In 2013, the American West Baseball League will play its inaugural season. The league was founded by Michael Cummings, after acquiring 2 teams which played in another league which ceased operations 30 days after the acquisitions. Cummings, a Southern California native, decided to create a new league that would support the team members and their organizations, provide an opportunity that ball players would be looked at by scouts and other leagues, all the while providing Friendly Family Entertainment. AWBL will operate in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is an Independent Minor Baseball League. Though not part of the official minor league system, its level of play is considered to be comparable to AA-level.