BIG EAST Baseball Championship Moved to Florida
Jan 17 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, NJ - The 2006 BIG EAST Baseball Championship will be held at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, FL, the BIG EAST Conference announced on Tuesday. Home to Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies' Class A affiliate Clearwater Threshers, the stadium will host the tournament from May 23-28.
The BIG EAST Baseball Championship had been held at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, home of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball's Somerset Patriots, for the last six years.
The BIG EAST Baseball Conference increased its membership to 12 teams in 2006 with the addition of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Louisville and the University of South Florida. The league's top eight teams based on regular-season finish in the conference standings will qualify for the double-elimination event. The tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.
"The BIG EAST Conference is extremely excited to be bringing its 2006 Baseball Championship to the beautiful city of Clearwater and to a state-of-the-art facility like Bright House Networks Field," BIG EAST Commissioner Michael Tranghese said. "We are looking forward to our association with the Clearwater Threshers and with an outstanding organization like the Philadelphia Phillies.”
Bright House Networks Field, which opened its doors in 2004, has a capacity of 8,500. The ballpark has a 360-degree main concourse, grass berm seating, and a tiki-hut pavilion in left field. The stadium also includes group picnic areas, a children's play area, and a state-of-the-art video scoreboard.
“The Phillies organization is proud to be associated with the quality programs that represent the BIG EAST Conference,” Director of Operations for the Phillies and Threshers John Timberlake said. “We look forward to showcasing not only our outstanding facilities, but the City of Clearwater and its beautiful island beaches.”
The selection of Clearwater and Bright House Networks Field as the site of the 2006 BIG EAST Baseball Championship was made by the BIG EAST Championship and Competition Committee (CCC), which is empowered by all 16 athletic directors to take action on Olympic sport matters.
Rutgers opens its 2006 season, Friday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. with a three-game series at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. The Scarlet Knights will begin BIG EAST play on Friday, March 24, at 6 p.m. with a three-game series at Louisville in Louisville, KY.
