Eau Claire, Wis. – The schedule for the 23^rd season of Northwoods League play was announced today by the league. The Eau Claire Express, beginning their 12^th season of play, open the 2016 campaign at home on Tuesday, May 31 versus the Rochester Honkers. Eau Claire then travels to Mayo Field in Rochester to finish the home-and-home series with the Honkers on June 1. First pitch for the home opener is scheduled for 6:35 PM, with gates opening at 5:30.

The league will again play a 72-game schedule in 76 days, giving players the ultimate Minor League experience. The Express will again compete in the North Division, playing 64 of their 72 games within that division. South Division opponents to face Eau Claire will be the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the Green Bay Bullfrogs. One notable change to the alignment of the divisions is the addition of the La Crosse Loggers to the North Division, necessary because of the addition of the expansion franchise in Rockford, Ill. to the South Division. Rockford replaces the Alexandria Blue Anchors, who ceased operations following the 2015 season. Regular season play begins Tuesday, May 31 and concludes on Sunday August 14. Divisional playoffs take place August 15 and 16. Day one of the Divisional Playoffs will see the first and second half winners in each division host the two teams in each division with the next best overall record in a one-game playoff. The winners of those games will be matched up on day two of the Divisional Playoffs, with home-field advantage going to the team with the best record. The second round of Divisional Playoffs is also a one-game format, with the two winners advancing to the Championship Series. The Northwoods League Championship Series runs Thursday, August 18 through Saturday, August 20. The Championship Series is a best-of-three format.  

Eau Claire’s home schedule will feature start times detailed below.

• Sunday Home Games – 5:05 PM
• Monday – Thursday Home Games – 6:35 PM
  • Exceptions:
    • June 29 – 1:05 PM and 7:05 PM (Doubleheader)
    • July 4 – 6:05 PM
• Friday Home Games – 7:05 PM
• Saturday Home Games – 6:35 PM

For the third year in a row, the Northwoods League schedule features two day/night doubleheaders. This year’s opponent is again the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Wednesday, June 29 will feature two games at Carson Park, with game one beginning at 1:05 PM and game two beginning at 7:05 PM. Monday, August 1 will feature the second half of the series with the Rafters, this time at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids. Game one will begin on that date at 12:05 PM with the nightcap finishing the season series at 7:05 PM.

Eau Claire will play 19 of its 36 home games in the first half of the season, which wraps up in La Crosse on July 5. The Express schedule features one home game in May, 14 in June, 11 in July and ten in August. The league was kind to Eau Claire in scheduling of weekend games. Carson Park will be home to Northwoods League baseball on five Fridays during the summer (all of which will include postgame fireworks) and seven Saturdays.

The league will again have two scouting events. The annual All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday, July 19 at a location to be determined. The fourth annual Big League Dreams Showcase doubleheader will be held at Warner Park in Madison just three weeks later. Both events showcase the top prospects in the Northwoods League annually to scouts from every team in Major League Baseball.

To purchase season tickets, voucher packs or the all-new 5-Game Pack please contact the Express office by calling 715-839-7788 or by stopping by the office at 102 E. Grand Ave. in downtown Eau Claire. Single-game tickets will go on sale for all games on May 2. The full North Division schedule can be found here.

The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23^rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (KC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com.