The Chattanooga Sports Committee and the Chattanooga Lookouts have teamed up to host the 2013 Gulf South Conference (GSC) Baseball Championship Tournament at AT&T Field, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate. The tournament will be held from Thursday, May 2 through Monday, May 6.
The GSC Baseball Tournament will have a new home for the second year in a row. This agreement assures that the tournament remains on neutral ground for the 12th consecutive year, following the 2012 event in Rome, Ga. The league brings its post-season event to the Volunteer State for the 11th time, following a campus site at Tennessee-Martin in 1984 and nine years in Millington, TN (2002-09, 2011).
“I am absolutely thrilled that things worked out with Chattanooga,” said GSC Commissioner Nate Salant. “Baseball has a long and storied history there, and we’re going to one of the legendary minor league ballparks, AT&T Stadium, in a city that loves college sports and has so many other sights and activities. Coaches, players and fans always want ‘destinations’ as the sites of championships, and we’ve delivered one of the best ones in the entire southeast.”
AT&T Field, one of the top Double-A facilities in the nation, opened its doors on April 10, 2000 and features a seating capacity of over 6,300.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the team that’s bringing NCAA D2 Collegiate baseball to Chattanooga. The Gulf South has been a wonderful partner and we hope to continue working with them in the future,” said Tim Morgan, president of the Chattanooga Sports Committee. “Hosting this event will give us the opportunity to showcase our wonderful community to more than 200 people who will leave an estimated economic impact of more than $80,000 over the five days.”
More information on this event, including ticket prices and schedule of events, will be posted on the GSC website soon at www.gscsports.org.
The GSC is home to 30 NCAA Regional and six National Baseball Champions, including the 2011 Division II National Champions, the University of West Florida Argonauts. The GSC has also advanced a team to the NCAA Title Game for three straight years, capped by Delta State University’s Finals berth in 2012.
The Chattanooga Sports Committee is a not-for-profit sports advocacy organization that promotes economic development in the greater Chattanooga area by identifying, pursuing, and facilitating athletic events and meetings. For more information, call 423 756-8689 or www.chattanoogasports.org.