FCBL:Commissioner Joe Paolucci says Holman Stadium is his favorite in the league, and has no doubt about further improvements to the viability of the Nashua Silver Knights under the ownership of John Creedon, Jr. The league's annual Fall Meetings are next week. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – What does Nashua Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook like the most about the recently released 2022 Futures Collegiate Baseball League schedule?

The fact that he has one.

“I’m giddy with that,” Cook said in terms of game-related sales, etc. “The only thing I’m bummed about is it’s so far away. We’re actually meeting with game-day staff, and will try to get as collaborative with social media and community events. … We’re trying to think of some new creative avenues.”

The 64-game slate was released during this past week and includes 32 Nashua home dates, with the Knights opening their season at Holman Stadium against the Pittsfield Suns on Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m.

But this is the earliest Cook has had a schedule in his two-plus years as general manager, and the earliest it’s been released in the last three. Obviously, the main reason was COVID, but also the uncertainty of bringing new franchises aboard amid the defection of some teams to the rival New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Here are the schedule details:

This year’s schedule is four games fewer than a year ago, from 68 down to 64. The last day of the regular season will be Sunday, Aug. 7.

They’ll have more home dates (18) combined in May-June than in July-August (14). That always causes an attendance hit because school usually isn’t done until the third week in June.

“Hopefully,” Cook said, “we have some playoff games to make up for that so it doesn’t matter. But it gives us the freedom if there is as much rain as last year tons of days to fill in with doubleheaders, etc.”

Game times Tuesday through Saturday are 6 p.m. at Holman, with Sundays – there are five – again starting at 3 p.m.

Cook likes the 6 p.m. times, especially as it helps to get games concluded on fireworks nights before the city ordinance that bans them after 10 p.m.

“Some people don’t like it, but the majority seem to,” he said of the universal 6 p.m. starts.

There are two games that deviate from the normal times. For the first time ever, the Knights will have a home game on Memorial Day, May 30, vs. Westfield at 1 p.m. Barring makeups, that will be the only Monday the Knights will play as Mondays will be a universal day off in the league.

“I’m happy about it,” said Cook, who would love to play a day game on July 4 some season before the city festivities if it could be worked out with local officials. But as for Memorial Day, “We’ll promote the same way we would if it were the Fourth of July,” Cook said. “Now we have something we can show the city, ‘Look this can definitely work.’ … I like a 1 o’clock start every once in awhile, we don’t have many of them.”

Meanwhile, Cook said the team may try to add fireworks for July 3, which is a Sunday game and that would mean moving the 3 p.m. start to later. It depends, Cook said, if the fireworks company (Atlas) is available given how far in advance bookings need to be made.

“If not, what’s good for the community in Nashua is 24 hours later there will be fireworks (at Holman) anyway,” Cook said.

EDUCATION DAY JUNE 8

There will also be a return to having an Education Day on which local schools attend, and that will be Wednesday, June 8 vs. Brockton, an 11 a.m. start. Each team in the league, Cook said, will have an Education Day.

And, Cook said, in a league-wide promotion, students will be selected from attending schools to come up with three to five rules for that day’s game.

“It could be the pitcher has to wear a skirt,” Cook said. “I want there to be these fun and ridiculous rules, but not where it damages the integrity of the game. Maybe a home run is 10 runs … It’s kind of fun, and it helps sell it, too – say a second grader has the rule that a pitcher (righty) has to throw the first pitch of the game left-handed. He or she can say ‘I made him do that.’ ”

Cook added a video of the student explaining the rule can be on the stadium video board in the first inning.

SAME TEAMS

The league will not be adding any teams for the 2022 season. The Knights’ foes remain defending champion Vermont, Norwich (Conn.), New Britain (Conn.) Pittsfield, Westfield, Worcester and Brockton (all Mass.).

Nashua will have five Friday Fireworks Nights – June 3 and 24, plus July 8, 15 and 29. There are six reduced beverage price “Thirsty Thursdays” as well – Opening Night (May 26), then June 2, 16, July 7, 21, and Aug. 4.

Those beverage nights haven’t drawn big crowds in the past. Cook has been trying to figure it out – but ot could well be that a half-price beer replaced what has been a dollar beer could be a reason. With that in mind, Tuesdays will also be a half-price beer night, Cook said.

For the first time in several years Nashua will close out the regular season at home, facing the Worcester Bravehearts.

For the weeks of May 30 and June 19 the Knights will have five home games.

There are four trips to Vermont, two of them overnight stays (back-to-back games). The original schedule draft had Nashua traveling to Westfield before those trips and Cook was able to get that changed “so we weren’t traveling all over New England.”

Their longest time away from Holman will be from Friday, July 22 to Friday, July 29, due to a couple of things: The New Hampshire American Legion senior tournament at Holman and also the FCBL All-Star Break. During that time Nashua will play five road games, and the All-Star game will be on Tuesday, July 26, at New Britain for the second straight season.

ALL-STAR GAME LOCATION

Why New Britain again? Usually, the league moves it around.

“I think it’s whether there’s a lack of interest for the other teams to host it, or the fact it still feels like 2020, 24 months long,” Cook said. “Maybe they get a chance to host it in a more normal setting (theoretically, fingers crossed with the pandemic).”

Cook said the Silver Knights “threw our hat in the ring” but weren’t selected; he hopes that means Nashua may get the game for 2023. It last hosted the FCBL All-Star Game in 2018, which included a celebration of the 80th birthday of Holman Stadium.

“I’m not devastated we’re not hosting it,” Cook said, “so we can just roll it back and celebrate the 85th (if Nashua is awarded it).”

If times are more relaxed in 2023, expect Vermont to be in competition for the game.

PLAYOFFS

As for playoffs, they’ll start likely on Tuesday, Aug. 9, with the same format as last year: four of the eight teams will qualify, with best-of-three semifinals and finals.

TICKET OPTIONS,

UPPER BOWL INCREASE

The Silver Knights have some new ticket options for the season. First reserved seats are $10 for adults – one price now across the board, regardless of upper or lower bowl – and $8 for children 12 and under. Last year it was $10 or $8 for adults, depending on location, so in some location cases (mainly upper bowl) there’s a $2 increase. The team has several discounts, mainly youth and veteran related – for example, its Kids Club members will be allowed in free on Sundays. Contact the club for more information.

Also there is a single $22 “All-You-Can-Eat” ticket, but that all encompassing seat/concessions price won’t include alcohol, Cook said, but does include unlimited fountain drinks.

Finally, there are special tickets that allow fans to take part in batting practice, $30 for one and $25 apiece if fans buy two or more. On the schedule it appears that price difference is by age, and was reported that way earlier this week at nashuatelegraph.com but the team has corrected that to say the price change is not age – but quantity – related.

Once again, the luxury suites will be available for nightly rentals.

For more information, contact the team at 603-718-8883.