Grizzlies’ shortstop Sawyer Smith had two hits, including his first home run of the season, in the team’s home opener win over the Joliet Slammers on Tuesday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| Frontier League Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Slammers (1-3) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Gateway Grizzlies (2-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | x | 6 | 9 | 0 |
WP: Greg Vailes – GATE (1-0) LP: Donovan Smith – JOL (0-1) SV: Sam Gardner – GATE (1)
SAUGET, IL — The Gateway Grizzlies hosted their first home game of the 2026 Frontier League baseball season at Arsenal BG Ballpark and it turned out to be quite a night.
The Grizzlies were hosting the longtime rival Joliet Slammers in a matchup of two of the more veteran and quality teams in the league this year.
Joliet took the lead early, with a run in the top of the first inning and two more in the second, then led for most of the rest of the night. But Gateway put together a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and added another run in the eighth, on its way to a thrilling 6-3 victory over the Slammers.
The star of the night turned out to be Grizzlies shortstop Sawyer Smith, who had two hits, including his first home run of the season, an RBI, and two runs scored. Veteran teammates Jose Alvarez and Dale Thomas also had two hits. Alvarez had two RBIs as well.
On the mound, reliever Greg Vailes pitched four scoreless innings, with just two hits allowed, no walks, and seven strikeouts to get the win. Closer Sam Gardner struck out the side in the ninth to get his second save of the season.
The Gateway Grizzlies won their season opener, 6-3, over the Joliet Slammers, Tuesday night at Arsenal BG Ballpark in Sauget. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Rookie Alec Sparks started the game for Gateway. And in making his professional baseball debut, the former Nicholls State University standout, struggled early and needed 38 pitches to get through the first inning.
But then, after giving up a line-drive, two-run homer in the second, Sparks settled in and held Joliet scoreless and hitless for the next two innings, until he was taken out of the game after reaching his season-debut pitch count.
Both teams made a couple of sparkling defensive plays to keep the score 3-0 until the Grizzlies put together their rally in the seventh.
Smith got things going with a deep fly, solo homer over the right-field wall to get Gateway on the board. The next two Grizzlies batters reached and scored on an RBI hit by Cole Brannen and a wild pitch that tied the score at 3.
The biggest hit of the night came later in the inning, when Alvarez drilled a single to right that scored two and gave Gateway its first lead at 5-3.
The Grizzlies added an insurance run in the night, which proved to be more than enough for Gardner, who returned for his fourth season with Gateway this season, after playing the last two years in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Gateway and Joliet will meet for Game 2 of their three-game series on Wednesday. First pitch at Arsenal BG Ballpark is slated for 10:45 a.m.
2026 GATEWAY GRIZZLIES BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Opponent | Location | Results |
| May 7 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Trustmark Park / Pearl, MS | L, 5-2 (0-1) |
| May 8 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Trustmark Park / Pearl, MS | W, 6-5 (1-1) |
| May 9 (Saturday) | 6:01 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Trustmark Park / Pearl, MS | L, 9-4 (1-2) |
| May 12 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Joliet Slammers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | W, 6-3 (2-2) |
| May 13 (Wednesday) | 10:45 am | Joliet Slammers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 14 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Joliet Slammers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 15 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 16 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 17 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 19 (Tuesday) | 6:35 pm | Evansville Otters | Bosse Field / Evansville, IN | |
| May 20 (Wednesday) | 6:35 pm | Evansville Otters | Bosse Field / Evansville, IN | |
| May 21 (Thursday) | 6:35 pm | Evansville Otters | Bosse Field / Evansville, IN | |
| May 22 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 23 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 24 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 26 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Evansville Otters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 27 (Wednesday) | 6:30 pm | Evansville Otters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 28 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Evansville Otters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| May 29 (Friday) | 6:35 pm | Joliet Slammers | Slammers Stadium / Joliet, IL | |
| May 30 (Saturday) | 6:05 pm | Joliet Slammers | Slammers Stadium / Joliet, IL | |
| May 31 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Joliet Slammers | Slammers Stadium / Joliet, IL | |
| June 2 (Tuesday) | 9:35 am | Washington Wild Things | EQT Park / Washington, PA | |
| June 3 (Wednesday) | 5:05 pm | Washington Wild Things | EQT Park / Washington, PA | |
| June 4 (Thursday) | 6:05 pm | Washington Wild Things | EQT Park / Washington, PA | |
| June 5 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 6 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 7 (Sunday) | 6:05 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 9 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 10 (Wednesday) | 10:45 am | Schaumburg Boomers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 11 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 12 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Florence Y’alls | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 13 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Florence Y’alls | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 14 (Sunday) | 6:05 pm | Florence Y’alls | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 16 (Tuesday) | 6 pm | Brockton Rox | Campanelli Stadium / Broxton, MA | |
| June 17 (Wednesday) | 6 pm | Brockton Rox | Campanelli Stadium / Broxton, MA | |
| June 18 (Thursday) | 6 pm | Brockton Rox | Campanelli Stadium / Broxton, MA | |
| June 19 (Friday) | 6:05 pm | New Jersey Jackals | Hinchliffe Stadium / Paterson, NJ | |
| June 20 (Saturday) | 5:35 pm | New Jersey Jackals | Hinchliffe Stadium / Paterson, NJ | |
| June 21 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | New Jersey Jackals | Hinchliffe Stadium / Paterson, NJ | |
| June 23 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Florence Y’alls | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 24 (Wednesday) | 6:30 pm | Florence Y’alls | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 25 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Florence Y’alls | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| June 26 (Friday) | 6:35 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Ozinga Field / Crestwood, IL | |
| June 27 (Saturday) | 6:05 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Ozinga Field / Crestwood, IL | |
| June 28 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Ozinga Field / Crestwood, IL | |
| June 30 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Trustmark Park / Pearl, MS | |
| July 1 (Wednesday) | 11 am | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Trustmark Park / Pearl, MS | |
| July 2 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Trustmark Park / Pearl, MS | |
| July 3 (Friday) | 7:05 pm | Québec Capitales | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 4 (Saturday) | 7:05 pm | Québec Capitales | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 5 (Sunday) | 6:30 pm | Québec Capitales | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 7 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Evansville Otters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 8 (Wednesday) | 10:45 am | Evansville Otters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 9 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Evansville Otters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 10 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Wintrust Field / Schaumburg, IL | |
| July 11 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Wintrust Field / Schaumburg, IL | |
| July 12 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Wintrust Field / Schaumburg, IL | |
| July 14 (Tuesday) | 7 pm | Frontier League All-Star Game | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| July 17 (Friday) | 7 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | ForeFront Stadium / Avon, OH | |
| July 18 (Saturday) | 7 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | ForeFront Stadium / Avon, OH | |
| July 19 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | ForeFront Stadium / Avon, OH | |
| July 21 (Tuesday) | 6:52 pm | Florence Y’alls | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| July 22 (Wednesday) | 10:35 am | Florence Y’alls | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| July 23 (Thursday) | 6:54 pm | Florence Y’alls | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| July 24 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 25 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 26 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Lake Erie Crushers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 28 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 29 (Wednesday) | 6:30 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 30 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| July 31 (Friday) | 7:03 pm | Florence Y’alls | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| August 1 (Saturday) | 6:36 pm | Florence Y’alls | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| August 2 (Sunday) | 1:07 pm | Florence Y’alls | Thomas More Stadium / Florence, KY | |
| August 4 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 5 (Wednesday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 6 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 7 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Joliet Slammers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 8 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Joliet Slammers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 9 (Sunday) | 6:05 pm | Joliet Slammers | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 11 (Tuesday) | 6:35 pm | Evansville Otters | Bosse Field / Evansville, IN | |
| August 12 (Wednesday) | 6:35 pm | Evansville Otters | Bosse Field / Evansville, IN | |
| August 13 (Thursday) | 6:35 pm | Evansville Otters | Bosse Field / Evansville, IN | |
| August 14 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Ottawa Titans | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 15 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Ottawa Titans | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 16 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Ottawa Titans | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 18 (Tuesday) | 6:35 pm | Joliet Slammers | Slammers Stadium / Joliet, IL | |
| August 19 (Wednesday) | 6:35 pm | Joliet Slammers | Slammers Stadium / Joliet, IL | |
| August 20 (Thursday) | 6:35 pm | Joliet Slammers | Slammers Stadium / Joliet, IL | |
| August 21 (Friday) | 6:35 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Ozinga Field / Crestwood, IL | |
| August 22 (Saturday) | 6:05 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Ozinga Field / Crestwood, IL | |
| August 23 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Windy City ThunderBolts | Ozinga Field / Crestwood, IL | |
| August 25 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Washington Wild Things | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 26 (Wednesday) | 6:30 pm | Washington Wild Things | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 27 (Thursday) | 7:15 pm | Washington Wild Things | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| August 28 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Wintrust Field / Schaumburg, IL | |
| August 29 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Wintrust Field / Schaumburg, IL | |
| August 30 (Sunday) | 1 pm | Schaumburg Boomers | Wintrust Field / Schaumburg, IL | |
| September 1 (Tuesday) | 6:05 pm | Washington Wild Things | EQT Park / Washington, PA | |
| September 2 (Wednesday) | 5:05 pm | Washington Wild Things | EQT Park / Washington, PA | |
| September 3 (Thursday) | 6:05 pm | Washington Wild Things | EQT Park / Washington, PA | |
| September 4 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| September 5 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL | |
| September 6 (Sunday) | 6:05 pm | Mississippi Mud Monsters | Arsenal BG Ballpark / Sauget, IL |