Tabor to host NAIA first-round tournament at Hutchinson field

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 17 April 2012 14:59

For the first time in school history, Tabor College has been selected to host an opening round of the NAIA baseball tournament. The games will be played at Hobart-Detter field in Hutchinson May 10-14. Rusty Allen, vice-president of intercollegiate athletics, made the announcement Monday.

“We are honored to be able to host an opening round of the 2012 NAIA baseball tournament,” Allen said. “This speaks well not only of Tabor College and the progress of our baseball program but of baseball in the KCAC as a whole.”

Nine different host sites were selected for the opening round of the NAIA tournament, with each hosting five teams that will participate in a double-elimination event. The announcement of the field of 46 tournament qualifiers will be May 6.

Tabor baseball coach Mark Standiford called the announcement “a great day for both Tabor College and Tabor baseball.”

He added, this is a nice reward for the players’ hard work on the field and shows the commitment Tabor College has made to the success of the baseball program.”

The opening round site selection process takes into account: qualification, minimum bid, facilities and geography.

Other host sites include: Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University: Marion, Ind.; Paducah, Ky.; Kingsport, Tenn.; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Calif.; and University of South Carolina Beaufort, Bluffton; and Okla­homa City University; and Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn.

The nine site champions join host Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) to make up the field at the 2012 Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. May 25 through June 1.