DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Dragons fans who don't like sitting in the cold should like the baseball club's 2009 schedule.

The Dragons, scheduled to open next season at home on Thursday, April 9, against Great Lakes, play only seven of their 70 home games in April.

"This (schedule) turned out great. We're happy with the number of games we have each month and how it ties in with our strategic planning," said Eric Deutsch, Dragons executive vice president. "Less in April's not bad."

Deutsch said that more open April dates at Fifth Third Field will allow more area high schools to schedule games at the downtown stadium.

The Dragons' busiest month at Fifth Third will be August, when 18 home games are on the team's Midwest League schedule.

How the other months break down: May (16), June (13), July (13), September (3). The Dragons finish the regular season Sept. 7 at Great Lakes.

Deutsch said that season-ticket renewal forms will be mailed out in early October. The price range for a Dragons season ticket is $925 to $1,325.

Renewal rates in recent years have been in the 93-to-95 percent range, Deutsch said.

The Dragons, whose first season in Dayton was 2000, have sold out every home game in franchise history.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2163 or bkollars@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Dragons 2009 home schedule

April

9-11 vs. Great Lakes

21-24 vs. Great Lakes

May

5-7 vs. Clinton

8-10 vs. Kane County

12-15 vs. West Michigan

26-28 vs. Wisconsin

29-31 vs. Cedar Rapids

June

2-5 vs. South Bend

14-17 vs. Lansing

18-21 vs. West Michigan

30-July 3 vs. Fort Wayne

July

15-17 vs. Quad Cities

18-20 vs. Beloit

28-30 vs. Peoria

31-Aug. 2 vs. Burlington

August

3-6 vs. Great Lakes

11-14 vs. West Michigan

20-23 vs. West Michigan

28-31 vs. Lansing

September

2-4 vs. South Bend