CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE 2018 SCHEDULE
The Frontier League has released its schedule for its 26th season, which will again feature 12 clubs playing a 96-game, full-season format. Opening day for the 2018 season will be on Thursday, May 10, with the regular season concluding on Sunday, September 2.
The regular season begins on Thursday, May 10, with two games. The defending West Division champion Florence Freedom will open at home against the Joliet Slammers, while the Windy City ThunderBolts welcome the River City Rascals to town.
All 12 teams are in action beginning on Friday, May 11, highlighted by a match of the 2017 Wild Card qualifiers when the Washington Wild Things visit the Evansville Otters. Other opening weekend series feature the Schaumburg Boomers at the Gateway Grizzlies, the Traverse City Beach Bums visiting the Normal CornBelters, and the Lake Erie Crushers traveling to the Southern Illinois Miners.
The defending champion Schaumburg Boomers celebrate their third title in five seasons with their home opener on Tuesday, May 15. Gateway, Joliet, Lake Erie, and River City also open at home on May 15, while the Traverse City Beach Bums return to Wuerfel Park on Wednesday, May 23.
The 2018 divisional alignment remains the same as in 2017 with all 12 clubs returning. The West Division again features Evansville, Florence, Gateway, Normal, River City, and Southern Illinois while Joliet, Lake Erie, Schaumburg, Traverse City, Washington, and Windy City compose the East Division. Clubs play their divisional opponents 12 times each, with six games against each inter-division team. The two division winners plus two wild card teams, regardless of division, advance to the playoffs.
Highlights of the 2018 schedule include a Championship Series rematch when Schaumburg visits Florence on June 15-17; the 102nd anniversary of Evansville’s Bosse Field on Sunday, June 17; and a split-city, day-night double-header on Wednesday, June 20, with Joliet hosting Windy City in the morning then traveling to Standard Bank Stadium for the nightcap. The Frontier League celebrates Independence Day with games in Gateway, Florence, Joliet, Lake Erie, Traverse City, and Schaumburg.
The 2018 All-Star events will begin on Monday, July 9 and conclude with the All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 11 at CarShield Field in O’Fallon, Missouri, home of the River City Rascals.
The regular season concludes on Sunday, September 2 with Gateway, Joliet, Lake Erie, Normal, River City, and Traverse City hosting games over Labor Day weekend.
The 2018 playoffs will begin on Tuesday, September 4 with a potential game 5 of the Championship Series scheduled for Monday, September 17.
Debuting in 1993, the Frontier League is the longest-running of the modern independent leagues and features teams in seven Midwestern states, stretching from Pennsylvania to Missouri and from Kentucky to northern Michigan. More information and the complete 2018 schedule can be found at www.frontierleague.com.
