Brainerd out of NWL, league announces 2012 schedule

The Northwoods League is a baseball team lighter today.

In a move that surprised no one, the summer collegiate circuit announced it was cutting ties with the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers, the lowest-drawing team in the league. The move, which also sends the Waterloo Bucks to the North Division, where they’ll play alongside the Thunder Bay Border Cats, was made to accommodate the expansion Lakeshore Chinooks.

For scheduling purposes, the 16-team league cannot operate with an odd number of teams.

The Border Cats also learned their 2012 schedule on Monday, and will open their 10th season May 30 on the road against the Alexandria Beetles, followed by a three-game set in Rochester.

The Cats home opener is scheduled for Monday, June 4 against the Beetles at Port Arthur Stadium. They wrap up regular season play on Aug. 12 against Wilmar, their home finale coming two nights earlier against cross-border rival Duluth.