KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — As most sports leagues cancel or delay their seasons, the Kalamazoo Growlers are still hoping to play during their first upcoming games.
The Kalamazoo Growlers opening day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th against the Mequon, Wisconsin-based Lakeshore Chinooks.
While team leaders are monitoring the pandemic situation they are still expecting to host the event at its scheduled time.
The team is part of the Northwoods League, a college summer baseball league involving 22 franchises across the midwest region.
They have not yet announced any cancellations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, saying in March that teams would be continuing with their released 2020 schedules.
Season plans might change though depending on further actions by Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, whose actions are typically followed by smaller regional leagues.
The MLB has canceled spring training and delayed the start of the regular season by two weeks with the possibility of further extensions in the future.
Growlers officials told Mlive that the possibility of playing without fans was considered as a safety precaution, but would be unlikely because that decision would not also protect players and staff from exposure.
Apart from graduating seniors, most Growlers players will have to return back to school in the fall to begin training for their college teams. The Northwoods League would then have to either cancel certain games or condense the schedule in time for an inter-league collegiate tournament set for August.
The entire 2020 season can be found at the Growlers official website. Their fans can also purchase season ticket packages, with single-day tickets beginning to go on sale in May.
