ISU Co-Hosts 2nd Annual State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championship

Oct. 1, 2009

Day One Pool Play Schedule

NORMAL, Ill. -

 

The Illinois State softball team, along with the Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission and the Town of Normal Parks and Recreation, will co-host the second annual State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championship Saturday and Sunday at Champion Fields in Normal, Ill. The tournament will feature 10 NCAA Division I softball teams from the State of Illinois as well as two junior colleges.

"This is just a great event," said Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer. "When as many Division I teams get together as we are going to have this weekend, I think it's a great venue for the community to come out and watch the talent around our state. We have teams coming who have done well in the Women's College World Series. We have some conference champions represented, and we have former Olympians coaching some of the teams. I just think it's a great way to learn about the sport of fast-pitch softball."

Participating teams for the event include Bradley, DePaul, Eastern Illinois, Heartland Community College, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Lake Land College, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois Carbondale, Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Western Illinois.

"We are very excited to host this tournament again this year," said Matt Hawkins, sports marketing manager of the Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission and ICC Tournament Director. "The inaugural event was a huge success, and we look forward to starting a tradition for bragging rights in the state of Illinois. We couldn't put on this tournament without the outstanding efforts of our tournament committee, and staffs at Normal Parks and Recreation and Illinois State Athletics."

The Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission is a branch of the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Tournament play begins Saturday (Oct. 3) at noon with pool play, while Sunday will feature bracket play that will be determined following Saturday's results. Tickets for adults are 20 dollars for the weekend or 12 dollars per day. Tickets for youth and seniors are 12 dollars for the weekend or 8 dollars per day. Children age five and under are free. A concession ticket valued at one dollar will be included with each admission purchased. Tournament passes will receive two concession tickets.

Illinois State will begin action in the tournament with a 2:30 p.m. game against Northern Illinois, followed by a 5 p.m. contest against Illinois.

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