In preparation for their fourth season of baseball at Atrium Health Ballpark in
downtown Kannapolis, the Cannon Ballers will host a busy slate of collegiate and amateur baseball games both before and during the 2024 Minor League Baseball season.
Baseball officially returns to Atrium Health Ballpark this Thursday, February 22nd with the annual D3 Showcase featuring six premier schools from across the east coast. The weekend showcase will include matchups between Washington and Lee University (Virginia), Berry College (Georgia), Susquehanna University (Pennsylvania), the University of Rochester (New York), Marietta College (Ohio) and SUNY Cortland (New York). The jam-packed D3 Showcase will be free admission to the public, with food and beverage offerings available throughout the weekend.
Kicking off the Division I competition on Tuesday, March 12th is a regional matchup between Queens University of Charlotte and Appalachian State. The Royals, who are in their second season of competition in the ASUN conference and guided by new head coach Jake Hendrick, won the most recent iteration of this game last March with a 10-4 victory against the Mountaineers. App State battled in the Sun Belt conference tournament last May, but ultimately fell at the hands of nationally ranked Southern Miss to conclude their season.
Continuing the collegiate baseball schedule a week later is a renewed rivalry between two programs that will have fans buzzing. On Tuesday, March 19th, the Charlotte 49ers and Davidson Wildcats will meet for a second time this season after not competing against each other since 2004. The 49ers are coming off one of their best seasons ever, reaching the NCAA Regionals for the second time in three years under the leadership of head coach Robert Woodard. Davidson claimed victory over Western Carolina in their game last year at Atrium Health Ballpark and will look to avenge their defeat against the 49ers earlier this
season.
Wrapping up the slate of collegiate matchups is a Division II showdown between Catawba College vs. UNC Pembroke on Tuesday, April 16th. After a solid showing in conference play, Catawba dropped their first two games in the SAC Tournament to finish 2023 with a 27-24 record. On the other side, UNC Pembroke turned in one of their best seasons in program history, making it to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional with a 39-17 record.
Adding to the excitement and non-stop baseball action in Kannapolis is a plethora of high school baseball from the region. On Monday, March 11th, Atrium Health Ballpark will play host to Northwest Cabarrus & A.L. Brown High School. The night will feature a special ceremony recognizing and retiring the Trojans jersey of former Seattle Mariners standout infielder Kyle Seager. Baseball will also be at peak season with the return of the F&M Bank Cannon Ballers Invitational, featuring eight premier high school programs competing for bragging rights over the Easter holiday from March 28th through April 1st.
Rounding the bases and capping off all the exciting additions to the 2024 baseball schedule is a two-night summer showcase featuring the Queen City Corndogs, members of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. Fun will be had by fans of all ages when the Corndogs face off against two of their local rivals -- the Lake Norman Copperheads on Friday, July 12th and the Mooresville Spinners on Saturday, July 13th.
“This is going to be a great opportunity to showcase the SCBL and provide two high-level college baseball games in one of the best minor league baseball venues in the country,” said Corndogs Co-Founder Eddie Hull. “We could not be more excited to bring the ‘Dogs to K-Town!”
Admission to this weekend’s D3 Showcase is free to the public and tickets for all three local collegiate matchups are currently available by visiting kcballers.com or by calling the F&M Box Office at (704) 932-3267. Individual tickets for the Cannon Ballers 2024 season, Queen City Corndogs, and High School Baseball action will be released shortly. Cannon Ballers season ticket holders will also receive complimentary tickets to each collegiate event hosted at Atrium Health Ballpark. Fans are encouraged to stay up-to-date on all information regarding the Cannon Ballers, including the release of the team’s exciting 2024 Promotional Schedule, by visiting social media or signing up as an email insider to receive exclusive news and updates.
College Series Schedule:
Thursday, February 22 – Sunday, February 25 | D3 Showcase (Free Admission)
Tuesday, March 12 – 6:30 p.m. | Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Queens University Royals
Tuesday, March 19 – 6:05 p.m. | Davidson Wildcats vs. Charlotte 49ers
Tuesday, April 16 – 6:00 p.m. | UNC Pembroke Braves vs. Catawba Indians
D3 Showcase Schedule:
Thursday, February 22nd 3:30pm | SUNY-Cortland vs. Marietta College
Friday, February 23rd
3:30pm | Berry College vs. Washington & Lee University
7:30pm | Susquehanna University vs. University of Rochester
Saturday, February 25th
1:00pm | Susquehanna University vs. Berry College
4:30pm | University of Rochester vs. Washington & Lee University
Sunday, February 26th
9:00am | University of Rochester vs. Berry College
1:00pm | Susquehanna University vs. Washington & Lee University
High School & SCBL Schedule:
Friday, March 28 – Monday, April 1 | F&M Bank Cannon Ballers Invitational
Monday, March 11 – 6:00 p.m. | A.L. Brown High School vs. Northwest Cabarrus High School
Friday, July 12 – 7:00 p.m. | Queen City Corndogs vs. Lake Norman Copperheads
Saturday, July 13 – 7:00 p.m. | Queen City Corndogs vs. Mooresville Spinners