Our youth baseball league uses minor league teams for the 4th and 5th grade teams. The Sand Gnats were a regular team. Along with the Lugnuts, Rockhounds, Lookouts and 51s. The minor leagues have great team names.
Yes, some abandoned, such as the Prince William Cannons (now the Potomac Nationals.) There are also some off-the-wall names, such as the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Akron Rubber Ducks, both of the Eastern League. (Giants and Indians farm clubs, respectively.)