Bravehearts, back in Worcester, to begin May 26

Photo | Grant Welker The Worcester Bravehearts play at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field at the College of the Holy Cross.

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By Grant Welker

The Worcester Bravehearts will be back in their home city this year and will be returning as one of Worcester's two hometown baseball teams.

The Bravehearts will play their first home game at Fitton Field at the College of the Holy Cross on May 26 after having played in Leominster last season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Holy Cross didn't allow for events on its campus, so the team instead played at Doyle Field in Leominster, unofficially without any fans because of gathering restrictions.

Now that the team is back, they'll be joined by the Worcester Red Sox, who are scheduled to begin playing games at the $160-million Polar Park oublic baseball stadium starting May 11. The Bravehearts, who regularly are among the nation's top draws for attendance among collegiate summer league teams, have committed to a future in Worcester despite suddenly being the city's second most famous baseball team. This is their eighth season in Worcester following a series of other baseball teams through the years.

The Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England will play a 68-game season, 12 more than in past seasons. Among the league's new teams are the Norwich Sea Unicorns in Connecticut and the Vermont Lake Monsters, which both lost their Major League Affiliation in a off-season shuffle of the minor league system this winter. The Bravehearts' season will run through Aug. 13.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Tuesday he was loosening gathering restrictions, including at stadiums, which will now have a 25% capacity.