The Atlantic League opens its 24^th Championship Season on Thursday, April 21 with four games across the league. All 10 teams will jump into action on Friday, April 22.

Defending Atlantic League champion Lexington begins its quest for back-to-back titles as it hosts Southern Maryland in a four-game series at Wild Health Field. The Blue Crabs won the North Division second half title last year and will send ace Daryl Thompson to the mound on Opening Day. Lexington and manager P.J. Phillips will look to build on last year’s league-record 205 homer performance.

The Wild Health Genomes make their debut on the road at High Point. The Genomes are under the direction of Mark Minicozzi who guided Charleston to the South Division second half pennant in 2021. The Rockers and manager Jamie Keefe will look to benefit from a season-opening 13-game homestand.

The Staten Island FerryHawks will make their debut on Thursday at Charleston’s Appalachian Power Park. Former Met Edgardo Alfonzo will make his ALPB managerial debut after having spent four years in the league from 2006-2010. Thursday’s opener also marks the launching of the managerial career of Charleston skipper Billy Horn. A former lieutenant to High Point’s Keefe, Horn will get his first taste from the top step of the dugout this weekend as looks to help Charleston repeat as second half South Division champs. The FerryHawks’ Kelsie Whitmore could make history as the first woman to play in the Atlantic League.

The Lancaster Barnstormers will travel to Gastonia on Thursday and open a four-game set at CaroMont Health Park. The Barnstormers and manager Ross Peeples will be looking to get back to the playoffs in 2022 after a two-year absence. Mauro “Goose” Gozzo will depend on an improved pitching staff after hitting 180 home runs last year, the third-most in Atlantic League history.

The final series gets underway on Friday with Long Island hosting York for three games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Wally Backman will start the journey of returning the Ducks to the ALPB League Championship series for the second straight year. Mark Mason and the Revolution will be seeking a return to the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2021.