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As the 2013 season winds down, we look ahead to next season as the Senators have released their schedule for 2014.

The Senators begin the 2014 campaign against the Bowie Baysox for the fourth straight season, this time on the road at Prince George’s Stadium. They return to Metro Bank Park for their home opener on Thursday, April 10th versus the Reading Fightin Phils.

New for 2014 is a change to the start times for all of their Saturday night home games. Instead of 7 PM as it has been for a number of years, the games’ first pitch is now slated an hour earlier at 6 PM. Weekday games remain at 7 PM and Sundays continue to be at 2 PM.

There are three Education Days planned (April 16, May 7, and May 29) which will begin at 10:30 in the morning to accommodate busloads of field tripping school children. June 18 and July 14 are established as this season’s Businessperson Specials with a noon game time.

Some highlights of the schedule include a four-game series with Bowie over Memorial Day weekend, a four-game set with Richmond just prior to the July 4th holiday weekend, and the last homestand of the season which features the only appearances by the Red Sox (Portland) and Yankee (Trenton) affiliates at Metro Bank Park.

8/28 UPDATE: I reached out to Kevin Kulp, President of the Senators, regarding the change in start times for Saturday games, “(The) rationale behind Saturday was to be more fan friendly especially to parents with kids.  We figure most are finished with their Saturday activities by then.”

I also breached the possibility of moving up weekday games in April and May as teams like Altoona and Reading do to cater to kids in school and better weather. Kulp replied, “We thought about the other days but we figure our folks need to get home, change, and get back to the park. Starting an hour earlier might not help and might hurt.”