Ball State University Athletics
MAC To Stage 2008 Baseball Tournament At Chillicothe
April 02, 2008 | Baseball
Courtesy of:
The Mid-American Conference
CLEVELAND ? For the first time since 1982, and for only the second time in league history, the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament will be held at a neutral site when this year's event is staged at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.
The tournament field will also be expanded to eight teams for the first time ever. The prior tournament field consisted of six teams in a double-elimination tournament. The new format will feature a bracket of two pools, with the winner of each double-elimination pool meeting in a one-game, winner take all championship game. The bracketing reflects the College World Series format as played in Omaha.
"This is an exciting step for MAC baseball," said MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst. "We appreciate the enthusiasm shown by the Chillicothe Paints organization and by the entire community to showcase our schools and student-athletes."
Home to the Chillicothe Paints Professional Baseball Club of the Frontier League, VA Memorial Stadium seats 4,000 and features a Field Turf playing surface. The championship will run from May 21-24. Chillicothe is located approximately an hour south of Columbus. There will also be a Mid-American Conference Tournament Celebration open to all players, staff, parents and fans to be held Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30 PM.
The only other neutral site MAC baseball championship was held in 1982 at Trautman Field in Columbus. Columbus, at that time, was the headquarters city for the MAC office. All other 18 league tournaments have been on campus sites with the No. 1 seed serving as host. Last year's event, won by Kent State, was hosted by Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
VA Memorial Stadium has hosted several college games this year, including a doubleheader between MAC member Ohio University and Big Ten member Purdue.
Information on the Chillicothe Paints organization and VA Memorial Stadium can be accessed at the web site at chillicothepaints.com.
Comments from Chillicothe Paints' Organization
Dr. Chris Hanners ? Paints' Owner
"The Chillicothe Paints Organization and all of southern Ohio are obviously very honored to host the Mid-American Conference's 2008 Baseball Championship. We look at this opportunity as a way to showcase "Ohio's First Capital" and I'm positive our community will embrace the MAC with open arms. We will work relentlessly to make this a long term win-win situation, not only for southern Ohio, but for each participating university."
Bryan Wickline - Paints' Vice President and General Manager
"After speaking with MAC baseball officials and coaches, we felt our facility and our community was the perfect place to host an expanded eight-team tournament. A neutral site for the tournament was very important to the Conference in terms of planning and travel. We will provide a first-class tournament and atmosphere that the student-athletes and staffs of each school will never forget."
Bill Lee - Frontier League Commissioner
"The Frontier League is extremely pleased that the Chillicothe Paints and VA Memorial Stadium is hosting the MAC Baseball Tournament. The MAC Championship is the caliber of tournament that adds more creditability to our clubs and to the quality of the facilities we have in our league."
