Welcome to the Midland Sandlot Alumni Association!
By Steve LaMontia-Carlentini, MSBL Director of Communications
MSBL has a brand-new presence in the great state of Texas! Welcome to the Midland Sandlot Alumni Association, located in Midland, Texas, which is about 110 miles south of Lubbock and only 20 miles from Odessa.
Jon Conners is the architect of the eight-team, 18+, wood-bat league, and he put this together himself. Their growth and success are an amazing story.
“We started in March of 2026 with 3 guys,” said Jon. “That is who showed up first; we were basically having a catch. We kept at it, and now we have 100+ guys on eight teams competing. We have had bumps and bruises, but nothing we can’t handle.”
The 40-year-old Conners has assembled a very impressive website, with a little help from his friends. His efforts have success written all over them. Here is that link: https://sites.google.com/view/midlandsandlot/home
“We have an amazing board: Robbie Gibb, Blake Baron, Kalen Hein, Koky Villalobos, Hunter Hargrove, Nolan Howard, Klifton Lee, Mark Trahan, and Kadin Collins.
Our executive board consists of Deputy Commissioner Blake Baron, Secretary Robbie Gibb, and Treasurer Bret Humphries. We feel we are pretty organized and enjoy working together.”
The league began on September 13th and plans to play through a championship game scheduled for November 22nd. The league consists of two divisions, which will play for the title.
We asked Jon how he became president of the league. His answer was understandably simple.
“I founded the organization.”
Indeed. We then asked about plans to represent the league in any MSBL National Tournaments, such as the World Series in Arizona.
“We don’t have any plans at the moment. However, there is a desire internally to participate in these tournaments in the future.”
What were your reasons for joining an MSBL league, and what history got you to this point?
“We really liked what the MSBL had to offer. It made sense to us. We are very glad to be a part of the MSBL umbrella.”
These few words from their website provide a summary of what the league represents:
“The MSAA was created in 2026 as a medium for adults to reconnect with the game of baseball. Although West Texas and Midland are known for their dedication to sports, baseball lacks opportunity following Little League. Even more so, there was no opportunity for anyone 18+ to continue playing.”
We’ll conclude here by conveying the mission statement that is also proudly displayed:
“To enrich the lives of adults in West Texas through the game of baseball.”
Well said, Jon. Best of luck and welcome under the MSBL umbrella!
