LYNN, Mass. -- Come the final week of May, Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) action will return to Lynn’s Fraser Field for the ninth consecutive summer. The season has now inched a bit closer as new North Shore Navigators co-owner Derek January announced the team’s 2020 schedule on Wednesday.

The Navs will begin the campaign with a home game for the first time since 2013, hosting the Westfield Starfires on Wednesday, May 27. North Shore will play two of its first three games at home as a Friday night contest against the newest FCBL franchise, the New Britain Bees, will follow a quick trip to Nashua, N.H., to take on the Silver Knights.

“We were very excited to see what our first schedule as a new ownership group looked like,” said January. “The league has worked hard to put out a fair and equitable schedule and now we can’t wait to let Navs Nation know about all that we have planned this summer.”

The 56-game schedule features 28 home games, including four on Fridays and Saturdays and five on Sundays. Unlike previous years, the popular post-game fireworks shows, sponsored by Wayne Alarm, will take place on varying dates throughout the summer.

Typical times for home games will be as follows: Monday-Thursday at 6:35 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 7:05 p.m., and Sundays at 4:05 p.m. Camp and school day games will begin at 11 a.m. on dates to be announced.

Ticket sales and party deck rentals will begin on Monday, December 2, coinciding with the release of a final schedule including finalized game times and promotional dates. Contact January ([email protected]) for more information.

“Everything from game day promotions and the new party deck experience to our new logo and uniforms will be unveiled on December 2,” January said. “Tickets will also go on sale and our new online team store will be live so everyone can get a head start on holiday shopping for their favorite Navs fan.”

The regular season will run until Sunday, August 2, with the playoffs immediately following through Sunday, August 9. However, this year’s league schedule will feature two halves and a subsequent new playoff format. Just four of the seven teams will qualify for the playoffs, with both the semifinal and championship rounds now being contested as best-of-three series.

The first half of the regular season will conclude on Tuesday, June 30, with the first-place team at that point locking up the No. 1 playoff seed. The second-half champion will be the No. 2 seed. The remaining two playoff spots will go to the teams with the next two best records combined.

The Navs will play 10 games against both the Silver Knights and Brockton Rox. Their first of nine meetings with the four-time champion Worcester Bravehearts is set for Friday, June 19 at Hanover Insurance Park. North Shore will also play Westfield, New Britain, and the Pittsfield Suns nine times apiece. The Bristol Blues are no longer members of the Futures League.

As the offseason continues, stay up to date on the latest Navs news by visiting nsnavs.com and following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.