Get ready to play ball as the Royal Oak Leprechauns gear up for their season opener against the Kalamazoo Growlers on Memorial Day.

The home team is preparing for its second season in the Northwoods League, opening at Memorial Park. With an action packed season planned, the Leprechauns are ready to give their fans a summer of family fun and baseball. The fun will extend beyond opening day and will include various activities throughout opening week beginning with a carnival theme for Monday’s opener.

“We’re going to be selling fresh squeezed lemonade and cotton candy and have some carnival games set up,” said Danny Weiss, Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement for the Royal Oak Leprechauns.Opening week will also consist of two School Day events, Superhero Day, and Bark in the Park.

On June 8 and July 2, the Leprechauns will host Strikeout Cancer, an initiative that began last season with their Nonprofit of the Game program. Partnering with Henry Ford’s Game On Cancer and Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, the Leprechauns will give back to their community through these organizations by highlighting them and helping to raise money for their causes while honoring cancer patients, survivors and their families.

“While we’re still doing the Nonprofit of the Game program this year, we’re also kind of picking one cause to champion this year and that’s gonna be cancer research and cancer patient support,” said Weiss.

Memorial Park is not just home to The Leprechauns. Owner and General Manager Mark Sackett shares a special bond with the facility that inspires a sense of pride and nostalgia.

“We’re playing on a field where I was fortunate enough to coach with my dad as he was on his way to winning a state championship in 1988. It was at Memorial Park,” said Sackett.

DJ LeMahieu, infielder for the New York Yankees and Birmingham Brother Rice alumni, joined as team president and provided a financial boost to help transition the team from its roots in the Irish Hills, near Jackson, Mich., to their home park in Royal Oak.

“He heard about us and found out about us and he stepped up to support us and make this thing work,” said Sackett.

Since the mid 1990’s, the Northwoods League, comprising 24 teams, has had more than 350 players move on to Major League Baseball. The Leprechauns, who compete in the Great Lakes East sub-division of the league, continue to be a beacon for their community at The Lucky Corner.

The games are not just for enthusiasts. With activities between innings for crowd involvement, Leprechaun baseball welcomes the entire community and offers the chance to relax and take in the experience.

“We want to be approachable. We want to be accessible. We want to be affordable. That’s what we strive to do and really just provide a very fun and approachable experience for everyone in the area,” said Weiss. “You don’t necessarily have to be a hard-core baseball fan to enjoy what we’re doing if you just wanna get outside and be a part of the community.”

The Leprechauns will play 36 of their 72-game season at home in Memorial Park. Monday’s opener is set for 6:35 p.m. Single game tickets can be purchased at royal-oak-leprechauns.nwltickets.com/SingleGame/Tickets.