experienced group of catchers. Alvarez, a backstop in his first year at Arkansas State, is back for his third summer in St. Joseph. He’ll be joined by Bishop LeBlond graduate Jonathan Zuptich and Maryville native Payton Scarbrough.

Johnson’s coaching staff will feature former Mustangs slugger Johnny Coy as the hitting coach, Blake Hardegree as bench coach and Ryker Fox as the bullpen coach.

— Mustangs Press Release —

The 2015 season saw plenty of Family Fun at Phil Welch Stadium – from Minions, Captain America, Sluggerrr, a dog show, numerous fireworks shows, a championship winning team and the awards are still coming in.

St. Joseph Mustang fans have filled Phil Welch Stadium again, at a record mark in 2015, capping off another MINK League Title and top ten finish at the NBC World Series.

The 2015 season featured numerous large attendance nights- 5,175 on June 6th, for the second largest crowd in Mustangs history, and 4,807 on July 3rd, the third largest crowd in Mustangs history.

The Mustangs finished the season with a per game attendance record breaking average of 2,356 fans- up from 2,289 fans in 2014. According to BallParkBiz.com and Ballpark Digest, the Mustangs again placed in the top ten nationally, checking in at number seven.

The Mustangs also placed eighth nationally in 2015 Summer Collegiate Attendance by total, according to Ballpark Digest.

“This is just more evidence of what we already knew,” said Mustangs General Manager Ky Turner. “We have the best fans in the country. If you’re looking for one of the top reasons for our success, look no further than those people in the stands. We’re growing each year, and the fans have provided an electric atmosphere for our players. Thank you St. Joe for choosing us as your destination for summer family fun.”

Having completed their seventh season at Phil Welch, the team has had six top ten national attendance rankings and four MINK League Championships.

— Mustangs Press Release —

Click to listen to Manager Matt Johnson’s postgame interview

The St. Joseph Mustangs’ season came to an end Wednesday night as they lost to the Haysville (KS) Aviators 4-3 in an elimination game at the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kansas.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team finishes 37-17 and they were seventh at the NBC World Series.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 3-0 lead with single runs in each of the first three innings.  They held a lead the entire game and led 3-2 in the ninth inning when Haysville rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off win.

The Aviators got a one-out single from Cody Maack to tie the game in the ninth inning and then, with the bases loaded, Dan Holst hit a ground ball to second and Jerry Houston’s throw home was in the dirt and Haysville scored the winning run.

Austin Aspegren suffered the loss for St. Joseph as he gave up one hit and two unearned runs.  He walked two and Mustangs’ pitchers walked a total of nine batters in the game.

Trent Kinney started and allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of work.

Orencio Fisher led the Mustangs’ nine-hit attack as he finished 4-for-5 with one run and one RBI.  Francisco Alvarez added two hits, while Jacob Richardson and Ramsey Scott had one RBI each.

Haysville improves to 32-15 and they advance to the Super Six at the NBC World Series.