May 4, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The NCAA Division III Softball Committee has announced that Endicott College will be the host for one of seven predetermined first-round sites for the 2009 Division III Softball Championships. Endicott joins DePauw University, Illinois-Wesleyan University, Ithaca College, Ramapo College, Salisbury University, and Simpson College as the host institutions for the first round. The first round of the 2009 Division III Softball Championships begins on May 7th and runs through May 11th. Endicott has been named the No. 4 seed in their region and as the host institution, all regional site games will be played at the Endicott Softball Stadium, located on the Endicott College campus in Beverly, Mass.
The field was announced on Monday, May 4th, and the TCCC Champion Gulls (37-7) have earned the \#4-seed in the bracket, and will matchup against No. 5 Emerson College (39-9). Tufts University (38-1) has earned the \#1 seed in the region and will face No. 8 Husson University (26-14) on Thursday.
In the No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup, Little East Conference Champions Rhode Island College (40-5) plays NEWMAC Champions Springfield College (20-22). Finally, the \#3 seeded Coast Guard (36-5-1) will battle MASCAC Champions Bridgewater State College (28-9) for the right to play the winner of RIC and Springfield.
Seven teams will compete at five first-round sites and eight teams will compete at three first-round sites for a total of eight first-round sites. All sites will use a double-elimination format.
The seven-team first rounds will be held May 7-10 on the campuses of competing institutions. The eight-team first rounds will be held May 7-11 on the campuses of competing institutions. The finals, hosted by Montclair State University, will be held May 15-19 at the Montclair State University Softball Stadium in Montclair, New Jersey.
Thirty-seven conferences received automatic qualification and five independents were selected for the 2009 championship. The 17 remaining teams were selected on an at-large basis from automatic qualifying conferences and the remaining independent institutions.
The Endicott Softball Stadium, completed in 2006, is considered one of the finest playing fields in New England. The stadium features two (2) 10'x 65' bullpens down each line and a 40-foot vertical granite façade in centerfield. The infield consists of a "Fenway Mix" while the outfield turf is Kentucky bluegrass sod. The outfield dimensions are 193' to both left and right field and 203' to center. The stadium also features a Daktronics scoreboard in left field, two custom-made dugouts, and a press box with internet access located above the bleachers behind home plate. The stadium capacity is 550; however bleachers have been placed around the stadium to accommodate for increased attendance.
The NCAA Division III Softball Championship Bracket to be played at Endicott College can be seen by clicking here.
The full NCAA Division III Softball Championship release can be seen by clicking here.
