Bees Open Season At Clinton

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

The Burlington Bees won’t have to travel too far in the first two weeks of the 2024 Prospect League season.

Eight of the Bees’ first 13 games will be at Community Field, according to the schedule released by the league on Thursday.

The Bees open the season on the road against the Clinton LumberKings on May 28, then open the home portion of their schedule the following night with a 6:30 p.m. game against the Alton River Dragons.

The Bees play a three-game series against the O’Fallon Hoots — at home on May 30 and then on the road May 31 and June 1 — then play five of their next eight games at home.

Among the games on the schedule:

• The Bees have four Sunday home games — June 2 and June 23 vs. Illinois Valley, June 9 vs. Clinton, and July 7 vs. Normal.

• Five home games during the week around July 4 — July 2 vs. O’Fallon, July 3 and 5 vs. Clinton, July 6 vs. Springfield and July 7 vs. Normal. The Bees play at Clinton on July 4.

• The longest road trip of the season is a six-game trip from June 25-30 that includes two games against the Cape Catfish, three with the Jackson Rockabillys and one with the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes.

• The Community Basket Extravaganza is set for July 21 at 2 p.m.

• The home regular-season finale is July 30 against Clinton. The Bees close the regular season the following night at Clinton.

Eighteen teams will play in the Prospect League this season, the largest number in the league’s 61-year history. Two new teams join the league — the Dubois County Bombers of Huntingburg, Indiana, and the Full Count Rhythm of Hendersonville, Tennessee.

The Bees have 16 players committed for this season:

Pitchers — Noah Harbin (Maryville University), Zach Leuschen (Southeastern CC), and Jackson Wohlers (Rock Valley College).

Catchers — Michael Carrano (Parkland College) and Jacob Schindler (McHenry County College)

Infielders — Skyler Agnew (Hawaii-Pacific), Landon Akers (Bellarmine), Carson Bittner (Phoenix College), Ty Plummer (Iowa), Kinnick Pusteoska (Tennessee Tech), and Ryan Skwarek (McHenry County College)

Outfielders — Luke Bragga (Tennessee Tech), Cooper Donlin (Hawaii-Pacific), Cedric Dunnwald (Mount Mercy), Jackson Reid (Chandler-Gilbert CC), and Scotty Savage (Milwaukee Area Tech).

Photo: Cedric Dunnwald slides into second base during the Burlington Bees’ season opener against Quincy last season. Dunnwald is among the players committed to play for the Bees in the 2024 Prospect League season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)