Border Cats to start at home on May 27

The Thunder Bay Border Cats will open the 2014 season at home.

The St. Cloud Rox will visit Subway Field on May 27, kicking off a four-game home-stand to start the Northwoods League team’s 12th season.

League officials on Monday unveiled the summer collegiate baseball circuit’s schedule, which will see each team play 72 games, two more than last season.

In addition to bumping up the number of games played, the Northwoods League has undertaken a minor re-alignment of its divisions to accommodate a pair of expansion teams.

Eau Claire shifts to the North Division, alongside the Border Cats, while Kalamazoo and Kenosha join the South Division.
The season’s first half is slated to end June 30.

The Northwoods League schedule includes the annual all-star game, which in 2014 will be played at Mequon Park, home of the Lakeshore Chinooks, on July 22. The Big League Dreams Showcase will be played on Aug. 5 in Madison, Wisc.

“We are excited to be going into our 21st season,” said Northwoods League President Dick Radatz, Jr., “It’s wonderful to reflect on where we started and where we are now with 18 teams, a 72-game schedule, our 20th All-Star Game and our second Big League Dreams Showcase event.”

The season wraps up on Aug. 10, with the post-season starting Aug. 11.