WVU to Participate in BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge (The Sports Addict Network)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 8, 2008) - The West VirginiaUniversity baseball team will open its 2009 season by competing in theinaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge hosted by the St.Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission on Feb. 20-22, API Marketingannounced today. “ This is a cutting-edge concept for Division I baseball,”BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Tranghese said. “It’s a terrificopportunity for our teams to play against great competition in a settingthat’s conducive to high-level collegiate baseball. We’ve held ourbaseball championship in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area twice in thepast three years, so we know that our teams are in for a wonderfulexperience.” The inter-conference competition features 27 games andgives both northern-based conferences the opportunity to start theseason competitively while playing in a warmer climate. “We think it is a great idea,” WVU Head Coach Greg Van Zantsaid. “We’re excited for the opportunity to take part in somethinglike this, and it’s great for college baseball.” The Mountaineers open their season against Indiana on Friday,Feb. 20. They follow with a game on Saturday, Feb. 21, againstMinnesota, and finish with Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 22. Game times andvenues will be announced at a later date. Eight baseball-playing institutions from the 12-team BIG EASTConference will participate in the challenge, including South Florida,Connecticut, Georgetown, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Notre Dame,Cincinnati and WVU. All 10 of the Big Ten’s schools will compete. They includeIowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue,Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Northwestern. There will be eight inter-conference contests daily, with thetwo extra Big Ten teams competing against each other in non-leaguegames. Another highlight of the challenge involves the use of severalquality spring training venues in the St. Petersburg and Clearwaterareas. They include Bright House Field, which holds the 2009 BIG EASTChampionships, as well as Knology Park and Progress Energy Park/Al LangField. “It will be great publicity for BIG EAST and Big Ten collegebaseball,” Van Zant said. “It should be a very excitingcompetition.”

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