Rainy Season Opener Awaits Howlers, Cannon Ballers

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hill City Howlers and Kannapolis Cannon Ballers will open their 2026 campaigns under threatening skies Thursday at Atrium Health Ballpark, with weather potentially playing a decisive role in the series opener.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT, though the forecast calls for rain and a temperature near 80 degrees. A postponement could force a doubleheader later in the four-game series, which continues through Saturday.

Both teams enter with 0-0 records, looking to reset after difficult ends to their 2025 seasons. The Howlers concluded last year with an 8-2 win at Columbia on Sept. 17, while the Cannon Ballers were shut out 10-0 at Augusta in their finale on Sept. 7.

Hill City will hand the ball to right-hander Joey Oakie, who will make his first start of the season. Kannapolis has not announced its starting pitcher.

Projections for the contest offer a conflicting outlook. The Interstat game simulator predicts a narrow 1-0 victory for the visiting Howlers. However, the same outlet’s ELO rating system gives the Cannon Ballers a 52.7% probability of winning, suggesting a slight home-field advantage.

The game marks the beginning of a long early-season homestand for Kannapolis. Following this series, the Cannon Ballers will host the Hickory Crawdads for six games before hitting the road. The Howlers, after this four-game set, will return home to host the Fredericksburg Nationals for a six-game series starting Tuesday.

Should the weather hold, the matchup will offer the first look at two teams eager to establish a new identity. All eyes will be on the sky and the field at Atrium Health Ballpark as the minor league season aims to get underway.