“The Great West League is joining the ranks of the top summer collegiate wood bat leagues,” Wilson said in a press release that announced the development of the league. “The league, featuring teams in California and Oregon, will begin play in 2016.”

There is question, or should be, as to where the league would settle in Oregon since virtually every available city in the state that would be large enough to support a team already is taken with Klamath Falls, Medford, Bend and Corvallis in the West Coast League.

The Portland area (Hillsboro), Eugene and Salem all have minor league baseball.

Almost any other site in Oregon would be long distance for the teams in California.

“We have some tremendous markets and fabulous owners that we’ll be introducing over the coming weeks and months,” Wilson said.

Wilson was the long-time president of the West Coast League, and his departure was suspect when it happened two years ago.

“Our emphasis will be on professionalism in every aspect of our operations,” Wilson said in his press release, “while making Great West League baseball an inexpensive and fun experience for our fans.”

Chico will play at Nettleton Stadium, which Heat owner Steve Nettleton and Hall of Fame general manager Pat Gillick, a Chico native, will direct. Nettleton was instrumental in getting the stadium built on the Cal State Chico campus.

Obviously, getting Gillick involved in the league gives it almost instant credibility within professional baseball.

Lodi was awarded the first Great West League franchise, and it is owned by former professional pitcher Jack Donovan, who also has owned minor league teams. The team, still without a nickname, will play at Tony Zupo Field.

Gillick was on hand for the announcement when Lodi’s team was made public.

Wilson said he expects the league to play a 60-game schedule.

The West Coast League, with the Klamath Falls Gems, plays a 56-game conference schedule.

What the new group means in the terms of games between the two leagues is far from being known.

Wilson likely will start the new league in a manner similar to what he did with the West Coast League, a limited number of teams to begin with and then expand. Establish the product and then make improvements.

What kind of potential cooperation, if any, with the West Coast League remains wide open.

Rumors are, however, that Wilson intends to stay with Central and Northern California locations to begin the process of developing the league.

For Gems fans

While Klamath Falls has signed only a handful of players, including Kody Kuhlman and Jesse Hilyard, one can expect Mickey Walker, the son of owners Jerry and Lisa Walker, to don a Gems uniform no later than the 2016 season.

It could happen next season.

Mickey Walker recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at St. Martin’s College in Olympia, Wash.

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Steve Matthies is Herald and News sports editor. He can be reached at 541-885-4411, or at smatthies@heraldandnews.com