ROUND ROCK, Texas — The Round Rock Express was granted a temporary expansion team in the Texas Collegiate League (TCL) for the 2020 season, the state’s first major collegiate summer wood bat league.
The team is dubbed the Round Rock Hairy Men in a nod to the area’s local urban legend. The TCL has expanded to field 10 teams for the 2020 season, each made up of active collegiate players competing in a 30-game regular season that runs from June 30 until Aug. 2.
Round Rock opens the 2020 TCL season with a six-game road trip. The league’s Opening Day was Tuesday, June 30, with the Hairy Men meeting the Brazos Valley Bombers for a three-game series at Travis Field in Bryan, Texas. After that, Round Rock heads to the Texas Panhandle for a three-game slate against the Amarillo Sod Dogs at Hodgetown Stadium, home of the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
The home opener at Dell Diamond is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, at 7:05 p.m. as the Victoria Generals come to town for a three-game battle. The first 500 fans through the gates at Dell Diamond on Tuesday, July 7 will receive a replica Houston Astros 2019 American League Championship ring, courtesy of Dell Technologies.
On Thursday, July 9, the first 500 fans to see the Hairy Men take on the Generals will receive a Josh Reddick bobblehead.
Up next, Round Rock and San Antonio take their decades-old rivalry from Minor League Baseball to the TCL. The six-game season series features a unique format where each team alternates home games during a pair of three-game sets. The Round Rock Hairy Men host the San Antonio Flying Chanclas on Saturday, July 11; Friday, July 31; and Sunday, Aug. 2. Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium – home of the San Antonio Missions, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers – will host the rivalry games on Friday, July 10; Sunday, July 12; and Saturday, Aug. 1.
Round Rock’s longest homestand of the season begins on Tuesday, July 14, with a three-game bout against the Acadiana Cane Cutters before the Sod Dogs come barking for a three-game weekend series on Friday, July 17.
The Hairy Men then head south to Riverside Stadium in Victoria for a three-game slate against the Generals on Tuesday, July 21, before the team’s lone trip to Louisiana for a series against the Cane Cutters at Fabacher Field in Youngsville beginning on Friday, July 24.
The final homestand of the year launches Tuesday, July 28, with a three-game set against Brazos Valley prior to the conclusion of the season series against San Antonio.
RELATED: Round Rock Hairy Men cancel final two games after members of team test positive for COVID-19
The TCL playoffs are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The top two teams in each division will meet in a three-game divisional series, hosted by the higher seed, followed by a one-game, winner-take-all championship for the Gerald Haddock Trophy on Saturday, Aug. 8.
All Monday through Saturday Hairy Men home games will begin at 7:05 p.m. while all Sunday home games will start at 6:05 p.m.
Round Rock’s full 2020 schedule is below:
**Home games are depicted in BOLD**
Round Rock Hairy Men record: 15-11
- June 30 at Brazos Valley Bombers - 9-4 L
- July 1 at Brazos Valley Bombers - 6-3 L
- July 2 at Brazos Valley Bombers - 10-3 W
- July 3 at Amarillo Sod Dogs - 8-5 W
- July 4 at Amarillo Sod Dogs - 7-6 W
- July 5 at Amarillo Sod Dogs - 10-3 L
- July 7 vs. Victoria Generals - 19-3 W
- July 8 vs. Victoria Generals - 4-2 W
- July 9 vs. Victoria Generals - 12-1 W
- July 10 at San Antonio Flying Chanclas - 7-2 L
- July 11 vs. San Antonio Flying Chanclas - 14-3 L
- July 12 at San Antonio Flying Chanclas - 6-1 L
- July 14 vs. Acadiana Cane Cutters - 4-3 W
- July 15 vs. Acadiana Cane Cutters - 8-5 L
- July 16 vs. Acadiana Cane Cutters - 3-0 W
- July 17 vs. Amarillo Sod Dogs - 2-1 L
- July 18 vs. Amarillo Sod Dogs - 4-2 L
- July 19 vs. Amarillo Sod Dogs - 6-5 W
- July 21 at Victoria Generals - 10-2 W
- July 22 at Victoria Generals - 10-8 W (11 innings)
- July 23 at Victoria Generals - 10-6 W
- July 24 at Acadiana Cane Cutters - 3-0 L
- July 25 at Acadiana Cane Cutters - 10-0 W
- July 26 at Acadiana Cane Cutters - 8-5 L
- July 28 vs. Brazos Valley Bombers - 11-6 W
- July 29 vs. Brazos Valley Bombers - 5-0 W
- July 30 vs. Brazos Valley Bombers
- July 31 vs. San Antonio Flying Chanclas - rained out
- Aug. 1 at San Antonio Flying Chanclas - canceled
- Aug. 2 vs. San Antonio Flying Chanclas - canceled
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