Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament

Collegiate baseball tournament

Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament

Conference baseball championship
Sport| Baseball
Conference| Sun Belt Conference
Number of teams| 10
Format| Double-elimination tournament
Current stadium| Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium
Current location| Montgomery, Alabama
Played| 1978 (47 years ago) (1978) to
present
Last contest| 2024
Current champion| Southern Miss
Most championships| South Alabama (13)
Official website| SunBeltSports.org Baseball
Sponsors
Golden Flake

The Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Sun Belt Conference. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament. After Coastal Carolina University hosts the competition in Conway, South Carolina, in 2019, the tournament will move to a neutral site, Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, AL, from 2020 to 2024.[1]

## Tournament

[edit]

The Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament is a ten team double-elimination tournament held annually at various sites in the Sun Belt Conference region. The bottom four seeds play a one round single elimination play in game. The six teams with the best conference record at the end of the regular season earn automatic berths in the tournament. After the play-in round, the remaining eight teams will play 2 four team double-elimination brackets with a single elimination championship game between the bracket winners. The division winner with the best conference record will be seeded #1 and will play the lowest remaining seed from the play-in round. The winner of the other division will receive the #2 seed (regardless of overall conference ranking) and will play the higher seeded play-in game winner. The champion of the competition receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I baseball tournament.[2]

## History

[edit]

The tournament started in 1978 as a four team double-elimination tournament.

In 1979 the tournament expanded to include six teams but still remained double-elimination.

The tournament expanded again in 1980 and included seven teams.

In 1981 the conference was divided into divisions and the top two teams in each division made the tournament, returning it to a four team double-elimination format. It remained that way through 1985.

In 1986 the conference retained the division format but expanded the tournament to include the top four teams in each division, making the tournament an eight team double-elimination tournament.

In 1987, the conference returned to the a four team double-elimination format.

The tournament format was changed again in 1988 when it expanded to include the top three teams in each division, now making it a six team double-elimination tournament. In 1995, the conference dropped the division format but kept the tournament format as a six team double-elimination tournament through 1998.

In 1999, the tournament expanded to an eight team double-elimination format. The format was a double bracket round robin in 2011-2012.

In 2017, the Conference expanded the field to 10 teams, with the bottom four seeds playing a single-elimination play-in round before the standard eight team double-elimination bracket.[3]

## Champions

[edit]

### By Year

[edit]

Year  | School  | Site  | MVP

|
|
|

1978  | New Orleans | Mobile, AL | Roy Weimer, New Orleans
1979  | New Orleans | Tampa, FL | Mike Quade, New Orleans
1980  | South Alabama | Mobile, AL | Pete Otero, South Alabama
1981  | South Alabama | Birmingham, AL | Randy Wilson, South Florida
1982  | South Florida | Tampa, FL | Randy Wilson, South Florida
1983  | South Alabama | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex • Norfolk, VA | Dennis Johnston, South Alabama
1984  | South Alabama | Mobile, AL | Pete Coachman, South Alabama
1985  | Old Dominion | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex • Norfolk, VA | Rob Tomberlin, Western Kentucky
1986  | South Florida | Tampa, FL | Todd Azar, Old Dominion
1987  | South Alabama | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex • Norfolk, VA | Mike Maksudian, South Alabama
1988  | VCU | Bowling Green, KY | Tim Barker, VCU
1989  | Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL | Rene Francisco, Jacksonville
1990  | South Florida | Mobile, AL | Ricky Ware, South Florida
1991  | UAB | Jacksonville, FL | Stephen Johnson, UAB
1992  | South Alabama | Mobile, AL | Papo Ramos, Southwestern Louisiana
1993  | Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | Phil Brassington, Lamar
1994  | Arkansas State | Mobile, AL | Keith Horn, Arkansas State
1995  | Lamar | Jacksonville, FL | Will Cook, Lamar
1996  | South Alabama | Mobile, AL | Seth Taylor, South Alabama
1997  | South Alabama | M. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LA | Joey Choron, South Alabama
1998  | Southwestern Louisiana | Mobile, AL | B.J. Ryan, Southwestern Louisiana
1999  | FIU | Metairie, LA | Barry Paulk, FIU
2000  | South Alabama | Mobile, AL | Tim Merritt, South Alabama
2001  | South Alabama | M. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LA | Ryan Mulhern, South Alabama
2002  | New Mexico State | Mobile, AL | Hal Bisnett, New Mexico State
2003  | Middle Tennessee | M. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LA | Chuck Akers, Middle Tennessee
2004  | Western Kentucky | Mobile, AL | Grady Hinchman, Western Kentucky
2005  | South Alabama | Miami, FL | Josh Morgan, South Alabama
2006  | Troy | Bowling Green, KY | Blake Green, Troy
2007  | New Orleans | Mobile, AL | Johnny Giavotella, New Orleans
2008  | Western Kentucky | M. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LA | Jake Wells, Western Kentucky
2009  | Middle Tennessee | Troy, AL | Kenneth Roberts, Middle Tennessee
2010  | FIU | Murfreesboro, TN | Jeremy Patton, FIU
2011  | Arkansas–Little Rock | Monroe, LA | Garret Graziano, Arkansas–Little Rock
2012 | Louisiana–Monroe | Bowling Green Ballpark • Bowling Green, KY | Wil Browning, Louisiana–Monroe
2013 | Florida Atlantic | M. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LA | Brendon Sanger, Florida Atlantic
2014 | Louisiana–Lafayette | Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL[4] | Blake Trahan, Louisiana–Lafayette
2015 | Louisiana–Lafayette | Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, Alabama[5] | Stefan Trosclair, Louisiana–Lafayette
2016 | Louisiana–Lafayette | Bobcat Ballpark • San Marcos, TX | Nick Thurman, Louisiana-Lafayette
2017 | South Alabama | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | Brendan Donovan, South Alabama
2018 | Coastal Carolina | M. L. Tigue Moore Field • Lafayette, LA | Zach Biermann, Coastal Carolina
2019 | Coastal Carolina | Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC | Kieton Rivers, Coastal Carolina
2020  | Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021 | South Alabama | Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL | Miles Smith, South Alabama
2022 | Louisiana | Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL  | Jacob Schultz, Louisiana
2023 | Southern Miss | Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL  | Tanner Hall, Southern Miss
2024 | Southern Miss | Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL  | Colby Allen, Southern Miss
2025 | Coastal Carolina | Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL  | Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina

### By school

[edit]

As of July 1, 2022, there are 14 schools in the conference that competes in baseball.

#### Current members

[edit]

School  | Tourney Titles  | Title Years

|
|

South Alabama | 13  | 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2017, 2021
Louisiana | 5  | 1998, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022
Coastal Carolina | 3  | 2018, 2019, 2025
Southern Miss | 2  | 2023, 2024
Arkansas State | 1  | 1994
Louisiana–Monroe | 1  | 2012
Old Dominion | 1  | 1985
Troy | 1  | 2006

#### Former members

[edit]

School  | Tourney Titles  | Title Years

|
|

New Orleans | 3  | 1978, 1979, 2007
South Florida | 3  | 1982, 1986, 1990
FIU | 2  | 1999, 2010
Lamar | 2  | 1993, 1995
Middle Tennessee | 2  | 2003, 2009
Western Kentucky | 2  | 2004, 2008
Florida Atlantic | 1  | 2013
Jacksonville | 1  | 1989
Little Rock | 1  | 2011
New Mexico State | 1  | 2002
UAB | 1  | 1991
VCU | 1  | 1988

## External links

[edit]

* 2008 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Media Guide
* Record Book

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship Headed to Montgomery in 2020". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
2. ^ "Championship Schedule". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
3. ^ "Sun Belt Announces Changes to Baseball Regular Season, Championship Format; Future Championship Sites Named". Sun Belt Conference. November 11, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
4. ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2013–14 Championship Sites". Sun Belt Conference. August 14, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
5. ^ "Troy to Host Sun Belt Baseball Championship in 2014-15". Dothan, Alabama: WTVY (TV). Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2014.

* v
* t
* e

Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Sun Belt Conference baseball

East Division|

* Appalachian State Mountaineers
* Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
* Georgia Southern Eagles
* Georgia State Panthers
* James Madison Dukes
* Marshall Thundering Herd
* Old Dominion Monarchs

West Division|

* Arkansas State Red Wolves
* Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
* Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks
* South Alabama Jaguars
* Southern Miss Golden Eagles
* Texas State Bobcats
* Troy Trojans

Championship|

* Tournament

* v
* t
* e

Sun Belt Conference championships

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football
* Men's soccer
* Women's soccer
* Softball

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I baseball conference tournaments

Active|

* America East
* The American
* ASUN
* Atlantic Coast
* Atlantic 10
* Big East
* Big South
* Big Ten
* Big 12
* Big West
* Coastal
* C-USA
* Horizon
* Ivy
* Metro Atlantic
* Mid-American
* Missouri Valley
* Mountain West
* Northeast
* Ohio Valley
* Patriot
* Southeastern
* Southern
* Southland
* Summit
* Sun Belt
* SWAC
* West Coast
* Western Athletic

Former|

* Big Eight
* Great West
* MEAC
* Metro
* Pac-12
* Southwest

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template