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Wingnuts Announce 2012 Schedule

November 30, 2011 - American Association (AA) Wichita Wingnuts

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts announced their schedule for the 2012 American Association season on Wednesday.

The American Association maintains the continuous 100-game schedule introduced last season, with three division winners and one wild card qualifying for the playoffs. The Wingnuts remain in the Central Division along with Gary SouthShore, Kansas City, Lincoln, and Sioux City.

Earlier this week, the league also welcomed the Laredo Lemurs into the South Division. The Shreveport-Bossier Captains and Fort Worth Cats are not expected to operate in 2012, leaving the American Association with 13 teams. Fort Worth's players were distributed through a league-wide draft last month. The rights to Shreveport-Bossier's roster have been transferred to Laredo.

To counter the odd number of clubs, the American Association has partnered with the independent Can-Am League to form an interlocking schedule for 2012. Throughout the season, five American Association teams will participate in a 10-game road trip to Can-Am League cities, while five Can-Am League teams will do the same in American Association territories. This covers the 100 games that would have otherwise been played by a "14th" American Association club.

2012 marks the second straight year the Wingnuts travel to every city in the American Association at least once. Meanwhile, 11 different teams make their way to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, including four that did not appear in 2010.

For the first time since 2009, the Wingnuts open their season at home, hosting the Lincoln Saltdogs May 17th-20th. Wichita then welcomes the Can-Am League's New Jersey Jackals for a three-game series before heading on a six-game road trip to Gary SouthShore and Fargo-Moorhead.

The month of June kicks off with a seven-game homestand against defending champion Grand Prairie, and longtime division foe Sioux City.

The Wingnuts renew their in-state rivalry with the Kansas City T-Bones June 8th-10th at Community America Ballpark. The T-Bones make their first trip to Wichita the following weekend. The teams have 10 total head-to-head matchups scheduled in 2011.

The end of June is highlighted by a six-game homestand against two North Division playoff teams. From June 26th-28th, the St. Paul Saints return to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium for the first time since 2010, while the Winnipeg Goldeyes make their first ever trip to the Air Capital June 29th-July 1st.

The Wingnuts spend most of their time in early-July down South, making stops in Grand Prairie, Amarillo, and Laredo. Home series include include Kansas City (11th-12th), Fargo-Moorhead (19th-22nd), and Amarillo (23rd-26th).

The Wingnuts' annual long road trip -- while the NBC World Series takes place at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium -- may be the most challenging the team has faced during its five-year history. The five-city, 15-game tour begins in Laredo, and includes three-game stops in Amarillo, Sioux Falls, Lincoln, and Winnipeg.

Upon returning from the trip, the Wingnuts enjoy 14 of their final 20 games at home, starting on August 13th with a seven-game homestand versus El Paso and Sioux City. The final stretch of home games includes three against Gary SouthShore (August 24th-26th) and four more with the Diablos (August 27th-30th). Wichita finishes the 2012 regular season at St. Paul September 1st-3rd.

All Sunday home games this season begin at 2:05 p.m. Monday-Saturday start times remain at 7:05 p.m., with the exception of a 6:05 p.m. start on Friday, June 1st, and a 12:05 p.m. start on Wednesday, June 20th. A full schedule containing all road start times will be released at a later date.

The Wichita Wingnuts open the 2012 season at home on Thursday, May 17th versus the Lincoln Saltdogs. Season tickets, mini packs, and group packages are on sale now. For more information, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.

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