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  JUNIOR COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: A HOMETOWN HOMERUN IN GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
The tournament features 10 teams that have captured their regional division titles (Gulf, Northern, Eastern, Southeastern, East Central, Southwestern, Western and South Central) and takes place at Grand Junction, Colorado's Suplizio Field, an 11,000-seat stadium voted in 1998 as the top amateur baseball facility in the country by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Home to the Mesa State Mavericks Baseball team, Suplizio Field also hosts home games for the area's four high school teams. This stadium has been the home of JUCO for more than 50 years -- the entire run of the tournament. Before its move to Grand Junction, the Junior College
Because of bad weather and an experience that officials knew could be improved, the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce (with assistance from Mesa State, then a junior college) rallied to have the tournament moved to Colorado's beautiful, and dry, Western Slope and Grand Junction. JUCO officials moved the tournament the following year, 1958. Today, the Junior College World Series is your opportunity to see some of the best baseball talents in the country before they make it to the big leagues. Major leaguers Curt Schilling, David Wells and Kirby Puckett all participated in the tournament during their junior college days. And these are just a few of the luminaries who have scrambled and batted on Suplizio Field. "While baseball is what everything is centered around," says JUCO Vice Chairman Bruce Hill, "this is really a family affair, a generational affair. Come out and see the finest amateur players
Many of the players participate in baseball clinics, signings and other events for local and visiting children. One evening, kids ages 7 to 14 are invited to Suplizio Field, where players and coaches from all 10 clubs hold a clinic on baseball technique, followed by an autograph session. Last year, more than 400 children attended this event. "Little leaguers have postponed their games so they can come out to the ball park," explains Jamie Hamilton, JUCO Chairman. "They can get up close [with] a collegiate athlete, and experience what [the athlete is] experiencing. The players get their energy off the young people, and vice versa. It's pretty special." Who: Everyone What: Alpine Bank National Junior College World Series When: Memorial Day weekend, May 28 - June 4, 2011 Where: Suplizio Field, 12th and North Avenue, Grand Junction Why: For the love of the game! |
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