The Texas Collegiate League quickly established itself as one of the most talent-rich summer college baseball leagues in the country since its inception in 2004, but the league might have played its final game. According to the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram, seven of the league’s nine teams plan to drop out, but the TCL has responded by suing the teams to prevent them from leaving. TCL teams cite high membership fees as a major obstacle to balancing the books, and one franchise claims to have lost more than $50,000 a year since the league began, according to the paper.

It doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of reason for optimism that the league can survive, which is a pity because players enjoy the TCL experience and there is certainly room for a strong summer league in Texas.

UPDATE: The TCL has released this statement in response:

“The Texas Collegiate League is continually focused on providing the best summer league experience for the top professional prospects from colleges throughout the country.  In only four seasons, TCL has become one of the premier summer collegiate leagues in the nation, and TCL plans on continuing that prestige for 2008 and beyond.  While TCL continues to pursue its legal remedies and damages against the withdrawing teams, TCL will move forward with league expansion and will do all it can to ensure that 2008 will be another great season for everyone involved.”