Wally Backman sat in the dugout at Roberto Hernandez Stadium on Tuesday night and watched his team, the South Georgia Peanuts, take on the Aiken Foxhounds in front of another sparse summer crowd.

It was typical of the South Coast League's inaugural season - Backman's first as a manager since being fired four days after he was hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 - and a long way from the bright lights of the big leagues.

Still, with a week left in the regular season, the South Coast League has shown promise in its infancy, despite working through its share of growing pains.

"(It's been) very interesting," Backman said Tuesday, summing up the SCL's first season. "There's a lot of things that need to be ironed out and some things that need to be fixed. But there is promise on the horizon."

The league has garnered plenty of publicity, and not all of it has been positive thanks in large part to Backman's run-ins with the league.

One of six well-known former major leaguers to sign on to manage, including Aiken Foxhounds manager Chris Bando, Backman has been slapped with various suspensions, resigned and been reinstated for his antics.

"After I resigned and after we talked again, I think a lot of those issues will be resolved, although it may take until next year," Backman said. "I think the people who run the league mean well and are trying to do their best. If everybody works together, I think we can make this easily one of the top leagues in baseball."

Committed to the development of young players who are surrounded by ex-major leaguers, the league already has seen more than a handful of its players sign with Major League Baseball affiliated organizations.

That includes three of Backman's players and former Foxhounds outfielder Scott Houin, who signed with the Brewers system earlier this month.

Bando said he expects interest to increase once scouts realize the level of competition in the SCL.

There obviously still are problems to overcome.

The league this week canceled its All-Star Game at the end of the season, citing lack of interest. One of its six teams, the Bradenton Juice, has been a traveling team all season, and some of the facilities could use improvement.

Some of those problems might be solved by relocating of the Florida teams and expansion, which could begin to happen this off-season.

The league has averaged about 1,250 fans per game and could use better promotion, Backman said.

"I don't think a lot of people realize the quality of players we've had," Backman said. "The guys I've had on my team I'd put up against anybody. The ability for this league to bring that kind of quality in says something."

In Tuesday's game, South Georgia took an 8-0 first-inning lead against Aiken starter Steve Dunham en route to a 15-6 win.

The Peanuts batted around in the first and picked up three RBI from former major leaguer Desi Wilson.

Evandy DeLeon homered for Aiken (39-44, 17-21 second half), and former University of Georgia standout Doc Brooks had four hits and three RBI for South Georgia (55-25, 22-14), the league's first-half champion.