FOR RELEASE: November 28, 2007

GRIZZLIES, FRONTIER LEAGUE ANNOUNCE 2008 SCHEDULE

Six day games and 21 weekend dates at GCS Ballpark highlight the Gateway Grizzlies 2008 schedule released today by the Grizzlies and the Frontier League.  The Grizzlies will play a 96-game schedule, including 51 home dates, extending from May 21 through September 3.  The schedule will see the Grizzlies will play 12 games against five division opponents and six games against six teams from the opposite division. 

The Grizzlies will open defense of their 2007 West Division title at GCS Ballpark Wednesday May 21, with a three game series against the Southern Illinois Miners. 

The Grizzlies home schedule will feature six daytime starts in 2008.  Four of the Grizzlies' eight Sunday contests will begin at 3:05 p.m.  In addition the Grizzlies will host Windy City on Thursday June 19 and Kalamazoo on Monday August 4

While the league remains at 12 teams for the 2008 season, the division structure will be altered.  The league returns to the two-division format in 2008, after competing in three divisions for the 2007 season.  The Grizzlies will compete in the West division with Evansville, River City, Rockford, Southern Illinois and Windy City.  The Windy City ThunderBolts laid claim to their first Frontier League title, after winning the Central Division with the league's best record.  The East Division will feature the Chillicothe Paints, the Florence Freedom, the Kalamazoo Kings, the Midwest Sliders, the Traverse City Beach Bums and the Washington Wild Things.  The Sliders, who played home games last year in Slippery Rock, PA will operate as a road-only team in 2008.

The playoff format will also be altered.  Each division winner, plus two "wild card" teams, regardless of division, will advance to a best-of-five first-round series.  Home field advantage will be determined by regular-season record. 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.

Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2008 season, and can be purchased by calling the Grizzlies office at 618-337-3000.

The entire 2008 schedule follows.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Grizzlies General Manager Tony Funderburg via cell phone at 618-781-8170, Joe Pott in the Grizzlies office at 618-337-3000 or Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee in the league office at 618-667-8000.