OZARK—The City of Ozark has been selected as the host site for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) baseball tournament that represents 13 historically black colleges and universities from throughout the southern states, including three colleges in Alabama.
Ozark Leisure Services Director Steve Sherrill said the three-year contract begins with the first tournament held at Eagle Stadium Thursday, April 26, through Sunday, April 29, with the top four teams from each division of the 13 institutions coming to play an eight-team double-elimination tournament.
Alabama colleges in the tournament include Miles College in Birmingham, Stillman College in Tuscaloosa and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee.
In addition to offering an economic boost to Ozark and neighboring communities as a result of hotel stays, retail and restaurant sales, Sherrill said the tournament will give local athletes the opportunity to experience a Division 2 baseball tournament in the city, as well as give the college coaches familiarity with the local students.
“We have some talented basketball, baseball and football players locally. This is a great benefit for our community to educate the institutions on who we are and where we are, and hopefully it will open up some doors and avenues for our kids,” he said.
Sherrill said this year will likely be the first in which the city has hosted the SIAC tournament, though Eagle Stadium has been home to other tournaments, including an Alabama Community College Conference championship tournament.
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