Medford faces Seattle Studs on Thursday in first of 53 regular-season games, with 40 of first 41 at Harry & David Field

Playing an abundance of home games at Harry & David Field has been the norm over the past few summers for the Medford Rogues, but this year’s schedule is on another level.

The collegiate wood-bat summer baseball program enters its 13th season Thursday night against the Seattle Studs for the first of 53 regular-season games on the schedule — with an incredible 40 home dates and one neutral site contest in Roseburg among its first 41 outings.

“We wanted to get as many home games in as we possibly can, as early as we can,” said Rogues co-owner Dave May, who is in his ninth year with the franchise. “It’s kind of a tall task for our team, both on and off the field, but it’s one we’re looking forward to. We’re really excited about bringing that many games here and playing a high level of baseball here in Southern Oregon.”

Thursday’s first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Harry & David Field, with gates opening at 5:45 p.m.

Single-game ticket pricing on regular game nights range from $10 (general admission bleachers) to $13 (strike zone seating).

The exceptions are for half-price nights on Tuesdays — and Wednesdays for Rogue Credit Union members — as well as on Sundays, when general admission tickets are free (yes, free).

Besides ticket prices, May said concession prices remain the same as last year.

“We’re hoping that pays off and people see the value in coming out to the ballpark,” said May, “and want to bring their family out for what I would consider super affordable entertainment, especially on a Tuesday or Sunday when tickets are very affordable and/or free.”

May said the Rogues have seen an increase in season ticket holders (369 as of Tuesday), and this season will also be live streaming games on YouTube in an effort to broaden the fan base and provide broadcast opportunities for the families of players who aren’t local and unable to attend games.

The first of six postgame fireworks displays will also be Friday in Game 2 of the four-game series with Seattle.

On the field, the Rogues will have a new look after manager Kevin Olmstead was hired in the offseason. Olmstead has served as an assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator at Oregon Tech for five seasons after two seasons in a similar role at Lassen Community College.

“I think coach Olmstead has a lot of energy, and, generally, that energy will show through the players as well,” said May. “They see somebody energetic and excited, they’re going to be energetic and excited at the same time. I’m excited to see what that brings and what that kind of holds for us this summer.”

Olmstead takes over a Medford program that accumulated a 27-20 record and finished fourth during the inaugural season of the Pacific Empire League, which concluded with the Healdsburg Prune Packers topping the Lincoln Potters in the championship series.

“We kind of know what we’re getting into this time,” said May of competing in the PEL. “Last year, we were shooting from the hip a little bit. A lot of the teams we hadn’t played before, and we didn’t know the style of players that they tend to recruit. This year, looking at their rosters and looking at our rosters, I think we match up pretty well.”

A handful of Rogues players return from last year’s squad, including players with local ties like Medford’s Frankie Rutigliano and Aiden Horsley and Troy Osborne and Caughlin Shults of Grants Pass.

Area newcomers include Medford’s Kaleb Long and Central Point’s Caleb Randolph.

This year’s cast includes fewer Division I players than maybe in years past, but some of that was by design. As part of that benefit, a bulk of the Rogues’ roster has been in town and already practicing, allowing for Medford to hit the ground running a little more than when Division I players typically only become available in the middle of June.

It’s a roster that may not have players with the Division I resume of, say, Healdsburg, but one that stands to be hungry to prove themselves during the summer season.

“They’re going to have a lot of guys from SEC schools and Big 12 and, you know, some of these power conferences,” May said of PEL stalwarts like the Prune Packers or Potters, “and we went after what I’m describing as dirt dogs. A lot of the junior college All-Americans, Division II All-Americans, and the NAIA All-Americans.”

“We have a little bit less of a Division I presence, but that doesn’t necessarily mean good or bad or any of those things,” he added. “We wanted hard-nosed players — guys that are going to slide hard into bases and run the bases hard. We got guys that are going to dive in the infield and make a play, so we’re really excited about the group of guys that we have.”

Only two of the six PEL teams make it to the championship series, and May said he’s confident the Rogues can be in the mix for one of those spots. The other PEL programs are the Humboldt Crabs, Solano Mudcats and West Coast Kings.

“I think we have the talent and I think we have the coaches, so we have just as good a shot as anybody else,” May said of the Rogues’ playoff prospects.

For tickets or more info on the Rogues, go to medfordrogues.com or call 541-973-2883.

Reach sports editor Kris Henry at kris.henry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035