SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that their schedule for the 2012 season has been finalized. The team will begin their 20th season in Siouxland and their quest for an American Association championship on the road versus the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants in a split series starting on May 17, 2012. The Explorers will play two games in Sioux Falls before heading back to Sioux City for their home opener on Saturday, May 20, 2012 at 7:05 PM versus the Fighting Pheasants.
The Sioux City Explorers also unveiled their 20th Season Commemorative logo. In recognition of 20 years, the X’s used roman numerals to represent the number 20, while tying in the traditional Sioux City ‘X’ logo on top of white and black pinstripes symbolizing the uniforms the team wore during the inaugural 1993 season. The 20th Season Commemorative logo will be used throughout the 2012 season as the Explorers celebrate 20 years of baseball in Sioux City!
The American Association will operate in 2012 with a total of 13 teams in three divisions, with inter-league play against the Can-Am Independent Baseball League. Sioux City will be a member of the American Association’s Central Division, along with the Gary-Southshore Railcats, Lincoln Saltdogs, Wichita Wingnuts and Kansas City T-Bones. The North Division will be comprised of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, St. Paul Saints and Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants, while the South Division is made up of the Amarillo Sox, El Paso Diablos, Grand Prairie Airhogs and a new franchise in Laredo, TX, the Laredo Lemurs.
The Sioux City Explorers 2012 season will feature a 100 game full season format. There will be 50 home games played at Lewis & Clark Park with an equal number of games to be played on the road. In 2012, four teams will qualify for the playoffs – the three division winners and one wild card. The wild card will be determined by the team with the best winning percentage that does not win a division. Both playoff rounds will be a best of five series.
2012 Home Schedule:
May 19th vs. Sioux Falls
May 21–22 vs. Lincoln
May 24 vs. Lincoln
May 29–31 vs. Grand Prairie
June 1–3 vs. Fargo-Moorhead
June 11-12 vs. Sioux Falls
June 14–17 vs. Winnipeg
June 21–24 vs. Wichita
June 29–July 1 vs. El Paso
July 3 – 6 vs. Gary Southshore
July 12-15 vs. Sioux Falls
July 20-23 vs. St. Paul
July 31-August 2 vs. Gary Southshore
August 3-5 vs. Winnipeg
August 14-16 vs Rockland (inter-league play vs. Can Am League)
August 21-23 vs. Kansas City
September 1-3 vs Kansas City
2012 Home & Road Games versus American Association/Can-Am Teams:
Sioux Falls – 7 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 7 games at SF
Gary Southshore – 7 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 3 games at GS
Winnipeg – 7 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 7 games at WN
Lincoln – 3 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 7 games at LN
St. Paul – 4 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 7 games at SP
Fargo Moorhead – 3 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 3 games at FM
Wichita – 4 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 7 games at WI
El Paso – 3 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 3 games at EP
Kansas City – 6 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 3 games at KC
Grand Prairie – 3 games at Lewis & Clark Park & 3 games at GP
Inter-League Play vs. Can-Am League – 3 games at Lewis & Clark Park vs. Rockland Boulders and 0 games at Can-Am League
Games vs. Central Division: 40
Games vs. North Division: 45
Games vs. South Division: 12
Games vs. Can-Am League: 3
