Coastal Athletic Association baseball tournament

Last updated
Coastal Athletic Association baseball tournament
Conference baseball championship
SportBaseball
Conference Coastal Athletic Association
Number of teams12
Format Double-elimination
Current stadium Brooks Field
Current location Wilmington, NC
Played1986–present
Last contest 2023
Current champion UNC Wilmington
Most championships East Carolina & UNC Wilmington (7)
Official website CAASports.com baseball
Host stadiums
Walter C. Latham Park (2022)
Brooks Field (1989-90, 1993, 2004-2011, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2024)
Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park (2012-13, 2018–19)
CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point (2015–2016, 2023)
Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field (2000-2003)
Grainger Stadium (1995-1999)
Bud Metheny Baseball Complex (1994)
Harrington Field (1986, 1991-92)
The Diamond (1987-88)
Host locations
Elon, NC (2022)
Wilmington, NC (1989-90, 1993, 2004-2011, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2024)
Harrisonburg, VA (2012-13, 2018–19)
Mount Pleasant, SC (2015–2016)
Manteo, NC (2000-2003)
Kinston, NC (1995-1999)
Norfolk, VA (1994)
Greenville, NC (1986, 1991-92)
Richmond, VA (1987-88)

The Coastal Athletic Association baseball tournament, sometimes referred to simply as the CAA Tournament, is the conference baseball championship of the NCAA Division I Coastal Athletic Association (formerly known as the Colonial Athletic Association up through the 2023 season). The top six finishers in the regular season of the conference's twelve baseball teams advance to the double-elimination tournament, whose most recent edition was held in 2023 at The Ballpark at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the off-campus baseball home of the College of Charleston. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.

Contents

Format

The first CAA Tournament in 1986 was a four team double-elimination tournament, with the bottom three finishers not participating. From 1987 through 1993, all six teams participated in a double-elimination tournament. After Old Dominion joined the league in 1992, the last place team did not participate in tournament. The CAA adopted a seven team format in 1994, with the top seed getting a bye and playing the winner of the opening round game between the four and five seeds. This format was used until VCU joined the conference in 1996 and the league adopted a traditional 8 team double-elimination tournament. After the conference shakeup prior to the 2002 season, the league split into divisions and brought six teams to the tournament. The two division champions were automatically in the field as the top two seeds, and the top four remaining finishers were seeded three through six. This format lasted only two years, as Drexel discontinued baseball and the league dropped to nine teams and eliminated divisions. The six team format survived through the 2009 season, and the league used a four team format for 2010 and 2011. The six team format was adopted again in 2012 and maintained through 2019. In the aftermath of the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAA decided to include all 9 teams in the tournament in 2021, with the bottom two seeds participating in a play-in game before the traditional double-elimination tournament. [1] [2]

Champions

By year

The following is a list of conference champions and sites listed by year. [3]

YearProgramSiteMVP, Pos, School
1986 Richmond Harrington Field • Greenville, NC Kevin Sickinger, P/DH, Richmond
1987 East Carolina The Diamond • Richmond, VA Gary Smith, P, East Carolina
1988 George Mason The Diamond • Richmond, VAJohn Styles, P, George Mason
1989 East Carolina Brooks Field • Wilmington, NC Brien Berckman, P, East Carolina
1990 East Carolina Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCCalvin Brown, 1B, East Carolina
1991 East Carolina Harrington Field • Greenville, NCDavid Leisten, OF, East Carolina
1992 George Mason Harrington Field • Greenville, NCChris Widger, C, George Mason
1993 East Carolina Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCLyle Hartgrove, P, East Carolina
1994 Old Dominion Bud Metheny Baseball Complex • Norfolk, VA Matt Quataro, 1B/OF, Old Dominion
1995 Old Dominion Grainger Stadium • Kinston, NC Maika Symmonds, OF/P, Old Dominion
1996 Old Dominion Grainger Stadium • Kinston, NCRon Walker, 3B/P, Old Dominion
1997 Richmond Grainger Stadium • Kinston, NCJohn Wagler, OF, Richmond
1998 Richmond Grainger Stadium • Kinston, NCMike Dwyer, 1B/P, Richmond
1999 East Carolina Grainger Stadium • Kinston, NCJames Molinari, OF, East Carolina
2000 East Carolina Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field • Manteo, NC Lee Delfino, SS, East Carolina
2001 William & Mary Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field • Manteo, NCMike O'Kelly, 1B, William & Mary
2002 VCU Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field • Manteo, NCBrian Marshall, P, VCU
2003 VCU Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field • Manteo, NCMatt Prendergast, P, VCU
2004 UNC Wilmington Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCMatt Poulk, 3B, UNCW
2005 VCU Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCTim St. Clair, 1B/DH, VCU
2006 UNC Wilmington Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCChris Hatcher, C, UNCW
2007 VCU Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCJohn Leonard, P/OF, VCU
2008 James Madison Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCAlex Foltz, OF, James Madison
2009 Georgia State Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCBradley Logan, 3B/1B, Georgia State
2010 VCU Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCJoe Van Meter, 3B, VCU
2011 James Madison Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCJohnny Bladel, OF, James Madison
2012 UNC Wilmington Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VA Jimmy, Yezzo, 1B, Delaware
2013 Towson Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VAZach Fisher, 3B, Towson
2014 College of Charleston Brooks Field • Wilmington, NC Bailey Ober, P, College of Charleston
2015 UNC Wilmington CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point • Mount Pleasant, SC Corey Dick, 1B, UNCW
2016 William & Mary CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point • Mount Pleasant, SCJosh Smith, OF, William & Mary
2017 Delaware Brooks Field • Wilmington, NCJeremy Ake, SS, Delaware
2018 UNC Wilmington Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VACole Weiss, 3B, UNC Wilmington
2019 UNC Wilmington Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VAGreg Jones, SS, UNC Wilmington
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Northeastern Brooks Field • Wilmington, NC [4] Ben Malgeri, OF, Northeastern
2022 Hofstra Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC [4] Brad Camarda, P, Hofstra
2023 UNC Wilmington The Ballpark at Patriots Point • Mount Pleasant, SC Dillon Lifrieri, OF, UNCW

By school

The following is a list of conference champions listed by school. [3]

ProgramNo. of titlesTitle years
East Carolina 7 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000
UNC Wilmington 7 2004, 2006, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023
VCU 5 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010
Old Dominion 3 1994, 1995, 1996
Richmond 3 1986, 1997, 1998
George Mason 2 1988, 1992
James Madison 2 2008, 2011
William & Mary 2 2001, 2016
Charleston 1 2014
Delaware 1 2017
Georgia State 1 2009
Hofstra 1 2022
Northeastern 1 2021
Towson 1 2013

Related Research Articles

The 2012 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia, from May 23 through 26. The top six finishers from the regular season competed in the double-elimination tournament. Top seeded UNC Wilmington won their third title and earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The Mid-American Conference baseball tournament is the conference baseball championship of the Mid-American Conference, Division I members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Since 2024, the top six finishers participate in the double-elimination tournament, which is played at the home field of the top seed. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The tournament began in 1981, but was not held from 1984 through 1991. It returned in 1992 and was held annually through 2019. It was scheduled to be played in May 2020, but was cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of several changes announced in May 2020 related to the pandemic, the tournament was eliminated along with the post-season tournaments of seven other sports, for at least four seasons. The tournament, however, returned in May 2022 after the conference announced in May 2021 that the baseball tournament, along with all other conference tournaments that had been eliminated, would be restored for the 2021–22 athletic season. Kent State has won the most tournament titles with 12, followed by Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan with four each.

The 2013 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia, from May 22 through 25. In the championship game, fourth-seeded Towson defeated second-seeded William & Mary, 5–2, to win its first tournament championship. As a result, Towson earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2015 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, from May 20 through 23. It consisted of the top 6 finishers in the CAA in a double-elimination tournament. UNC Wilmington won their 4th championship and earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2016 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, from May 25 through 28. The event matched the top six teams from the CAA's regular season to determine the conference champion for the 2016 season. William & Mary won their second title, and first in 15 years, and earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2017 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 24 through 27, 2017. Fourth-seeded Delaware won the tournament for the first time and earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2018 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia, from May 23 through 26. The winner of the tournament, UNC Wilmington, earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2019 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia, from May 22 through 25. The winner of the tournament, UNC Wilmington, earned the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1987 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at The Diamond, home field of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, from May 14 through 17. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1987 season. The winner of the tournament, fourth-seeded East Carolina, earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1987 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1989 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field on the campus of UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 12 through 15. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1989 season. The winner of the tournament, second-seeded East Carolina, earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1989 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1990 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field on the campus of UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 11 through 14. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1990 season. Top-seeded East Carolina won the tournament for the third time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1990 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1991 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Harrington Field on the campus of East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina, from May 14 through 17. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1991 season. Third-seeded East Carolina won the tournament for the fourth time, and third in a row, and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1991 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1992 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Harrington Field on the campus of East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina, from May 12 through 16. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1992 season. Top-seeded George Mason won the tournament for the second time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1992 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1993 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field on the campus of UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 19 through 23. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1993 season. Third-seeded East Carolina won the tournament for the fifth time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1993 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 1994 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex on the campus of Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia, from May 18 through 22. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 1994 season. Top-seeded Old Dominion won the tournament for the first time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 1994 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2003 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field in Manteo, North Carolina, from May 21 through 25. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2003 season. Top-seeded VCU won the tournament for the second time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2004 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 26 through 29. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2004 season. Second-seeded UNC Wilmington won the tournament for the first time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2007 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 23 through 26. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2007 season. Third-seeded VCU won the tournament for the fourth time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2008 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 21 through 24. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2008 season. Second-seeded James Madison won the tournament for the first time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

The 2009 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament was held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina, from May 21 through 24. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2009 season. Second-seeded Georgia State won the tournament for the first time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

References

  1. ↑ "2021 Baseball Bracket" (PDF). Colonial Athletic Association. June 23, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  2. ↑ "All Teams Will Compete at CAA Conference Championships in 2020–21". Colonial Athletic Association. June 23, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "2021 Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Colonial Athletic Association. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "UNCW to Host CAA Baseball Championship in 2021, Elon Will Host in 2022". Colonial Athletic Association. May 18, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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