The Texas Collegiate League (TCL) expanded yesterday, officially adding the Sherman Shadowcats and the Abilene Flying Bison. The move cuts the season from 64 games to 48.
The Texas Collegiate League (TCL) yesterday announced a significant expansion, officially welcoming the Sherman Shadowcats and the Abilene Flying Bison to its roster of teams. The move brings new market presence to the TCL, which maintains its headquarters in Coppell, Texas.
The change of affiliation will immediately impact player recruitment for the Flying Bison and Shadowcats, as the season length shortens significantly from 64 games to 48 games.
This streamlined schedule requires just seven weeks of commitment, making it more appealing for college athletes. Founded in 2004, the TCL completed its 2025 summer campaign with six franchises.
The addition of Sherman and Abilene signals an effort to deepen the league’s regional footprint. The league's 2025 schedule mirrored the Minor League Baseball format, featuring 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 boasts a strong track record of player development. The TCL has seen more than 300 players selected 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 A.J. Minter.
Over the past six seasons, six different teams have won a championship, with the Gumbeaux Gators—who joined the league for the 2023 season—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 hard-nosed baseball. We can’t wait to see this town continue to come alive under the lights.”
The Shadowcats’ inaugural TCL season will kick off in Summer 2026 at Veterans Field in Sherman. The full schedule and ticket details will be released soon.
