WALNUT CREEK – The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), in partnership with the Stockton Sports Commission, will hold the 2010 CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament at the University of Pacific’s Klein Family Field in Stockton, commissioner Robert J. Hiegert announced on Wednesday.
The double-elimination tournament, which will be held May 6-8, will pit the top four teams in the CCAA’s final regular-season standings with the winner being tabbed the conference’s tournament champion and automatic entrant into the NCAA Division II Tournament.
It will mark the second consecutive year that the CCAA Tournament will be held at a pre-determined neutral site. The 2009 tournament was held at Palm Springs Stadium in Palm Springs.
“The CCAA is excited to partner with the City of Stockton and the Stockton Sports Commission to hold its baseball championship at UOP’s Klein Family Field,” Hiegert said. “The Stockton Sports Commission and the City of Stockton have been supportive of the CCAA, and the member institutions enjoyed their experience in the city during the 2009 softball championships.
“Stockton serves as a centrally-located destination for our institutions and the membership is excited to stage the baseball championship at a first-class facility such as Klein Family Field,” Hiegert added. “We also appreciate the support of UOP and its willingness to offer us its facility.”
“The Sports Commission is proud to host for the first time the CCAA Baseball Championship,” Stockton Sports Commission Director Don Miller said. “We are looking forward to hosting our first event at UOP’s Klein Family Field. It is a first-class facility that will really showcase the quality of play of this tournament.”
“Stockton is fast becoming a sports destination and having this event in our All-America City is a major accomplishment that adds to our list of first-class sports events,” Miller added.
Next spring’s tournament will mark the 12th CCAA postseason tournament and UC San Diego enters 2010 as the defending regular-season and tournament champion.
The 2010 CCAA Baseball Tournament will open on Thursday, May 6, with games scheduled for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Three games, including two elimination contests, are slated for Friday, May 7, with game times of 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The championship game will be played on Saturday May 2, beginning at noon. A possible second title game, if necessary, will follow 30 minutes later.
For more information, visit the CCAA website at www.goccaa.org.
Klein Family Field
Klein Family Field, the first on-campus home for the Pacific Baseball team since 1951, officially opened on April 18, 2006 as the Tigers defeated Nevada, 8-3. Klein Family Field was made possible by a generous donation from the Klein family.
Family patriarch Sol Klein came to Stockton in 1917 and soon became known as the father of youth baseball here. He established a 16-team grammar school league, donating uniforms and equipment to poor children; helped found Little League Baseball in Stockton and was one of the founders and first president of the Stockton Baseball Club, now the Stockton Ports. His son, Bud Klein, played baseball for Pacific and then Stanford before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1950. While Bud did not pursue a major league baseball career, he has brought the University great honor by entrusting to it the education of numerous family members
Bob Corkern, a spokesman for the Klein family, says the gift to Pacific’s baseball program is prompted as much by their enthusiasm for the University as it is their love of the game.
University of the Pacific Director of Athletics Lynn King believes the community will also benefit from the new baseball complex. Summer camps and youth leagues will be able to use the facilities when not used by the University, and the ability to host college tournaments and playoffs is expected to bring economic benefits to local business.
Klein Family Field has a capacity of 2,500 spectators. The field dimensions are 317 feet down the left field line, 380 feet at the left field power alley, 395 feet to straightaway center field, 367 feet at the right field power alley and 325 feet down the right field line.
Stockton Sports Commission
The Sports Commission has joined the City of Stockton to bring new sporting events and tournaments to the area. Our intention is to also retain and enhance the many events Stockton has been hosting over the years.
The goal of the commission is to enhance Stockton’s image, provide entertainment for the community and visitors, and contribute to the quality of life in the Stockton area.
The Commission’s job is made easier by Stockton’s great weather, the City’s excellent athletic facilities (including the Stockton Arena and Ballpark, the University of the Pacific, and Delta College), our central location to other points of interest in California and the strong support of the business community in providing quality sporting events.
City of Stockton
Welcome to Stockton California! Located on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the perfect location to stay during your Northern California visit. Referred to as “a surprisingly exotic destination” by Via Magazine (AAA), Stockton welcomes you with wonderful shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities.
A long-time arts city, Stockton features wonderful live theatre, premier musical performances, multiple art galleries, and a world-renowned museum. With four professional sports teams playing hockey, soccer, football and baseball at our Downtown Stockton Events Center, you can always find a family-friendly game to attend.
More than twenty hotels are available to accommodate your stay and a rich variety of restaurants are sure to please your palate. So take a stroll down the Miracle Mile, enjoy world-class farmers markets or sip zinfandel in the surrounding Lodi wine region and enjoy your stay in Stockton.