The Alameda Merchants are very close to finalizing their 2016 summer schedule. When the new coaching staff met for the first time, they agreed that one of their main objectives would be to make the schedule one of the most difficult in the country in order to challenge their players.

So far, it looks like they have succeeded. The Merchants will play a 55-60 game schedule in 2016 (which will include several split squad games) where the Merchants and the Seals will be playing as two teams on the same day.

The team will be travelling all over the western United States to play some of the top collegiate teams in the nation. The new coaching staff believes this schedule is the most difficult schedule west of the Kansas Jayhawk League.  The Merchants will probably be logging the most airmiles of any collegiate summer team in the country - with games all over the western United States (California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Canada). Any player who plays for the Merchants/Seals this coming summer will be challenged. Here is a glimpse of some of the teams on the schedule:

Healdsburg Prune Packers - A former independent, now a member of the prestigious California Collegiate League (CCL). Coached by Joey Gomes - brother of Kansas City Royals OF Johnny Gomes. The Prune Packers have historically had a Division 1 heavy roster.

Palm Springs Power - The 2015 Southern California Collegiate League Champions. Last season, the Power went 39-13 and beat the Orange County Waves in the Southern California Collegiate World Series.

So Cal Catch - Traditionally strong CCL team who's 2015 roster featured players from Baylor, CSU Bakersfield, Utah, UNLV and Hawaii.

California Expos - Back to back 2014 and 2015 Central Valley Collegiate League Champions.

Menlo Park Legends - Another CCL team that had over half its players come from Division 1 programs (Texas Tech, Purdue, Arkansas Little-Rock, Missouri State, BYU).

San Diego Force - The Merchants will play in San Diego's annual tournament in late June. They were the SCCBL regular season champs in 2015 with a record of 14-4-2. They finished the season 40-8-2.

Humboldt Crabs - The oldest independent collegiate summer team in America. Last season, the Crabs sported a 41-9 record and won their own Humboldt Invitational Tournament with a 5-0 record.

Redding Colt 45's - Traditionally strong independent collegiate team with Division 1 heavy roster (Utah, Sacramento State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, UC Davis, UOP).

Wenatchee Applesox - Strong West Coast League (WCL) team that had 14 Division 1 players on its roster in 2015 (UCLA, UC Irvine, Seattle U, Gonzaga, Nevada-Reno, Oregon State).  

Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament - This annual tournament that is played in British Columbia, Canada was won last year by the NBC World Series Champion Seattle Studs.

Keep an eye out - the final schedule for the 2016 Merchants will be out SOON!!