POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Black College Championships announced the Black College World Series (BCWS) will return in its fourth installment in 2024 to Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. – home to the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays who play in the Southern League. The games are scheduled for May 8-11.
Eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will compete for the BCWS championship series. Four top teams from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II bracket in the tournament will face off against the four top teams from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) bracket to determine the champion. Both bracket champions will compete for the HBCU national title.
“Once again we’re proud to continue our partnership with the City of Montgomery, the Montgomery Biscuits to bring the Black College World Series back to Montgomery for the fourth year in a row,” said Michael Coker, founder of the Black College World Series and executive director of Black College Championships, the events promoter. “Since the first BCWS in 2021, the event has not only elevated HBCU baseball on the national stage but also enrollment at HBCUs according to analysis have been significantly increasing. We thank all who have supported our vision not only on the series but supporting HBCU institutions.”
The City of Montgomery is honored to be chosen by the Black College Championships to host its fourth Black College World Series. This is a tremendous opportunity to share all that the City of Montgomery has to offer with the teams, students, fans and more.
The event continues to be organized by Black College Championships, a global advocate of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) experience and supported by the public and private communities. Development and technical assistance for the tournament is provided by Black College Championships, L.L.C. and Black College Nines, an organization that supports the legacy of HBCU black college baseball.
Florida Memorial University Lions 2023 Black College World Series National Champion
Black College Championships and the City of Montgomery concluded the third championship series last spring by crowning a national champion among HBCUs with Florida Memorial University, based in Miami, Fla., winning the title. Past national champions include Edward Waters University of Jacksonville, Fla., in 2022, and Bluefield State University, based in Bluefield, W.Va., winning the inaugural Black College World Series title in 2021.
The Black College World Series will be livestreamed. Games will be available live by Woodlawn Entertainment. Woodlawn Entertainment is owned by James Crenshaw and is in its second year of producing the broadcasting production of the BCWS event. The games will also be available on Black College Nines, Woodlawn YouTube channel and other social media platforms.
The Black College World Series returns to Montgomery, Alabama’s Riverwalk Stadium. The stadium is home to the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays which play in the Southern League.
When: May 8 – 11, 2024
Where: Riverwalk Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits) 200 Coosa Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, who play in the Southern League.
Tickets: General Admission (Upcoming sales date to be announced)
Events: Black College World Series/Black College Nines Elites Banquet Presented by Black College Nines – May 7
The event brackets (Tentative) for each game played between May 8 – 11, 2024:
DAILY (All Times Central Daylight)
Schedule of Events.
- Field Trip. The Montgomery Biscuits will allow students in Montgomery, the County School System, and surrounding communities to attend the 2024 Black College World Series (BCWS) to enjoy a day of baseball. The available days and time are:
Session 1 – Wednesday, May 8, 9am* Session 2 – Wednesday, May 8, 12:30pm*
Session 3 – Thursday, May 9, 9am* Session 4 – Thursday, May 9, 12:30 pm*
Session 5 – Friday, May 10, 9am* Session 6 – Friday, May 10, 12:30 pm*
- Wednesday – First Responders, Health Industry and Teacher Appreciation:
Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, emergency medical personnel, etc., Department Recruitment, Firetruck onsite for show and tell/meet plus greets. Teacher/Coach recognition at beginning of games.
- Thursday – Veterans and Military:
Veterans and Military personnel, on field/audience call for recognition, and Military Recruiters.
- Friday – College Night:
Schools set up recruitment booths, Greek Life presence, Greek Paraphernalia.
- Saturday – Championship Day:
Home Run Derby start time noon. Championship Game start time 2pm. Meet/Greet with local baseball teams and tournament players and coaches. Champion presentation.
- Throughout event Black baseball players museum displays, HBCU displays, pregame plus postgame interviews, Negro Museum displays, and community fundraisers.
NCAA Division ll Bracket
Day 1 Wednesday May 8, 2024:
Gm. 1 9:00 a.m.
Gm. 2 4:00 p.m.
Day 2 Thursday May 9, 2024:
Gm. 3 9:00 a.m.
Gm.4 4:00 p.m.
Day 3 Friday May 10, 2024:
Gm. 5 9:00 a.m.*
Gm. 6 4:00 p.m. **
*Loser final winner advances to Dll semi-final game 6 (Plays doubleheader 4:00 p.m.)
**Championship for NCAA Dll bracket
Day 4 Saturday May 11, 2024:
Home Run Derby 12:00 p.m.
Gm.7 2:00 p.m. (Championship Game)
Winner Crown Black College World Series Champions
NAIA Bracket
Day 1 Wednesday May 8, 2024:
Gm. 1 12:30 p.m.
Gm. 2 7:30 p.m.
Day 2 Thursday May 9, 2024:
Gm. 3 12:30 p.m.
Gm.4 7:30 p.m.
Day 3 Friday May 10, 2024:
Gm. 5 12:30 p.m.
Gm. 6 7:30 p.m. *Loser final winner advances to NAIA semi-final game 6 *(Plays doubleheader 7:30 p.m.)
**(Championship for NAIA Bracket)
Day 4 Saturday May 11, 2024:
Home Run Derby 12:00 p.m.
Gm.7 2:00 p.m. (Championship Game)
Winner Crown Black College World Series Champions
Please note the actual schedule:
Day 1 May 8, 2024:
Gm. 1 9:00 a.m. (NCAA Dll)
Gm. 1 12:30 p.m. (NAIA)
Gm. 2 4:00 p.m. (NCAA DII)
Gm. 2 7:30 p.m. (NAIA)
Day 2 May 9, 2024:
Gm. 3 9:00 am. (NCAA Dll)
Gm. 3 12:30 p.m. (NAIA)
Gm. 4 4:00 p.m. (NCAA DII)
Gm. 4 7:30 p.m. (NAIA)
Day 3 May 10, 2024:
Gm. 5 9:00 a.m. (NCAA DII) *Loser final winner advances to DII semi-final game 6 (Plays doubleheader 4:00 p.m.)
Gm. 5 12:30 pm. (NAIA) *{Loser final winner advances to NAIA semi-final game 6 *(Plays doubleheader 7:30 p.m.)
Gm. 6 4:00 p.m. (NCAA DII) *(Championship for NCAA DII bracket)
Gm.6 7:30 p.m. (NAIA) *(Championship NAIA bracket)
Day 4 May 11, 2024:
Home Run Derby 12:00 p.m.
Gm. 7 2:00 p.m. (Championship Game)
Winner Crown Black College World Series Champions
May 12, 2024:
*Games could be played on Sunday, May 12, if inclement weather pushes the tournament back for a day.
Due to circumstances, inclement weather could force an extra day to determine the Black College World Series winner.
All eight teams will participate in the championship series along with educational and entertainment events and activities during the four days, estimated to welcome 5000+ students and fans to Montgomery.
The Black College World Series is special to the HBCU community, the student-athletes, coaches, and the thousands of fans expected in attendance. This series will continue to crown a national champion of black college baseball while showcasing its participation in the NCAA Division II, and NAIA the official governing body of each HBCU small school baseball programs.
The series will also showcase the rich heritage of historically black college and university students who played in the Negro Leagues and received a college education. Approximately 40 percent of Negro League players before 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, were college-educated at HBCUs.
The Black College World Series was founded by Michael Coker, Executive Director of Black College Championships, the promoter of the event. Coker is a collegiate baseball writer and lead contemporary news reporter for Black College Nines. He is a member and sits on the Board of Directors of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), a member of the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, founding member of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association (HBCU-PSMA), Founder and Executive Director of the Black College Championships L.L.C. and HBCU baseball Black College World Series. Previously reported for blackcollegebaseball.com. Coker is a voter for the NCBWA NCAA Division I baseball Top 25 poll and Black College Nines’ HBCU baseball polls. Has more than twenty years of covering collegiate baseball. Played baseball for three years under coach Jeffery Lee Jr. at Edward Waters University.
About Black College Championships, L.L.C.
Black College Championships, L.L.C. was formed in 2021 to organize and run Historically Black College and University baseball World Series events. The goal of the alliance is to stage a national postseason baseball tournament featuring the best HBCU collegiate baseball teams from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II (NCAA DII) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Members includes Michael Coker, HBCU baseball guru, Lead Contemporary Writer/Reporter at Black College Nines, and founder Black College World Series; Roger Cador, former head baseball coach at Southern University; Texas Southern University Dean, Dr. Jafus Kenyatta Cavil and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Executive Director Bo Carter. For Black College World Series updates, visit the Black College Championships website at https://blackcollegechampionships.com.
About The Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a Minor League Baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and play in the Double-A South. The team was founded in Orlando, Florida, in 1973 as the Orlando Twins, an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins in the Southern League. After remaining in the Minnesota minor league organization for 20 seasons, the team became an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs for four seasons and then the Seattle Mariners for one. In 1999, the team became an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, and they have remained in the organization ever since. They became members of the Double-A South in 2021. Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium is the home of the Biscuits. The minor league baseball ballpark opened in 2004. Located in downtown Montgomery, the stadium can host up to 7,000 people a night. The Stadium offers a riverfront area that is easily accessible from Riverwalk Stadium, 20 luxury suites, picnic areas along the third-base line and in the left-center field. The picnic area in the left-center field can accommodate up to 4,000 fans. The stadium also has a full bar, called “The Club Car Bar” and a children’s playground area located down the third base line. The stadium scoreboard is a video board with an LED screen with instant replay. For more information, contact Brendon Porter [email protected].
About Black College Nines
Black College Nines is an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of HBCU baseball through current and historical news reporting. Coverage includes current and contemporary HBCU baseball news, black pioneers of college baseball, legends of HBCU baseball, the stories of black college baseball’s past, HBCU baseball top ten polls, Black College Nines podcasts, and other black college baseball history. For more information, contact Black College Nines at [email protected].
About Woodlawn Entertainment
Woodlawn Entertainment was launched in 2009 as a small commercial/video editing company. With the vision of becoming a sizable production entity, the company shifted to live video production and streaming. Over the years it has grown into a company that produces over 100 high level broadcasts per year. The company is one of the leading packagers for streaming, not just in the Southeast region of the country, but nationwide. Woodlawn Entertainment travels coast to coast each year to provide services for its clients, which includes top-tier TV production that can match any major network. Woodlawn Entertainment is owned by James Crenshaw. James received two degrees while majoring in Communications, graduating from Mississippi State University in 2007. Since that time, Crenshaw has worked with numerous esteemed organizations such as the SWAC, SIAC, Babe Ruth League, Great American Rivalry Series, TBT, NJCAA and others to coordinate video production initiatives.
Contact: Michael Coker (954) 687-2095