OPENING WEEK IS HERE!
SANFORD – Happy Opening Week to all who celebrate!
The Florida Collegiate Summer League is officially back for the 2024 season. Join us on Thursday night, May 29, for a night of fun, excitement and of course, baseball. The Sanford River Rats will host the reigning champions, the Leesburg Lightning at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. but make sure to arrive early in order to enjoy all the festivities we have planned. Parking will open at 5 P.M. and fans will have the opportunity to tailgate, check out the various food trucks and enjoy live music.
The fun only begins on Thursday night, as the rest of the league will kick off its season on Friday. The Orlando Snappers and Winter Garden Squeeze open their seasons at home, as the Snappers are set to face the Squeeze at the First Academy at 7 P.M. First pitch for the Diamond Dawgs is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Rollins College Alfond Stadium, as the Dawgs face the DeLand Suns in their season opener. The River Rats and Lightning will face off on consecutive days as Leesburg will host Sanford in their home opener at Pat Thomas Stadium at 7 p.m.
The party continues on Saturday. DeLand, Winter Park, Sanford and Leesburg will remain where they were the night before. Sanford and Leesburg will wrap up their three-game set at Pat Thomas Stadium at 7 p.m. as De Land and Winter Park face off for game two at Rollins College, with first pitch also set for 7 p.m. The Winter Garden Squeeze will hold their home opener at Horizon High School as they welcome the Snappers for a Saturday night showdown.
The River Rats and Lightning will take the day off on Sunday as the rest of the league finishes up the weekend series. The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs will travel to DeLand for the Sun’s home opener at Conrad Park. The Snappers will remain in Winter Garden for the series finale, both games are scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
Tickets for Opening Week as well as the rest of the 2025 season are available on the Florida League website. Fans who can’t make it to the ballpark are able to stream every game live.
Adrian Delgado (Central Florida)
