Baseball’s version of the NCAA Tournament is quite the underrated event and it kicks off today with four days of pure fun. 64 teams make it as the field is comprised of conference winners and at-large teams. They are split into 16, four-team groups in what are called the “Regionals” and it is double elimination style. Everyone has a chance and it’s day-long action that is enhanced by weather delays and ESPN’s Squeeze Play with great whiparound’s and multi-view boxes. The winner of each Region goes on to a Best-of-3 Super Regional the following weekend (highest seed host) and the winners then make up the Omaha 8 at the College World Series. I’ve grown to love the Tournament and just as enjoyable is the season-long chase to be a Regional Host. Each of the 16 groups are seeded 1-4 and the top seed gets to host that Regional in their ballpark (assuming they put in a bid and it meets specs). Even the ‘little’ guy can qualify to be a host as they don’t get screwed by never having opportunities during the regular season. Mid-week, non-conference games along with even the Power 4 coming to them on occasion provides those chances for a high RPI if you have a great season. Santa Barbara hosted last year, Indiana State in ’23, Georgia Southern in ’21 and Stetson in ’18. This year it didn’t pan out for those that I follow so dearly (Irvine was close), but there are 5 Regional Hosts that I’ve made ballpark visits to in the past. In case you are following along this weekend and are interested in a little more about these places, click the links below for the detailed write-up of the 5 out of 16 I’ve been to:
Boshamer Stadium – North Carolina…Great ballpark, though a little cookie-cutter and generic. Green seats and the brick façade / design makes me think of the over-copied late 90s minor-league parks. C’mon, give me more Carolina Blue! Still it’s a high-quality stadium and one that featured an incredible memorabilia room.
Pete Taylor Field – Southern Miss…Despite some rude treatment at Leatha’s (since closed), the rest of our visit to Hattiesburg was fine. It’s a simple college town, but with enough good food elsewhere to enjoy regional cooking. Pete Taylor Field is a basic facility and the bleacher seating is less than ideal. But the place has character. Trucks tailgating all down The Grove is pretty cool and the Eagles have a great fan base too.
PK Park – Oregon Ducks…To be fair, I didn’t see the Ducks, I saw the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League. Great ballpark and I love me a steep seating bowl. It makes for excellent sightlines and there’s enough of a roof covering here to help with typical Oregon Spring. They also had a great beer selection and hopefully they have that for the Ducks too.
Plainsman Park – Auburn Tigers…It seemed like there were 50 small sections that made up the seating bowl. Nothing wrong with that, just was notable. They’ve renovated this since we visited several years ago and the seamless integration of the section/building down the first base line as a club was well done. They have a “Green Monster” here, which is contrived and probably not necessary. Otherwise, real solid stadium and it’s an SEC fanbase, which means pretty good and passionate.
UFCU Disch-Falk Field – Texas Longhorns…Old-school in a way that I like as the long overhang covers many of the seats that simply go up from the outfield. More stadium than ballpark, I still liked it and all the Longhorn traditions enhance the experience.
Stadium and Arena Visits 