FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
(540) 365-4306

May 1, 2007


Ferrum Selected to Host '07 NCAA Baseball Regional

FERRUM, Va. - Ferrum College received word from the National Collegiate Athletic Association that it had been selected to host a 2007 Division III baseball regional May 16-20.

NCAA Division III Baseball Liaison Kristen Fasbender informed Ferrum officials of the decision on Monday, April 30th.  According to Fasbender, the regional Ferrum will host could have anywhere from four to seven teams, but it is likely it will be a six- or seven-team event.  The 2007 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship site can be reached at the link below.

     www.ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/schedules/diviii

Although this is Ferrum's first opportunity to host on campus, this is actually the second time the school has hosted a baseball regional.  The Panthers hosted a baseball regional in May of 2004 at Hooker Field in Martinsville, Virginia.  The Panthers failed to earn the USA South Athletic Conference's automatic qualifier and were not selected for the playoffs that year, but chose to co-host the event with the city of Martinsville anyway. 

In the 2004 regional, Salisbury University and Methodist University advanced to the finals and were through two innings when a hail storm tore up Hooker Field.  When the storm subsided, the field was completely unplayable.  The NCAA approved a change of venue and the remaining seven innings were played a few hours later on the Ferrum campus.  Salisbury would eventually win the title and advance to the Division III World Series.

Ferrum is making its 10th trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs, (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2005, 2007).  All 10 appearances have been under Head Coach Abe Naff, who announced April 19th his intention to retire from coaching at the end of the season.  Naff will continue in his role as Director of Athletics, a post he has filled since January of 2004.

For more information, please contact Ferrum College Sports Information Director Gary Holden at (540) 365-4306 or gholden@ferrum.edu.

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