Somerset and Southern Maryland swap divisions

(Lancaster, Pa., Nov. 18, 2013) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball today announced the realignments of its Liberty and Freedom Divisions for the 2014 season. The Somerset Patriots, previously in the Freedom Division, will join the Long Island Ducks, Camden Riversharks and Bridgeport Bluefish in the Liberty Division. In a corresponding move, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will move to the Freedom Division, joining the Sugar Land Skeeters, Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution.

“This division alignment prepares the Atlantic League for the creation of the Western Division as teams are added in Texas, and other markets, over the next few years,” said Atlantic League President, Peter Kirk. “It will also create a well-balanced travel schedule and continue to enhance fun, local rivalries amongst the four Liberty Division teams which are within close proximity of one another.”

The Atlantic League continues to be the only professional baseball league in an active expansion mode. Over the next few years, the League plans to expand from eight to 12 teams, which will join the existing teams in the major metropolitan markets of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Houston.

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs is the highest level of professional baseball, other than the Major Leagues. Atlantic League players are experienced professionals, having progressed through the development levels (Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A) and are all “Major League Ready,” with approximately 40{fed8f40cd2a68a8c30440cd209af7e0b5f3e2c8d6275da881303f7d48df340f1} of Atlantic League players having Major League service time. Since the League’s inception in 1998, nearly 30 million fans have attended an Atlantic League game in one of the League’s state of the art ballparks.

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