The Lowell Spinners (short season A; NY-Penn League) and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell will host the America East Baseball Championship at LeLacheur Park for the next four years, from 2014-2107.
The ballpark first hosted the 2013 championship, which led to Binghamton University capturing the title.
“We are thrilled to have received a long-term commitment from the America East Conference to bring their prestigious tournament to LeLacheur Park,” said Spinners President and General Manager Tim Bawmann. “It is a great opportunity for baseball fans to prepare for the Spinners season with top flight competition and a trip to the NCAA regionals on the line.”
The 2013 tournament featured a number of players who ended up finishing their 2013 season in professional baseball, including Portsmouth, NH native Michael Fransoso. The Maine alum played in the tournament for the Black Bears and returned to LeLacheur Park as a member of the Jamestown Jammers later in the summer after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Committing to LeLacheur Park for the next four years continues to build the brand of our America East baseball and enhances the experience for our student-athletes,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “LeLacheur Park is a first-class minor league facility that produced a great atmosphere for our teams and fans in 2013. It is in a perfect location for our fans and institutions, offering all the amenities, plus much more, for our championship.”
The venue, which also acts as the home site for America East member UMass-Lowell, was built between a partnership with the city of Lowell and the University of Massachusetts Lowell and offers views of the Aiken Street Bridge and Lawrence Mills.
The top four teams in the America East regular-season will advance to the 2014 America East Baseball Championship. 2012 champion Stony Brook became the first America East team to qualify for the College World Series since the conference started sponsoring the sport in 1990 after advancing through the regional round before moving on to the Super Regionals where the Seawolves upset perennial power LSU.
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