GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats will play 50 regular season games at U. S. Steel Yard for the first time in franchise history as the team today unveiled their 2010 schedule, a slate that kicks off with a fun-filled Opening Night, Thursday, May 20 at The Steel Yard at 7 p.m. against the Kansas City T-Bones.

The Northern League’s regular season will be 100 games in 2010 – making the circuit one of only two in independent baseball to play at least 100 games – and the RailCats will be in action all the way through Labor Day weekend.  The ‘Cats set an all-time attendance record in 2009 and with two more home games plus a jam-packed promotional slate, the RailCats are poised for another big summer.

The RailCats will release their full promotional schedule later this offseason, but the ‘Cats do have a couple special days already planned.  The biggest change comes on Tuesday nights, when games will start at 6 p.m. to get families home earlier, just part of the new Tuesday Kids Days.  Combining the RailCats popular school programs and the ‘Cats commitment to family-friendly entertainment, Tuesday Kids Days will feature a wide range of kid-friendly promotions, activities and discounts.

Along with Tuesday Kids Days, the RailCats will bring back the wildly-successful Dollar Mondays, with buy one-get one for one dollar tickets available to every Monday night game, along with a number of other discounts on concessions, merchandise and more.  Again in 2010, the ‘Cats will also host Fireworks Fridays, Giveaway Saturdays and Family Sundays.

With few exceptions, RailCats games will start at 7 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons.  Exceptions include a pair of Kids Days at 11 a.m. May 24 and 25, a special 3 p.m. start on Memorial Day, May 31, and the team’s annual Youth and Senior Day, scheduled for Wednesday, July 7 at 11 a.m.

The RailCats open the season with six straight home games, starting with a rematch of the 2008 Northern League Championship Series against the T-Bones, Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m.  Following a weekend full of games versus Kansas City, the RailCats will host their two Kids Days on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 24-25 against one of the Northern League’s two new entrants in 2010, the Rockford RiverHawks.

After a pair of road series, the RailCats come back home to close out the month on Memorial Day, May 31, at 3 p.m. against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.  The special Memorial Day game is the start of another six-game homestand, this time culminating with a three-game series against the expansion Lake County Fielders, who make their first-ever trip to U. S. Steel Yard June 4-6.

One week later, the RailCats will make a bit of history when they will play the first games at the Fielders new ballpark, taking part in the first-ever Northern League games in Zion, Illinois, June 11-13.  The Lake County Fielders, part-owned by actor Kevin Costner, join the RiverHawks to give the Northern League eight teams in 2010.

The RailCats wind down the first half of the season with a third six-game homestand against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and T-Bones.  The homestand begins Monday, July 5 at 7 p.m. when the RailCats will celebrate Independence Day one day later than everyone else, giving ‘Cats fans a chance to experience a Fourth of July at The Steel Yard on July 5.

The Northern League’s annual All-Star Game will be played Wednesday, July 14, and the ‘Cats begin the second half on a seven-game road trip, part of a stretch of 19-of-28 on the road to start the second half.  The silver lining, though, is that the RailCats will be at home most of the last month of the year, including three straight weekends to close out August.

The RailCats longest homestand of the year is nine games – August 13-22 – and is followed four days later by a season-ending six-game stretch at home.  The ‘Cats regular season Steel Yard finale is Thursday, September 2 against the Schaumburg Flyers at 7 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night.  The RailCats then wind down the 2010 regular season the next four days in Joliet, Ill., with the year coming to an end on Labor Day, Monday, September 6.

The RailCats play a very balanced schedule in 2010, with 25 home games in both the first and second half.  The ‘Cats will play 17 games against the expansion Fielders, 15 versus the Flyers, 14 games against the JackHammers, RedHawks and T-Bones, and 13 games with the Goldeyes and RiverHawks.

Season tickets, mini plans and flex packages for the 2010 season are on sale now by calling the RailCats at 219.882.2255.  Single-game tickets will go on sale in 2010.  For more information on the RailCats or to see the complete 2010 schedule, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.