The Sedalia Bombers are a mix of junior college and Division One baseball players from across the country. They travel the Midwest playing ball games, and once you take a closer look at the roster you will find some ties to Mid-Missouri.

Coach Jud Kindle doesn't mind throwing hours of batting practice in the Missouri summer heat, he's just happy he has the chance.

"This is my hometown. I've always wanted to bring college baseball back," Kindle said.

The Bomber players are happy to be in Sedalia.

"It's been a lot of fun, playing with a lot of talented guys. I feel like top to bottom we have the most talented team in this league," pitcher Ryan Allen said.

And some of the talent is going to stay in Mid-Missouri in the fall. Pitcher Zach Hardoin signed to play at Mizzou.

"I'm going to have to pitch to live up to the expectations of people at Mizzou, and help the team stay on the winning track and continue to be good," said Hardoin.

Kindle believes Hardoin will benefit the Mizzou squad.

"Zach will be a good Big 12 starter. He's got three solid pitches: fast, curve, and change. He's got a phenomenal curveball. It's one of the best curveballs in the league," Kindle said.

Hardoin went 10-1 at Blinn Junior College in Texas last season. He had offers from Baylor and Texas A&M, but decided to leave the Lone Star State.

"Just a typical goofy lefty. He's a fun guy to be around. We kid about being a little portly," said Allen of his teammate.

All kidding aside, Allen realizes Hardoin's capabilities.

"Honestly, he's got good stuff. He can throw his curveball, changeup, and fastball for strikes consistently," said Allen.

Hardoin calls his style crafty.

"I'm crafty in a sense. I throw a lot of breaking balls. I pitch backwards to hitters. Instead of starting a guy off with a fastball I'll start them off with a breaking ball or a changeup," said Hardoin.

Allen also knows about change-ups. He is leaving the Missouri baseball team after a tough season, but is catching success in summer ball.

"Ryan Allen's probably one of, if not the best pitcher on our staff. He's got a .30 ERA and he's done everything we've asked him to do. He's come out and given us solid innings. He's found his stuff again," said Kindle.

Allen credits a new outlook on his success.

"One thing I'm trying to do is come out and have fun at the ballpark. Find any ways I can to make it fun. Whether it's batting practice, sprint around after fly balls like you're an outfielder," said Allen.

Fellow Bomber Travis Henke knows about having fun. The last time most Mid-Missouri sports fans saw him he led Blair Oaks to a 2006 high school football state championship.

"Never played again, hung em up after that weekend and hopefully baseball takes me somewhere so I don't have to put them (football cleats) back on," Henke said.

Now Henke, along with Allen and Hardoin are looking for another championship.

"It's three or four weeks left, and you want to win that championship and that's what everybody's here to do," said Henke.

Kindle says a lot of the credit for getting the team in Sedalia belongs to Ron Ditzfeld. He's not only a financial backer, he even drives the bus.

Henke has a no-hitter this season. Both Hardoin and Allen carry an ERA less than one.