|
NEW ORLEANS [March 27, 2024} – Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Baseball is headed back to the City with Soul for the 2024 Hope Credit Union Baseball Championship. Hosted by the Hank Aaron Sports Academy (HASA), the double-elimination tournament takes place April 24 – 28. General admission is $10 and discounted ticket rates are available for those who qualify. Ticket information and purchases are available online via GCAC Baseball Tournament Central.
"Last year's championship was such an exciting time," said GCAC Commissioner Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes. "Hank Aaron Sports Academy and Hope Credit Union are phenomenal partners who work tirelessly to ensure our championship experience is first-class."
Formerly known as Smith-Wills Stadium and former home of the N.Y. Mets and Houston Astros MLB / MiLB teams, the 5,200-seat venue located in Jackson, Miss., is the host venue for the GCAC Baseball Championship through 2025. Originally opening in 1975, the stadium has hosted professional baseball as well as musical concerts. With the addition of field turf, the venue was converted into a true multipurpose facility, able to host a variety of sports and events including football and soccer.
"This is another great opportunity for the City of Jackson and all of the student-athletes," said HASA President and CEO Tim Bennett. "While there can only be one champion in the end, having the tournament here last year proved to be a winner for the City of Jackson and its surrounding communities. We look forward to the same only better this year."
After a decade off, the GCAC relaunched baseball as a championship sport in 2023. Eight teams will be participating in the 2024 tournament: Dillard University, Oakwood University, Philander Smith University, Rust College, Southern University at New Orleans, Talladega College, Tougaloo College, and Wiley University. Dillard took home the 2023 title, shocking the NAIA by winning the tournament in the Bleu Devils' inaugural season of baseball. This year's new kids on the block are the SUNO Knights, who are in their inaugural baseball season.
The championship tournament bracket will be released in the coming weeks. Tickets are available online on the GCAC Baseball Tournament Central website, and all games will be broadcast live on the GCAC Network on HBCU+. Fans can download the app for free on any mobile and streaming television device.
|
