KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The NAIA has announced the host sites for the 2009 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round, scheduled for May 12-15. Out of a pool of 15 potential hosts, nine were selected based on standards set by the National Administrative Council (NAC) and the hosts' geographic location.
 


The winner of the MCC Baseball Tournament will receive the conference's only automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

This marks the first year of an opening round format in NAIA baseball. Five teams are designated to compete at each site in a double-elimination format. The announcement of all 46 teams, including Avista-NAIA World Series host Lewis-Clark State College, will be made on Friday, May 8.
 
All nine Opening Round winners, in addition to Lewis-Clark State, will advance to the 2009 Avista-NAIA World Series from May 22-29 in Lewiston, Idaho. Lewis-Clark State, the defending national champion, holds a NAIA record of 16 national championship titles including the last three straight.
 
"These hosts were selected because they have a history of hosting quality NAIA events both at the conference and national level," said NAIA Manager of Championship Sports Scott McClure. "This new format allows top-rated teams from the same conferences to play at different opening round tournaments and then for the best teams to advance to Lewiston.
 
"We look forward to working with the hosts in this exciting, new chapter of NAIA baseball."
 
For a breakdown of the Opening Round, click here.
For more information on the Avista-NAIA World Series, click here.
 
Baseball National Championship Opening Round Host Sites
Group 1 - Lubbock Christian University; Lubbock, Texas
Group 2 - Oklahoma City University; Oklahoma City, Okla.
Group 3 - Southern States Athletic Conference; Mount Berry, Ga. (Berry College)
Group 4 - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Daytona Beach, Fla.
Group 5 - Lee University; Cleveland, Tenn.
Group 6 - Azusa Pacific University; Azusa, Calif.
Group 7 - William Carey University; Hattiesburg, Miss.
Group 8 - Lindenwood University; St. Charles, Mo.
Group 9 - Sioux City, Iowa/Great Plains Athletic Conference