Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 22, 1995 TAG: 9505230046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There were license plates from 12 states on vehicles that brought fans to the Division II softball title game between Bloomsburg (Pa.) and Kennesaw (Ga.) State.
Kennesaw won its first NCAA title in any sport, impressively emerging from the losers' bracket with two wins over the Huskies, 3-0 and 3-2, the clincher in extra innings.
In the parking lot, Pennsylvania beat Georgia in plate appearances, 26-16.
The average crowd per session at the four-day tournament was about 500. Sunday's championship drew 750. Those aren't just fans, but tourist dollars, too.
Sure, it isn't the men's Final Four hoopla before 39,000 in a domed stadium. It's not on CBS for a $1.725 billion contract with 20 minutes of commercials in each hour on the tube.
It is, however, a national championship. To these schools and their student-athletes, it can't be big bucks, but it is a big deal. They'll stuff memories and more into those sport bags Salem presents the players.
They go home, but they'll never forget where they spent the weekend to play what will be the biggest athletic event of most of their lives.
Salem already has solidified its NCAA reputation among out-of-towners with two sold out Stagg Bowls. Those visitors have to bed-and-breakfast somewhere. It's the same in softball, a sport in which it takes most participants a map to find the Roanoke Valley.
No Virginia team has even reached a Division II softball regional in the NCAA's 14 tournaments. The state has only four regional bids - and an 0-8 record - in 14 Division III fields.
Still, Salem seems intent on playing a part in more NCAA finals than John Wooden. The city is locked into at least six more championships through 1997, with more likely headed to what has become the NCAA's most prominent title town.
The eight teams in the NCAA Division III baseball World Series open play Thursday at Municipal Field with teams from North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Ohio.
Division III brought softball to Salem for the first time a year ago and will return next year. The city teamed with Longwood College as a long-distance NCAA sponsor and got Division II this year.
Don't be surprised if it returns - perhaps as soon as next year. Division II doesn't have a site selected for its 1996 tournament, and the quality and operations of the Moyer facility sold itself again.
Carey Harveycutter, Salem's point man for NCAA events, notified NCAA assistant director of championships Deborah Nelson before Sunday's games that the Moyer Complex would be receptive to holding the Division II and III championships on the same weekend next spring.
``We've told them we are willing to do whatever the [NCAA] committees are willing to do,'' Harveycutter said. ``We just want to make sure we keep an NCAA softball event here, on this weekend, every year.''
Harveycutter said what Salem officials may propose is a potential three-year rotation system that would bring Division II and III to town in consecutive years, followed by both tournaments the next year.
The Division II and III softball committee both hold their annual meetings the last week of June in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Nelson, who coordinates both championship events, said the committees are expected to meet with each other at that time.
While there might be concerns about some issues involved in simultaneous championships, it would certainly work on a four-field complex.
Salem could draw twice number the out-of-town visitors, too.
There's a method to what the NCAA calls it March Madness. In Salem, it happens in May and December, too.
by CNB