V-Hawks Set to Compete in Conference Tournament
BISMARK, NS – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)Baseball Conference Tournament's brackets have been released, and the tournament will start on Friday in Dickinson, ND. The double elimination tournament runs through Monday, May 8 with the championship game scheduled for 3:30 p.m. There is an 'if necessary' second championship game on Tuesday, May 9 at 1 p.m.
Viterbo University earned the sixth seed in the tournament with a 15-29 (12-16 NSAA) record. They will play their first game of the tournament on Friday night at 8 p.m. against #3 Waldorf University (Iowa) (21-24, 16-12 NSAA). The V-Hawks and Warriors split their series in the last four games of the regular season.
Bellevue (Neb.), ranked No. 5 in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their fourth consecutive North Star baseball regular-season title on the final regular-season game after defeating Dakota State (S.D.). The Bruins finished their league schedule with a 25-3 record and hold an overall record of 41-8.
Dakota State (S.D.) is the No. 2 seed for the postseason tournament with 34-16 overall record and 24-4 NSAA conference record, and Mayville State is fourth with 14-13 record (20-22 overall record).
Dickinson State is fifth with 12-15 NSAA record (20-26 overall record), followed by Valley City State (N.D.), No. 7 seed at 8-20 NSAA record and 12-32 overall record, ahead of No. 8 Presentation (S.D.) at 0-28 NSAA record and 0-44 overall record.
The tournament continues Saturday with a pair of loser's out games, followed by another pair of games in the winner's bracket.
Three more elimination games are scheduled for Sunday. The remaining undefeated teams will meet on the same day for a spot in the championship game on Monday, May 9. The final elimination game before the championship game is set for Monday, May 8, with the winner advancing to the championship game.
The tournament champion receives the NSAA's automatic berth to the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round, which will be played on May 15-18 on 10 different sites announced by the NAIA national office Monday. The national tournament's opening round winners move on to the Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho on May 26-June 2.
All games are nine (9) innings with 10-run mercy rule after 7 innings. There will be no 10-run rule in the championship game.