The Gateway Grizzlies will open the 2021 Frontier League season on Thursday, May 27, at GCS Credit Union Ballpark. (Photo courtesy of Gateway Grizzlies)

by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

The Gateway Grizzlies announced on Thursday that they will play two home preseason games before the official 2021 Frontier League regular season begins on May 27.

The Grizzlies will host a pair of preseason games, on May 19 and May 21, at GCS Credit Union Ballpark against the Southern Illinois Miners. Both games will begin at 11 a.m.

The games are not open to fans and may not be played by typical baseball game rules. The coaching staffs will decide on the days of the games how many innings will be played, how many substitutions per game will be allowed, and if players that were taken out of the game will be allowed to re-enter.

The main goal of these matchups is to help the clubs get ready for the start of the season, which will come about a week after these games are played.

There is also some talk that the teams may play a couple of games on another date at the Miners’ home park, Rent One Park in Marion, Ill. But nothing has been finalized yet.

The Grizzlies’ home opener will be May 27 at GCS Credit Union Ballpark against the Quebec Capitales. First pitch that night is 6:45 p.m., and that game will most certainly be open to the public.