In October of 2010, the Ohio Valley League was formed with four teams: the Marion Bobcats (established in 2008), Owensboro Oilers (established in 2006), Fulton Railroaders (established in 2004), and the Tradewater Pirates (established in 1999 as semi-pro team). The OVL is currently comprised of six teams across western Kentucky and Tennessee: the Full Count Rhythm (Hendersonville, Tennessee), Fulton Railroaders, Henderson Flash, Hoptown Hoppers, Madisonville Miners, and Paducah Chiefs.

Our History

The four original OVL teams left the historic KIT League after the end of the 2010 season to form their own summer collegiate baseball league. Each of the teams is a throwback to the original Kitty League. After two years of operation, the Ohio Valley League added the Hoptown Hoppers, another throwback team from the original Kitty League.

Following the new franchise in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the Tradewater Pirates moved from Dawson Springs, Kentucky, to Madisonville in 2012. The Dubois County Bombers then moved from the Prospect League to the Ohio Valley League in 2013. The Tradewater Pirates then changed their name to be the ‘Madisonville Miners’. In 2015, the Paducah Chiefs joined the league to expand to a six-team league. The Henderson Flash and the Muhlenberg County Stallions followed in 2016 to create an eight-team organization. The Owensboro Oilers rebranded themselves under new ownership to the ‘Owensboro RiverDawgs’. The Ohio Valley League then welcomed a ninth team, the Franklin Duelers, in 2018. In 2020 and 2021, two new teams joined the league: Full Count Rhythm and Louisville Jockeys to expand the league into 11 teams. Teams in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennesee, rounded out the league at its peak of twelve teams.

The OVL contracted to five teams in 2024, with two teams leaving to join the Prospect League and several others ceasing operations. Full Count rejoined the OVL for the 2025 season, bringing the league back to the current six teams.   

Our League Model

• The OVL is built on the principal that no teams make overnight trips. Under that model, our players and coaches in each of our respective team hometowns sleep at home every night and avoid long bus rides.
• We play under the NCAA rules of the game with exceptions (most notably, we are exclusively a wooden bat summer league). 

2025 Preparations

Preparations for the upcoming season are underway, so stay tuned for the announcement of our 2025 schedule and rosters. We will play a 40-game regular season, with a postseason playoff tournament to wrap things up. Our 2025 season will start in late May and end by August 1, 2025.

Franchise Opportunities

We would love to grow our league while also maintaining the league model that our teams and local communities cherish. with post-season playoffs. Teams in the OVL have minimum travel requirements for away games and return home after each game. Reasonable fees and league assistance help to establish each new club.

Click here to contact us to learn more about establishing and operating a baseball franchise in the Ohio Valley League. We would love to hear from you.

The current Ohio Valley League Officials are:

President - Will Cox (wcox@ohiovalleyleague.com)                                 
Vice President and Treasurer - Ted Jatczak