Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Grizzlies open 10th season with 3-game homestand

Campaign begins May 21, lasts through Sept. 5

SAUGET -- Five daytime starts, 24 weekend home dates -- including July 4th weekend and a split-city, day-night double-header -- highlight the Gateway Grizzlies' 2010 schedule released Monday.

The Grizzlies will play a 96-game schedule, including 48 home dates, extending from May 21 through Sept. 5. The schedule will see the Grizzlies play 12 games against five West Division opponents and six games against six teams from the East division.

The Grizzlies will open their 10th anniversary season in the Frontier League on May 21 at GCS Ballpark with the first of a three-game series against the Florence Freedom. Gateway then plays six of their next seven games on the road, including May 29 when they play a day-night double-header that has the Grizzlies and Rascals each hosting a home contest that day. The Grizzlies host the Rascals at 12:05 p.m. then travel to River City for a 7:05 p.m. contest.

The Grizzlies' home schedule will feature five daytime starts in 2009: May 23 against Florence (3:05 p.m.), May 29 against River City, Aug. 8 against Normal (3:05 p.m.) and Aug. 22 against Oakland County (3:05 p.m.). The Grizzlies will host Evansville in a 12:05 p.m. start June 16.

Gateway closes the regular season with a six-game home stand Aug. 31 through Sept. 5. Florence and Southern Illinois will each be in town for a three-game series.

The league remains at 12 teams for the 2010 season, with two changes. The Normal CornBelters join the league and compete in the West Division. The CornBelters will play in a newly-constructed ballpark in Normal, Ill. The Midwest Sliders, who played last season in Ypsilanti, Mich., will move into their permanent home, in Oakland County, Mich., and will go by the nickname of Cruisers.

With the change in teams, the division structure has also changed. The Grizzlies will compete in the West division with Evansville, Florence, Normal, River City, and Southern Illinois. The Windy City Thunderbolts will shift to the East Division in 2010.

The rest of the East Division features the Lake Erie (Ohio) Crushers, who captured their first Frontier League title in their inaugural season last year, the Kalamazoo Kings, the Oakland County Cruisers, the Traverse City Beach Bums and the Washington Wild Things.

The playoff format will change from 2008. The top two teams in each division will advance to a best-of-five first-round series. Home field advantage will be awarded to the division winner in each series.

The winners of each series will meet in a best-of-five championship series. Home field advantage for the championship series will also be awarded via regular season record.

Grizzlies sign three

The Frontier Professional Baseball League held its inaugural Fall Tryout Camp last week and the Gateway Grizzlies came away with three players.

The camp, which was held at Gateway's GCS Ballpark, played host to 36 free agent/college student athlete. Four teams from the Frontier League were represented and 10 of the 36 players were drafted.

"We had no idea what to expect from this first-time camp," said Grizzlies Manager Phil Warren. "The talent that showed up was tremendous and many of them could push for a spot on any Frontier League team."

With the first round pick, the Grizzlies drafted left-handed pitcher Jon Herendeen. Herendeen played college baseball at Saginaw Valley State University in Center, Mich.

With their second pick, Gateway chose right-handed pitcher Jimmer Kennedy out of Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J.

With their final pick, Warren, and the Grizzlies chose shortstop Adam Gordon. Gordon, a switch hitter, comes from Florida A&M University.

"Defensively we struggled in 2009," continued Warren. "We came into this tryout looking for help in that area and feel we made a good start with these three picks