Release prepared by Adam Aurand, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Lancaster Barnstormers

LANCASTER, Pa.—Pennsylvania’s top college baseball conference will hold its 2008 championship in Lancaster.  Clipper Magazine Stadium will play host to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) baseball championship April 30 to May 3.

Clipper Magazine Stadium is the home of the Lancaster Barnstormers, a professional baseball team that plays in the Atlantic League.  The eight-team league was founded in 1998 and features organizations in five states along the northern portion of the East Coast.

This year's site is considered among Pennsylvania's finest ball parks.  Finished in 2005, Clipper Magazine Stadium was constructed at a cost of nearly $25 million and features numerous modern amenities.  With over 6,000 seats, its other highlights include over 20 sky boxes, on-site parking, a kids play area and multiple concession areas.  

For more information, view the Barnstormers Web site at:
www.lancasterbarnstormers.com

Six teams from the 12-team league qualify for the double-elimination tournament, and the winner earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II playoffs.  Well-represented at the national level, PSAC schools have combined to win 15 of the last 17 regional titles, advancing to play in the Division II College World Series.  Last year, Kutztown University was one of a select group of northern schools to earn a No. 1 ranking during the regular season.  Another, Mansfield University, claimed that honor in 1995 and had the league's highest-ever showing with a national runner-up spot in 1992. 

“PSAC baseball has proven to be highly competitive nationally, and we expect to see some great baseball over these four days,” Barnstormers general manager Kevin Cummings said.  “Perhaps we’ll even see a future Barnstormers player on the field.”

The PSAC has produced some 40 Major League players in its history, most notably Clarion University graduate Pete Vuckovich, the 1982 Cy Young Award winner with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The PSAC baseball championships have previously been played at Bowman Field in Williamsport mid- and late-1990s), Altoona’s Blair County Ballpark (2000), Bear Stadium in Boyertown (2001-03) and the Shaner Sports Complex near State College (2004-06).  Last year, the conference tournament was held at Slippery Rock University. 

All seating for the tournament at Clipper Magazine Stadium will be general admission.  The purchase of one $7 ticket will admit a fan to all games played that day.

The PSAC consists of the 14 schools in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.  Those institutions are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.  Twelve teams are vying for postseason berths, as Cheyney and Edinboro do not sponsor baseball.

The tournament schedule is listed below:

Wednesday, April 30
Game 1 - 4 p.m.
Game 2 - 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 1
Game 3 - 9 a.m.
Game 4 - noon
Game 5 - 3 p.m.
Game 6 - 6 p.m.
Friday, May 2
Game 7 - noon
Game 8 - 3:30 p.m.
Game 9 - 7 p.m. 
Saturday, May 3
Game 10 - 1 p.m.
Game 11 (if necessary) - 4:30 p.m.