With the summer rapidly approaching, the Kingsmen are looking forward to another year of changing lives for Christ and chasing baseballs under the sun. Formerly playing in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, the 2023 Kingsmen will play as an Independent team allowing for additional travel this season. On the schedule this summer are some familiar foes and new opponents with games scheduled to be played throughout the Carolinas, Alaska, and, once again, the Dominican Republic.
The 2023 Kingsmen will open the summer season on the road against the Forest City Owls on June 6 at McNair Field. Over the years, Forest City has rostered multiple major leaguers including the Braves’ Matt Olson and the Twins’ Emilio Pagan. This year’s Owls team has several Division I players from Tennessee, NC State, and Duke, shaping up to be an exciting first matchup for the Kingsmen.
The following day, the Kingsmen will play in their home opener at York Comprehensive High School against the Carolina Disco Turkeys who are entering their third season of summer play. This will mark the end of the Kingsmen’s first stay in the Carolinas before embarking on their first extended road trip to Alaska.
From June 8-18, the Kingsmen will travel throughout the northwestern state to play familiar opponents from their 2021 campaign. The team will begin their Alaskan play against the Matsu Miners (28-12 last season) before squaring off against Chugiak Chinooks, who the Kingsmen got the better of in 2021. During the first part of the trip, the Kingsmen will also spend time taking in the vast Alaskan nature. The team’s itinerary includes visiting the Matanuska Glacier and the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center where the team will learn about wildlife preservation and enjoy an experience like no other.
Following some sightseeing and games against the Miners and Chinooks, the team will travel north to Fairbanks where they’ll take on the Alaska Goldpanners in a four-game set from June 15-18. The Goldpanners are home to several former Major League superstars including Jason Giambi and Michael Young. This series will wrap up the Kingsmen’s Alaska tour which is sure to be a trip filled with great baseball.
When the Kingsmen return to the Carolinas, they’ll play local teams from June 22 to July 8. The team is scheduled to play several home-and-away sets against the Catawba Valley Stars and Uwharrie Wampus Cats while also taking on the Hendersonville Honeycrisps and the Queen City Corndogs––formerly known as the Carolina Vipers. Additionally, the Kingsmen are set to play the Carolina Disco Turkeys at David Couch Ballpark, home of the NCAA’s No. 1 ranked team, Wake Forest, on June 23.
Following the team’s local play, the Kingsmen will head back to the Dominican Republic for their annual missionary trip. In between engaging in faith-based conversations and activities and serving local communities, the Kingsmen will play local Dominican teams that have yet to be announced. Like every year, this trip will be the highlight of the summer as it is sure to change the lives of many, including the Kingsmen players. The team will return home on July 22 concluding a summer filled with America’s pastime.
For more information on exact dates, times, and locations for Kingsmen baseball, visit the team’s website, kingsmenbaseball.org. As the summer unfolds, the website will include additional stories, game recaps, exclusive interviews, and player anecdotes from a season full of competitive baseball and living the Gospel.
